A pet's excessive appetite should not be ignored. This could be a signal of serious health problems or a nervous system disorder. But most often we are talking about physiological reasons.
Finding out what happened is the main task of a loving owner. Ignoring the reasons why your cat constantly asks to eat can lead to unpleasant consequences for your pet.
Cat nutrition standards
As you know, there are two types of cat food: dry and wet. Feed rates depend on age, breed, health status, and body weight. The last factor is the most significant.
Proper nutrition of animals is the key to their health
For your information! The daily intake of wet food is on average 5% of the animal’s body weight.
The amount of dry food is calculated taking into account the pet’s weight:
- up to 3 kg - 25 g;
- from 3 to 4 kg - 40 g;
- 4-5 kg - 55 g;
- with a weight of more than 5 kg - 12 g per 1 kg of body weight.
For the first 4-5 weeks, kittens eat only cat’s milk and determine the amount of food they need. Then small pets can be fed with high-quality dry and wet food, which is more balanced in composition than homemade food. Its quantity also depends on several factors.
Important! It would be best to use the dosing table, which manufacturers usually place on the packaging.
READER QUESTION
I have a 4-month-old kitten, thin, underweight, but screaming all the time that he wants to eat. That is, we can say that my kitten is constantly hungry. Eats everything in the bowl clean. While food is being prepared for him, he yells in a voice that is not his own. Takes food from an adult cat. If we go to the kitchen during the day, he runs after us and asks. I give him 10% of his body weight, allotted for kittens, how much more? Is there something wrong with him? Is it possible to increase the portion? Is it even normal for a kitten to attack food like crazy?
The role of water in the diet
The cat asks the cat: options for how to calm it down at home
The cat must have constant access to clean water. This is especially important if your pet eats dry food. If the animal's fur is shiny and silky, and it urinates at least twice a day, then there is enough water.
Clean water is essential when feeding kibble.
The cat constantly asks to eat: normal or pathological
In the wild, cats eat once every few days, when the hunt is successful, and when they see food they try to eat as much as possible. At home, the cat is fed 2 times a day, if the food is natural. The animal gets used to the fact that if it does not eat the food, it will be removed and until the next time the bowl will be empty. And so the owners suddenly switch the pet to granulated dry food. This is convenient, because the food does not spoil.
And, behold, the pet speaks again. The owner puts a handful in the bag of granules, but notices that there is food in the bowl. Out of politeness, the cat walks around and eats some food. Actually, the cat is fine. The problem is not with the pet, but with the owner. He does not understand that the animal does not require food, but attention. In such a situation, the cat just needs to be petted or played with.
If the cat is not exhausted, he is definitely not hungry. And when gluttony is combined with exhaustion, this is pathology. It is likely that your pet has worms, which take away more than half of what he eats, or hormonal disorders, which accelerate the metabolism
Be sure to read:
A kitten meows: reasons, how to quickly calm it down, what to do when you need veterinary help
How often to give food to adult animals
Some owners feed cats as soon as they start meowing and asking for food. This is a big mistake. Overeating can lead to obesity and a number of diseases.
After sterilization, the cat asks the cat: is this normal and what to do?
It is better to feed an adult cat twice a day, morning and evening at the same time. This diet promotes the proper functioning of the animal’s gastrointestinal tract.
Note! There are exceptions. Sometimes sick cats need to be fed little by little 3-5 times a day. For pregnant and lactating pets, the frequency of meals also increases.
ANSWER
If we are talking about a growing organism, which is a kitten, then determining whether he really consumes too much food is quite difficult, because... There are no clear standards for feeding. Therefore, it is not customary to limit the food intake of kittens up to six months (within the set of permitted products, of course). Moreover, if the kitten is underweight, it needs more. But still make sure that the cat does not overeat at one time, because... This can quickly tighten the pancreas, stretch the stomach and teach you to eat in huge portions. In such a situation, it is better to give food in moderate portions, but not 2, but 4-5 times a day.
Article continues after advertisement 3 month old kitten with a bloated belly, insatiable appetite (polyphagia) and pathological thinness
A kitten that constantly overeats may have a bloated belly. This condition is not only unsightly, but sometimes dangerous. Firstly, the stomach prevents movement, as a result of which the animal will be lethargic and inactive, and will sleep too much. Secondly, fecal stagnation may occur, constipation may occur, and even intestinal obstruction may occur. Therefore, it is so important not to buy into the animal’s requests for another piece of food, but to strictly control portions and not give too much at one time.
However, a big question arises if a kitten has an increased appetite, is fed a lot, but is still underweight. If your kitten eats and does not get better, if you see obvious thinness (ribs and spine stick out, sunken sides), if, along with constant hunger, the character or appearance deteriorates (for example, dull fur, bloated belly), then perhaps the condition is pathological character. The most common reasons are:
Helminths
The first point worth paying attention to is worms. How long ago did the kitten undergo preventative deworming? Often kittens have a large appetite due to ingestion. At the same time, the stomach swells, although not necessarily. If a kitten constantly asks for food, the first thing you need to suspect is worms.
Conscientious breeders carry out deworming before giving away a kitten. However, they often feel sorry for the baby and therefore give half the dose, as a result of which the helminths first subside, and then raise their heads just around the moment when the animal moves to a new home.
If the cause of increased appetite is parasites, then after preventive deworming, appetite should normalize on its own within a few days.
Psychological factor
Sometimes an increased appetite is dictated by the fact that in the nursery or shelter where you got the kitten, there were many kittens that competed with each other. Then, for several months after the move, the baby will experience an increased appetite for psychological reasons. This condition should go away on its own if the cat does not feel significant restrictions in food and understands that no one is going to starve him.
Also among the psychological factors that contribute to an increase in appetite is stress: moving, the arrival of a new family member, the departure or death of a family member, even a change in the situation in the house - anything can be a reason.
Taking medications
Some medications, for example, hormonal and anticonvulsant medications, have a side effect of increasing appetite.
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Questions about the diet
Another common reason that a kitten is always hungry lies in an incorrectly selected diet. For example, if you feed an animal boiled meat, it will not receive enough important microelements. Remember: with a natural diet, the meat must be frozen in the freezer for at least 3 days, and then thawed to room temperature and served raw.
In the case of ready-made food, it may happen that the food is simply not suitable for the kitten. If it is economy-class food from a supermarket, then it contains practically no useful microelements, and therefore the animal remains hungry. It is impossible to feed kittens with economy food: they need to be switched to either expensive food or natural food.
But it happens that even expensive food is poorly absorbed as a result of the individual characteristics of the body, and then the result is the same - a lack of important elements. In this situation, you need to change the food.
In addition, keep in mind that kittens eat natural food (which is mostly raw meat) much better than dry food, which very quickly passes through the gastrointestinal tract, leaving it empty, as a result of which they very soon want to eat again. This is why drying is always available to most cat owners. But cats eat meat for a long time, because... it is much more difficult to digest. Basically, 2 meals of meat per day are enough to satisfy the animal.
Problems with absorption of substances
If a kitten eats a lot and does not gain weight at all, it must be shown to the veterinarian, because there may be problems with the absorption of nutrients (this could again be due to worms, or maybe due to internal pathologies, which is worse). That is, nutrients are supplied with food in the required quantity, but the body for some reason does not accept them (the reasons may be a variety of pathologies of internal organs - diabetes, hyperthyroidism, Cushing's disease, cancer and other diseases). Then observation by a veterinarian is required. But this is no longer the topic of this article, because... Such pathologies should be diagnosed by a professional.
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How often to feed kittens
How a cat behaves before giving birth: yelling and other changes in behavior
Small pets are fed more often. A newborn kitten, which for various reasons has been left without its mother's milk, is given food every two hours without stopping at night. Babies up to two months of age are fed every 6 hours. At the age of 4-5 months, kittens are transferred to a three-time diet. After six months they can be fed two or three times a day.
Kittens require special attention
Why does a cat eat a lot but not get enough?
If the owner provides a sufficient amount of food, but the cat is constantly hungry, you need to find out why this is happening. There may be several pathological and physiological explanations for this.
Among cats, there is such a thing as polygapia - a constant feeling of hunger. It can appear against a background of high nervous tension in animals. In stressful situations, their appetite increases, that is, they, like people, can eat stress and gain excess weight.
Important! If your cat is constantly asking for food, it is most advisable to seek help from a veterinarian to get professional advice.
Sometimes it happens that a cat constantly and persistently asks for food, but remains thin. Additional symptoms such as vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, and depression may appear. In this case, you need to examine your pet for the presence of parasites in the body, which absorb nutrients, and the animal begins to lose weight. Roundworms of various types are often found in cats. Worm infestation is a serious disease that needs to be treated promptly.
Obesity is the result of overeating
It happens that animals have a disturbance in the absorption of nutrients. In this case, weight gain is also noted. Such a disorder may be congenital, or may be the result of some pathology in the body. In this case, immediate contact with a veterinarian is necessary.
A cat that constantly begs for food may have endocrine diseases. The most common of these is diabetes mellitus. Its main features:
- increased appetite. The cat eats a lot and greedily and quickly gets fat;
- strong thirst. The pet begins to drink a lot and often;
- frequent urination;
- Sometimes the animal may smell of acetone.
Note! Hypothyroidism also occurs in cats, when the thyroid gland does not produce enough hormones. It is these hormones that regulate the metabolic rate in the body of animals. A veterinarian will also help here, making a diagnosis and prescribing treatment.
A hormonal disorder called acromegaly occurs in animals. It is associated with a very large amount of growth hormones that are produced in the cat's body. The disease is manifested by increased appetite, intense thirst, and widening of the muzzle in animals. A large number of hormones disrupts the process of insulin production. As a result, the cat develops diabetes mellitus. In this case, it is very important to contact a veterinarian in a timely manner.
It is quite normal for a cat to constantly want to eat while expecting or feeding offspring. Under no circumstances should it be overfed. Excess weight can cause complications during childbirth. The diet of a nursing cat should be high in calories, but moderation is also important here.
A mother cat needs to feed her offspring, so her diet must be under control
It happens that the animal is forced to starve for some time. This may be the period before surgery or a time when the owner is absent and does not have the opportunity to feed the pet. When very hungry, the cat will meow and ask for food even after being fed.
Important! It should be remembered that a very hungry pet should not be given large portions of food. The animal may begin to vomit or begin to diarrhea. It is necessary to feed often and little by little, and not to succumb to provocations in the form of meowing and screaming.
A decrease in ambient temperature can cause an increased appetite in the animal. It is known that during the cold season, the body spends more calories to maintain heat, and accordingly, appetite increases to replenish energy reserves.
Old, long-lived cats often get cold. To keep warm, they need a lot of calories, i.e. food.
Sometimes animals have to be given enzyme, anticonvulsant or hormonal drugs. A side effect of these medications is increased hunger.
If a cat is neutered, over time he may become very greedy for food. The same thing often happens to a cat after sterilization. Owners often wonder why a sterilized cat eats so much. Animals become sedentary, prefer to sleep a lot, spend fewer calories, but constantly ask for food. In this case, the pet must consume about 70% of the food that it ate before, otherwise obesity is inevitable, which will lead to bad consequences.
These are the main reasons why a cat eats a lot and does not get enough.
Veterinarian assistance is often required
In what cases is it necessary to consult a doctor:
- the cat feels sick and vomits;
- the pet's body temperature has increased;
- the animal meows pitifully, it is noticeable that something hurts;
- diarrhea or constipation appeared;
- an increase in appetite is accompanied by weight loss;
- there is intense thirst and frequent urination;
- presence of traces of blood in feces or urine;
- the cat became lethargic and inactive;
- the animal is hiding and wants to be alone;
- the animal's fur has become dull and matted;
- discharge from your pet's nose or eyes;
- unusually active behavior.
When there is no need to worry
Sometimes a pet's constant hunger can be explained by natural causes, the character and behavior of the animal. A cat or kitty may simply be very active and spend a lot of calories. This is most common in young individuals. Accordingly, such pets will constantly feel hungry.
An increase in appetite in pregnant and lactating cats is also considered quite normal.
Note! Often a cat asks for food when he wants to attract attention. In fact, it requires communication. In this case, you need to pet the pet, chat with it and play.
What to do if your cat starts eating a lot
First of all, you need to carefully observe your pet. If there are any additional symptoms that are abnormal and cause concern, you should immediately contact your veterinarian. When the specialist asks about symptoms, the owner must describe in detail the facts that alarm him.
Important! If everything is fine with the animal’s health, you can try changing the food to a more nutritious one. But there is no need to get too carried away here.
Under no circumstances should you give in to the persistent requests of your pet, who may even yell for food. It is important to accustom him to a eating routine. Sometimes the problem is more about the owner than the animal. If the owner allows himself to be manipulated and gives food on demand, this can lead to a serious deterioration in the health of the cat.
Food should not be given on demand
Thus, every owner must be attentive to his pet, consistent in his actions and not forget that the animal’s health is in his hands. If necessary, be sure to seek help from a veterinarian.
Should I restrict my pet's food?
The packaging of the finished food shows approximate daily portions for animals of different weights and ages. Of course, there are individual characteristics, as well as uneven living conditions: cats walking outside, and even in winter, need more food.
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Should I limit my food intake? Despite the fact that high-quality feed contains consumption limiters, a program is provided for obese animals in which the daily portion is significantly reduced. But what to do when a hungry cat starts meowing? Distract him with entertaining games.
