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Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Cat obsessed with food - can anything be done?

77 replies

Aria2015 · 22/03/2021 19:30

My cat is 9 years old and he drives me bonkers constantly begging for food. He has access to dry food all day and night but he likes the posh Sheba pouches. We give him a few of these a day but even if we've just given him one, he is begging for more. Constantly around our feet meowing and running into the kitchen any time someone is in there and begging. He also will bite at legs and feet in a bid to get his way - even if he's just been fed. He'll also come into our room at 5am and meow loudly in the hope we'll get up and feed him (we never do!).

He hasn't got worms (we've had him checked) and he's a good weight (definitely not too skinny). It's just like he's obsessed with food. I hate to say it, but it makes it hard to enjoy him because I feel constantly harassed. My husband has even gone out at midnight to get wet food if we realise we've run out because of he's just left with the dry food the harassment goes to a whole new level! We've also experimented with different dry foods in case he didn't like it but it makes no difference.

Anyone had experience of a food obsessed cat and managed to o anything about it? He's been like this ever since we introduced him to wet food about 7 years ago (he was on dry food for the first couples of years).

OP posts:
Tavannach · 22/03/2021 19:36

Is he thirsty perhaps?
Fresh water away from his food, or maybe a water fountain would help.

Easterbunnygettingready · 22/03/2021 19:37

Think we need a pic of the greedy buggar just to ensure you get the correct advice..
My dcat eats vegetables ever day. And his daily food allowance. He also camps out at the fridge door for sandwich chicken slices!
He eats veg at a place at the table at tea time with us!!

ThePawtriarchy · 22/03/2021 19:39

Has he had a blood panel done for older cats - I know he’s not super old - but might be worth getting his thyroid and kidneys checked, maybe also for diabetes. I’m not a vet (obviously! Grin) but worth ruling a few things out?

DeusEx · 22/03/2021 19:39

Maybe try a change of dry food? Ours guzzled their wet food as soon as it was put down and did lots of sad miaowing between meals. We switched from whiskas dry to James Wellbeloved and Royal Canin (spoiled cats...) and they mostly stopped.

Though I haven’t persuaded my older cat that cats don’t eat lunch, no matter how sadly she gives me the eye Grin

DeusEx · 22/03/2021 19:40

And I’ve accepted that 5am miaowing is just a really really annoying part of having a cat...

Singlenotsingle · 22/03/2021 19:41

My cat is food obsessed as well although he doesn't bite. Even if I get up during the night for the loo, he follows me into the bathroom and meows, then when I come out he wraps himself round my ankles

RandomMess · 22/03/2021 19:45

Stop the pouches altogether. Will take quite some time but should reduce the harassment.

Fluffycloudland77 · 22/03/2021 20:00

More play, it redirects the energy elsewhere.

Easterbunnygettingready · 22/03/2021 20:02

Playmate? We got a dkitten for our dcat who was depressed following his dbro's death at 8 years old.
Got her in Dec.. Took 2 weeks for them to be cuddled up...

Aria2015 · 22/03/2021 20:08

@Tavannach I don't think he's thirsty. I always make sure he has a bowl full of fresh water every morning and it's never empty. I don't have a bowl outside but he can come and go as he likes so can always pop in if he's thirsty.

OP posts:
sleepyhead · 22/03/2021 20:09

Mine was the same. The only way was to be completely strict and never ever give in to begging.

They will try anything that's worked before so giving in reinforces the behaviour.

So dcat only got fed twice a day, when we got up and around 6pm. She would gorge on dry food (to the point of vomiting) and was overweight so measured portions only.

Bedroom door had to be closed or she'd climb on my head and paw me awake. She'd also scratch at the door but eventually stopped when we consistently ignored it.

We think she maybe originally lived with a dog who maybe stole her food.

Aria2015 · 22/03/2021 20:11

@Easterbunnygettingready here you go! He's a beauty - just a food obsessed beauty!

Cat obsessed with food - can anything be done?
OP posts:
GoLightlyontheEarth · 22/03/2021 20:11

You say several pouches? My cat has one pouch a day in the morning and dry food in the evening. It sounds like you’re seriously over feeding him. How often does he go outside and how long for? He sounds bored and greedy. Several pouches is too much.

Aria2015 · 22/03/2021 20:12

@ThePawtriarchy I'll ask for this next time we're at the vets. We've mentioned about the food but they just checked for worms...

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Aria2015 · 22/03/2021 20:13

@DeusEx we have tried quite a few different dry foods. He doesn't actually seem to dislike the one we have, he does eat it but he just prefers the wet food... a lot!

OP posts:
Aria2015 · 22/03/2021 20:14

@Singlenotsingle yes! He does this too!!!

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Aria2015 · 22/03/2021 20:15

@RandomMess i have considered this but then get too guilty at depriving him of the wet food because he seems to like it so much. When you say it might take a while, how long to you think? I feel scared just thinking about his rage at no wet food lol!

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 22/03/2021 20:16

@GoLightlyontheEarth

You say several pouches? My cat has one pouch a day in the morning and dry food in the evening. It sounds like you’re seriously over feeding him. How often does he go outside and how long for? He sounds bored and greedy. Several pouches is too much.
It could be the small sheba pouches which are half the size of the normal ones
Aria2015 · 22/03/2021 20:17

@Fluffycloudland77 I agree this could help. Just tough to find the time with two small children (one of whom is just a baby). I might look at buying some more toys though. That might help maybe?

OP posts:
Aria2015 · 22/03/2021 20:18

@Easterbunnygettingready we had a second cat but she got run over Sad. I swore I wouldn't get another while we live where we live (next to a busy road), otherwise I'd get another.

OP posts:
RandomMess · 22/03/2021 20:19

@Aria2015 a few weeks I guess.

Buy him some "nicer" dry??? Shove a few dreamies in once per day only.

Every time he pesters either get the laser light out and play or cuddle him if he's a cuddly cat.

Chunkymenrock · 22/03/2021 20:19

I don't understand the checked for worms thing. Worms are internal parasites and you can't check and declare them free from worms! You need to de-worm regularly, every 1-3 months, that's the only way you can be sure. I'd Google the Lickimat for cats. It's a very good way to keep them busy working for their wet food and eke-ing it out! I also agree with asking about a blood test to rule out thyroid, kidney etc disease, which can make them ravenous.

Aria2015 · 22/03/2021 20:22

@sleepyhead this is interesting. He often tricks both me and my dh by acting like he hasn't been fed despite the other one feeding him and so we definitely have no routine. I think I will definitely try this though - will just have to make sure dh and I communicate on who has fed him what!

OP posts:
Fluffycloudland77 · 22/03/2021 20:22

Apparently they get bored of toys so you need to rotate them. Zooplus sell interactive toys and puzzle feeders they use their paws to get dry food out.

sleepyhead1980 · 22/03/2021 20:23

My cat was like this until she was diagnosed with a thyroid problem. So much better now she is on meds. There were some other symptoms too though. If it's just hunger I would try changing food

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