My cat is eating way too much food. Why is he always hungry?

There are two very common health issues in older cats that are known for causing a sudden increase in appetite like this: hyperthyroidism, and diabetes. I would definitely recommend taking Lucy to the vet for a check-up when you are able to - he/she can do blood work to check for these problems. If she does have one of these illnesses, they are normally very treatable with medication once a diagnosis is made :)

While some cats exhibit bad behavior by getting into food, an excessive appetite can also be indicative of a health problem such as diabetes or hyperthyroidism. I would recommend having him examined by your veterinarian and discuss other signs of these diseases such as weight loss or changes and drinking habits. Your veterinarian may recommend blood work to further screen for these diseases. If Phoenix is otherwise healthy this could just be a behavior problem. If this is the case you have taken the first step by limiting his access to the food items. Providing enrichment for him on a daily basis may help as well. This can be done by using puzzle toys to provide his meals as well as using a laser pointer other toys to encourage exercise. There are other options for deterring unwanted behavior such as a scat mat but this type of deterrence only works if used consistently and in all locations.

I'm sorry to hear of your concerns with Master Shake. Excessive appetite and drinking can be indicative of a medical issues such as diabetes or hyperthyroidism. I would recommend that you have Master Shake seen by your veterinarian to ensure there's not an underlying medical condition causing this vehavior. Your veterinarian may recommend blood work to better determine if there is a problem. If Master Shake is deemed healthy you may need to begin meal feeding the cats so that you are able to portion out their meals and separate them to ensure the other cat is able to eat normally. You should not limit water for either cat.

Hello. This could be a behavioral issue, or possibly a medical one. There are some intestinal disturbances that can cause extreme appetite in cats. If this is behavioral, sometimes using the anti-anxiety medication amitryptiline, can quiet some of these extreme urges. But before getting into tests & possible medications, you might try switching your cat to a canned diet. It has been shown that some cats have a longer satiety response with wet diets. You can still offer hard food, but possibly offering this in puzzles can help. Kitty Kongs & treat balls slowly release food as a cat interacts with the toy. Homemade options like milk cartons & carboard rolls with taped ends & holes punched out to retrieve treats can keep your kitties mind busy. Give this a try & then talk to your veterinarian about other options at your next visit. Thanks for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Some cats have voracious appetites and although possible medical causes such as diabetes and hyperthyroidism would be quite rare in such a young cat. I recommend using a specialised diet such as hills metabolic or royal canin satiety fed in small meals frequently or better still using a puzzle feeder or treat ball to stimulate normal hunting instincts and both mental and physical stimulation.

If Mau Mau was not tested for hyperthyroidism I would recommend having him tested for that as well with this disease a cat’s metabolism is very high so they are constantly hungry. This sounds like what may be going on with your cat. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.

As he is already 11 i would suspect a condition called hyperthyroidism, the main symptoms is constant hunger. you will need to take him to the vet to get it tested, a medical treatment is available for this condition.