Hungry cat!

BB1984

Hi,
I'm recently adopted a 6-year old tom called Chester, who I love to bits
However, he seems to be constantly hungry! Every time I go anywhere near the kitchen he's weaving around my legs, crying for food. If I put any food down he wolfs it so so quickly then begs for more. He sometimes eats so quickly that he's immediately sick!

When I got him, he'd only ever had dry food, so at first I gave him only dry, and very gradually started adding wet food. I worked up to giving him one wet pouch a day (in 2 portions), and as many biscuits as he wanted. However, this seemed to make him sick a lot, and he also put on quite a lot of weight... So I decided to go for a good quality dry food as the bulk of his diet (he drinks a lot of water so not too worried), supplemented by the odd sardine for a shiny coat (as advised by the vet). The thing is, I give him the amount of biscuits as recommended for his weight on the back of the biscuits packet - but it's just not enough for him! I give him half in the morning, and half in the evening, and each time he eats the whole lot in one go then asks for more.

I don't want him to get fat, but I don't want him to be hungry either! He's currently at a healthy weight, and I mentioned it to the vet who wasn't too concerned as long as Chester wasn't losing weight.

My previous cat was completely different - I put down biscuits for her once a day, and she nibbled on them throughout the day perfectly happily, and never got fat!

So do I ignore him or give in to his cries and feed him more?!

BB

Little_Chicken

Maybe where he was before he had to fight for food so wolfs it down incase someone else eats it? My boy is a bit like this too - and he makes himself sick. As long as he's not losing weight I think he's ok. I can't stand it when my kitties ask for more though, and always end up giving in...

frannyann

I have a re-homed cat, he was a bit like that at first but settled down eventually once he realised that his food didn't disappear if he left it for a nano second!!! Now he is a fussy as hell!!

Abbafan1972

OP - Has he been wormed?

BB1984

Oh yes - I meant to include in my OP that yes, he has been wormed...

I can understand him eating quickly if he's had to compete for his food in the past, but I just don't understand why he acts like we're starving him to death!

BB

justmarried06

Ours tries it on all the time - we got that worried that the vet ran a geriatric profile for her (she's now 15) to make sure it wasn't her thyroid but I got a phone call from them with the results and the vet basically said that she's just a pig!!!

Now she calls at us for food and we ignore her or shut her out of the room for five minutes till she shuts up - once she realises we're not giving in she's up on a lap for a cuddle and chills out...until one of us goes to the kitchen to make a cup of tea and it all starts again!!

Sorry - rambled a bit there. Suppose what I'm trying to say is maybe he's shouting for food because he knows he'll get it? Unless is weight becomes a problem, or you can see that it will start to be a problem, I would carry on as you are now and try your best to ignore the wails......! Easier said than done though, I know - I feel for you!

JM xxx

rita-rabbit

some cats are just plain greedy.

My youngest follows me everytime I go in the kitchen & wants feeding. Initially I thought her tubbiness was kittenfat & greed was due to having to fight her brothers for a fair share of food, however 8 years down the line I had to admit she's just a piggy! She lives with me & an older cat who has always let her have priority feeding.