Why is my cat begging for food, eating little, and stumbling?

This is not unusual behavior. In the wild, cats eat 9-16 times in a day. Since she is not over weight, you can continue free feeding her. Make sure she is checked regularly for worms and watch for any signs of illness. I hope this helps.

I'm so glad you took Princess in and gave her a good home! Princess should see your vet for a checkup to help rule out a physical cause for her behaviour. Your vet may want to run some tests (such as bloodwork) to help rule out any causes for the increased appetite. Check with your veterinarian to make sure that Princess is eating a diet that is sufficient in quantity and quality for her. Your vet may recommend changing to a higher fibre, more filling type of food if the behaviour continues. Visit the link below for some more information on how to stop Princess from stealing food: https://www.animalhumanesociety.org/behavior/keeping-your-cat-counter You may need to make some adjustments so you can help keep your home a low stress and comfortable place for Princess. Cats need at least one litterbox per cat plus one extra to help reduce stress associated with the litterbox. They should be placed in separate rooms, away from the food and water bowls, must be scooped at least daily (preferably multiple times a day)and washed out at least weekly with a mild soap, followed by thorough rinsing. Cats need a lot of space to explore, but keeping them indoors is much safer than letting them outside, due to the risk of injury from cars, wildlife, other animals, etc. The key is providing space (particularly vertical space for climbing, such as cat trees, ledges, and the like) inside the home. Visit veterinarypartner.com, indoorpets.osu.edu and healthcareforpets.com for tips on stress reduction. Providing adequate enrichment activities and a comfortable space to live in may help reduce the food stealing.

Great name! It is true at this age he could be having a growth spurt, but cats also learn very quickly to keep asking for food when they are rewarded! I would make sure his body condition is good (not too fat or too thin), and that he is on a good quality food with enough protein. If that is the case, I would get him on a meal schedule so that he (and you!) are not as tempted to ask for (or give) food when it is not meal time. If he is still staring at you, try playing with him or giving him new cat toys instead of feeding him. I think it is good you are asking this question instead of feeding him more as many of our cats are overweight!! I hope this is helpful!

Kittens will try to sniff food to see if it is appetizing to them, and will try to eat it if it smells good. You may not be feeding her enough, and I would check the instructions on her food to make sure that she is getting the recommended daily allowance. It is not advisable to feed her human food, as there are many that are toxic to cats. I would try to keep her from eating your food, and increase her food as needed.

What you are describing does not sound normal. Certainly adult cats will eat a little less than kittens if they are less active, but it sounds like Mischa's appetite has decreased pretty dramatically. You can certainly try changing brands or flavors of food in case there is something she does not like about her food. I also do not recommend mixing the canned and dry food because if they do not eat it all at once, moistening the dry food can cause bacterial growth. So, if you feed both types of food, just put them in seperate bowls. If you try a different food and Mischa still does not eat well, I would recommend having your vet examine her and possibily run some bloodwork to makes sure that everything is normal. Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

It's possible being a stray could play into part of it. Some cats also just really enjoy eating food. Ruling out any common issues such as parasites, metabolic issues, etc is also a good idea if you haven't already as this may also cause appetite changes along with weight changes/constant hunger. There are some timer-based feeders as well as feeding toys that allow you to schedule when your cat eats. The feeding toys are also great because you can separate his meal into smaller portions and "hide" them around the house for him to find. It encourages him to get some exercise, get enough food, but in smaller portions so he can constantly graze throughout the day without feeling like he's not being fed.

Your cat is still growing and may need more food than you are giving her. At this age she should get approximately 1 1/2 cans of cat food a day split into three feeds. That is approximately 8 oz of good quality wet (canned) food. Some cats need a lot of attention and lovings and petting, and if they do not get it, they will ask for food. So set aside time for playing with your cat, and talk to her or touch her every time you walk past her.