Why Is My Cat Always Hungry?

Why Is My Cat Always Hungry

Why Is My Cat Always Hungry – Cats, being creatures of habit, have a routine when it comes to mealtime. Even though they are not as food-motivated as dogs, some cats whine and beg for food even outside of feeding times, which may indicate underlying medical issues instead of normal hunger.

Why Is My Cat Always Hungry

Learning how and when your cat acts hungry can help you discern when to consult with your veterinarian and what to tell them.

Persistent Requesting for Food During Meal Times

Cats can tell time as accurately as humans, so if you feed your cat on a regular schedule, it will demand food around those times. Your cat might meow, cry, or stare at you until you serve its meal. While your cat is not starving, its empty stomach sends hunger signals to its brain, making it want to eat. Since you are the person in charge of its feeding, your cat will remind you to give it food.

Begging for Treats

If your cat knows that you keep its treats in a specific spot and it sees you go there, it will approach you and beg for a treat. Even more so if you shake the bag or container where the treats are kept. Since cats have excellent hearing, they will come running if they hear a familiar, happy sound, particularly when they are hungry.

Why Is My Cat Always Hungry

Stealing Food From the Table

Cats are natural climbers and can easily get onto a counter or table to snatch a piece of food, which may become a bad habit that’s hard to break. Like people, cats and other pets can’t resist the temptation of a good treat, so ensure that you cover food when you leave it unattended.

Cats that are highly active and receiving insufficient amounts of food may be more likely to steal food. If this is the case, increasing meal portions or providing high-calorie food may curb your cat’s food-stealing habits.

Eating Quickly

Cats that had to compete or fight for food may consume it quickly or ravenously. Some cats even growl or grumble while eating and swallow their food whole. This is typical among previously stray or feral cats, or those from big litters that competed for limited food when they were still kittens.

Why Is My Cat Always Hungry

Cats that are used to quick eating may eventually learn that their food is available on a regular basis, which will eventually help them learn to eat at a more moderate pace, unless there is some underlying medical condition that makes them perpetually hungry.

Eating and Vomiting

Vomiting can be fairly common in house cats, as they groom themselves often, which can cause them to swallow quite a bit of fur. If a cat cannot eliminate the furball on its own, it may either vomit or experience a blockage in its stomach or intestines. The inability to digest food due to blockage may cause the cat to vomit the food.

In case you suspect any obstruction in your cat’s digestive tract, immediately consult with your veterinarian. An X-ray will reveal whether your cat needs to have the swallowed item or hairball extracted surgically or through endoscopy.

Some cats vomit regularly after eating their whole meals. This is known as regurgitation, and it primarily happens when the cat eats too quickly.

You can overcome this issue by slowing down how fast your cat eats by spreading out the food on a cookie sheet, putting objects that are too large to eat in your cat’s food bowl, or providing your cat special slow-feeding bowls with finger-like projections or nubs meant to make your cat eat slower.

Eating and Gaining Weight

If your cat persistently demands food while also gaining weight, it may be time to reduce its food intake, regardless of what it appears to be asking for. Some cats, like people, love to eat, so the more you feed them, the quicker they’ll become overweight and susceptible to several medical conditions. Obesity, joint problems, diabetes, and more are all more probable in obese pets. Most cats only need about 1/4 to 1/2 cup of dry kibble per day, but this may vary depending on your cat’s activity level and the calorie content of their food.

If you suspect that your unspayed female cat has mated with an unneutered male, and it is gaining weight while incessantly pleading for food, it may be pregnant. Ensure that your cat eats kitten formula to provide optimal nutrition for its growing litter.

Eating and Losing Weight

Cats that are always hungry and not gaining weight may have an underlying problem, such as:

• Intestinal Parasites: These worms, as they’re commonly known, feed off of what the cat ingests, stealing a large proportion of the food’s nutrients. This may cause the cat to eat more but still feel hungry, as the parasites take the lion’s share of the nutrients. Cats can get worms by ingesting fleas or being outside, but medications can help eliminate them. A microscopic examination of their feces by the veterinarian will help determine the specific worms, if any. Some monthly flea and heartworm medications also have intestinal parasite deworming medication, but they may not provide protection against all types of worms.
• Hyperthyroidism: Overactive thyroid gland in cats leads to hyperthyroidism, making them feel hungry all the time. Simple blood work at the veterinarian’s clinic can diagnose this condition, and medication can be used to treat it.
• Diabetes: If the cat’s pancreas is failing to produce insulin, the cat may feel hungry despite eating, as the sugars from the food don’t provide sufficient energy. Injecting insulin may help a cat with diabetes control this illness, and its appetite will improve after the disease is under control.
• Cancer: If other diseases are not present and your cat is always hungry without gaining weight, cancer may be suspected. Your veterinarian will offer further treatment options.

Fortunately, most cats simply enjoy eating, and their daily routine revolves around eating and napping. Unless your cat experiences abrupt changes in eating and drinking habits, is vomiting, or has diarrhea, your cat is most likely just a food lover.