Page 2 | 3yr old male constantly demanding food

MatchsticksForMyEyesReturns · 2022-05-02T08:38:45+00:00

I got him 18mths ago. He was 2kg overweight. With advice from the vet, I have gradually reduced his food intake and he's almost down to his target of 4kg. He gets half a tin of Republic of Cats meat first thing, the other half about 4 and then 2 tablespoons of biscuits over 3 meals (lunchtime, mid-evening and then just before I go to bed). However, he sees me as a walking source of food. Within about an hour of eating ,if I'm in, he starts miaowing in an aggressive way and sometimes swipes me after eyeballing me first. I don't give in to this, I put him out of the room. He then miaows constantly outside. It's quite wearing on the nerves to be honest. Any advice? If I feed him more, he will just get obese again.

Original poster

MatchsticksForMyEyesReturns · 02/05/2022 21:44

Feckingfeck · 02/05/2022 21:38

Literally thought you were talking about a child until the word vet 😂

To be honest, I do accidentally call him by my son's name as they have similar levels of appetite!

OP posts:

Yarnasaurus · 02/05/2022 21:51

I really would try puzzle/slow feeders.

AnyCake I don't agree that cats won't overeat, I've had 3 that would eat and eat. Have you never heard of Six Dinner Sid?

Original poster

MatchsticksForMyEyesReturns · 02/05/2022 21:57

Yarnasaurus · 02/05/2022 21:51

I really would try puzzle/slow feeders.

AnyCake I don't agree that cats won't overeat, I've had 3 that would eat and eat. Have you never heard of Six Dinner Sid?

I have a ball puzzle feeder. He didn't seem very interested, but I'll try again. Certain toys seem to scare him, ones that roll too quickly I think. Might have to find a different one if anyone has any recommendations?

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Yarnasaurus · 02/05/2022 22:08

There's lots of different ones. Might be worth googling for DIY ideas too.

powershowerforanhour · 02/05/2022 22:19

My advice- earplugs! He's looking well- certainly not underweight looking. Well done on the weight loss. You've probably saved him from diabetes.

Would it be possible to start putting the food down silently when he's not in the room so he just discovers it in the bowl, rather than associating you with food? (I expect he'll probably develop auditory and extra sensory superpowers in that case mind you)

Original poster

MatchsticksForMyEyesReturns · 02/05/2022 22:32

powershowerforanhour · 02/05/2022 22:19

My advice- earplugs! He's looking well- certainly not underweight looking. Well done on the weight loss. You've probably saved him from diabetes.

Would it be possible to start putting the food down silently when he's not in the room so he just discovers it in the bowl, rather than associating you with food? (I expect he'll probably develop auditory and extra sensory superpowers in that case mind you)

Yes I've got a timed feeder that I might use for all meals now. He appears whenever I arrive home, follows me whenever I look like I might be going in the kitchen or to his food bowl. I don't eat with him in the room anymore as he just sits staring and miaowing at me. I can have fed him within the hour, it makes no difference.

OP posts:

fairylightsandwaxmelts · 03/05/2022 07:58

Cats seldom over-eat.

They definitely do

Dearmariacountmein · 03/05/2022 08:06

Cats can definitely over eat. Our two boys are perfect weight (according to the vet) at 4.2-4.3kg. Their mum was a moggie and dad was a large breed cat. They aren’t small males but people have become used to seeing overweight cats now so I would go with what the vet thinks unless he starts to look to skinny then ask for another opinion. The two ‘big tons’ in our area are the same height and length as my two but just fat.

Our female cat has an incessant hunger and it can be distressing at times. When I asked a vet he said she may still be growing so feed her more if she’s hungry…long story short she ended up overweight on her next vet visit.

Have you tried a very wet pouch? They are more expensive but the added water will fill him up. I also second looking for a grain free food too.

PritiPatelsMaker · 03/05/2022 08:11

*male

Original poster

MatchsticksForMyEyesReturns · 03/05/2022 17:42

Dearmariacountmein · 03/05/2022 08:06

Cats can definitely over eat. Our two boys are perfect weight (according to the vet) at 4.2-4.3kg. Their mum was a moggie and dad was a large breed cat. They aren’t small males but people have become used to seeing overweight cats now so I would go with what the vet thinks unless he starts to look to skinny then ask for another opinion. The two ‘big tons’ in our area are the same height and length as my two but just fat.

Our female cat has an incessant hunger and it can be distressing at times. When I asked a vet he said she may still be growing so feed her more if she’s hungry…long story short she ended up overweight on her next vet visit.

Have you tried a very wet pouch? They are more expensive but the added water will fill him up. I also second looking for a grain free food too.

I haven't as I have the RoC subscription, but I might add water to it. I'll look for grain-free dry food tonight.

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fishingforflies · 04/05/2022 00:25

I have the same issue with my rescue cat - it's a bit of a myth/luck about cats not over-eating, my current one would eat herself to death 100% given the chance.

mathanxiety · 04/05/2022 00:54

My 8yo female Siberian is 5.7 kg. She gets wet food once a day, occasionally twice, and her bowl of dry food is available at all times. She gets about 2/3 of an 8oz cup of dry food a day.

I don't think your cat is getting enough food.

Or maybe he has a tapeworm?

Pixiedust1234 · 04/05/2022 01:19

Unless your hairdryer and carrier bag are dollsized then your cat is not petite, he's normal. My cat is an 8yr adult but is half your cats size and she weighs 3.45kg when healthy. Toms are usually heavier due to muscle mass. My daughters boy isn't chubby or muscular and he weighs 5.5kg.

Vets seem to err on advising low weight and I have seen many unhappy and hungry dogs/cats that are the "correct" weight. We should see ribs on ourselves too but it wouldn't stop us being hungry and food fixated all the time. Just up his food intake slightly, usually manufacturers have recommended amounts per kg 9n their packaging.

caringcarer · 04/05/2022 01:49

I would say an average male cat is 5kg. On the pouches it says feed 3 pouches a day for 3-4kg cats so if 4-5 he might need 4 pouches of 100g. Pouches are not very big and even my tiny girl cat who is a little over 3 kg can eat more than 1 at once. I would feed a bit more wet meat and less kibble.

silentpool · 04/05/2022 02:29

I would get a very high quality dry food, which is grain free and has high protein % (an example is Applaws). I have found the ones with grain & fillers in them, to be a false economy as they are always hungry. There is some serious rubbish in some of the cat foods, I've seen.

My Persian is somewhere between 4 and 5 kg and he would eat 1/2 a can/pouch (of real human grade pet food) morning and night (or the equivalent in poached chicken etc) and free feeds on the dry food. He definitely doesn't overeat and will not finish his wet food some days.

user1471548941 · 04/05/2022 04:24

Oh my goodness what a darling!

I am a fellow owner of a huge ginger rescue who used to be a stray so is an absolutely hound for food- we’d had him 6 days when he attacked my McDonalds bag for the chips…
he also bites for food as he’s gone from stray to indoor due to catching FIV so it’s tricky to manage!

He was 5.5kg when we got him and the RSPCA recommender 30g wet x 2 plus unlimited dry food when we got him. However, he became a complete bully for the 2 wet meals and was clearly hungry and not eating the biscuits!

we switched him to full pouches (100g) but weren’t quite strict enough on the biscuits and he’s crept up to 6kg which the vet thinks is too much!

we don’t want to underfeed as we think he’s aggressive over food when hungry due to his past so we have switched to 70g pouches of a much higher quality brand, which has a higher meat content and leaves him fuller for longer. We have also upped his play time to get him to move a little more! He seems happy with this- we haven’t seen any change in the behaviour with the reduction (though was a little confused at the change in brand for a while!) and is only a fiend for food in the hour before dinner.

we also use a timed cat feeder. In the early days he would come and jump all over the bed in the morning for food- this was fine when it was 7am but it crept earlier and earlier to 4am!!! We fill the feeder the night before when he’s asleep and he now does not associate us with breakfast at all- he snuggles on the bed all night and jumps off to go and feed himself when he hears it pop up in the morning so this has worked really well.

sashh · 04/05/2022 04:35

Can you get him a puzzle feeder? You can get a ball that they have to roll to get the dried food out, you can make your own easily, a used plastic bottle with some holes in and a bit of food.

Or plastic / polystyrene cups glued to a board so he has to lift the food out.

If he has had a bad start he may equate food with affection, you are his human and he might not want stroking but wants attention and the only thing he knows is food.

Original poster

MatchsticksForMyEyesReturns · 04/05/2022 06:23

mathanxiety · 04/05/2022 00:54

My 8yo female Siberian is 5.7 kg. She gets wet food once a day, occasionally twice, and her bowl of dry food is available at all times. She gets about 2/3 of an 8oz cup of dry food a day.

I don't think your cat is getting enough food.

Or maybe he has a tapeworm?

Doubt it's a tapeworm. I keep up to date with flea and worm treatments. I showed him the puzzle feeder again yesterday and he seemed more interested.

OP posts:

Original poster

MatchsticksForMyEyesReturns · 04/05/2022 06:50

sashh · 04/05/2022 04:35

Can you get him a puzzle feeder? You can get a ball that they have to roll to get the dried food out, you can make your own easily, a used plastic bottle with some holes in and a bit of food.

Or plastic / polystyrene cups glued to a board so he has to lift the food out.

If he has had a bad start he may equate food with affection, you are his human and he might not want stroking but wants attention and the only thing he knows is food.

I've got the puzzle feeder back out. I think he probably does associate food with affection. I suppose it takes time.

OP posts:

Original poster

MatchsticksForMyEyesReturns · 04/05/2022 06:51

user1471548941 · 04/05/2022 04:24

Oh my goodness what a darling!

I am a fellow owner of a huge ginger rescue who used to be a stray so is an absolutely hound for food- we’d had him 6 days when he attacked my McDonalds bag for the chips…
he also bites for food as he’s gone from stray to indoor due to catching FIV so it’s tricky to manage!

He was 5.5kg when we got him and the RSPCA recommender 30g wet x 2 plus unlimited dry food when we got him. However, he became a complete bully for the 2 wet meals and was clearly hungry and not eating the biscuits!

we switched him to full pouches (100g) but weren’t quite strict enough on the biscuits and he’s crept up to 6kg which the vet thinks is too much!

we don’t want to underfeed as we think he’s aggressive over food when hungry due to his past so we have switched to 70g pouches of a much higher quality brand, which has a higher meat content and leaves him fuller for longer. We have also upped his play time to get him to move a little more! He seems happy with this- we haven’t seen any change in the behaviour with the reduction (though was a little confused at the change in brand for a while!) and is only a fiend for food in the hour before dinner.

we also use a timed cat feeder. In the early days he would come and jump all over the bed in the morning for food- this was fine when it was 7am but it crept earlier and earlier to 4am!!! We fill the feeder the night before when he’s asleep and he now does not associate us with breakfast at all- he snuggles on the bed all night and jumps off to go and feed himself when he hears it pop up in the morning so this has worked really well.

Just checked his tins and they are 85g. Now giving 2 of those and will try getting some different biscuits.

OP posts:

Shehasadiamondinthesky · 04/05/2022 07:20

Sorry I shouldn't laugh but your cat eyeballing you haha.
Reminds me of my alpha male Smoky who didn't like having other males in the house and used to herd my ex husband into a corner and threaten him.

AlbertBrenneman · 04/05/2022 07:29

I saw the title of this thread thinking, I can totally related my 3 year old never stops eating and saying hes hungry. Then I realised that your three year old is a cat and mine is a child.

User478 · 04/05/2022 07:36

We have one fatty and one skinny (cats, not children)

We switched to a timer feeder so they don't associate us with food so much.

We also massively upped the play, so they were using more energy and engaging with us in a non food based way.

Shmithecat2 · 04/05/2022 07:46

My ginger boy is currently 4.9kg and very underweight (he's poorly). He's not big built but does have long legs. He should be a kilo heavier. 4kg really does sound a little bit on the light side if your cat isn't petite.

sashh · 04/05/2022 08:49

My little madam sits staring at me if I'm eating. If she hears the fridge door she is in the kitchen so quick she's shame Usain Bolt.

She just assumes human food is better than cat food.

She isn't hungry, I feed her, at least 2 neighbours feed her, she hunts and still conned the new neighbour into feeding her.