My diet cat is always starving and eating everything. Is she ill?

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.

If he's on a weight loss diet prescribed by your vet, then it may be that he just isn't used to getting "less" food. Feeding a higher fiber diet (most weight-loss diets add fiber) can help him feel fuller on less food, which can help with his being hungry on fewer calories. If the problem continues, ruling out any issues such as metabolic problems is also a good idea to make sure there isn't an underlying cause with it. You may also want to spread out his meals to several more throughout the day, instead of just 1-2 large meals, so that he feels like he is getting "more" over a longer period of time.

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 :)

Unregulated or poorly regulated diabetics cats often seem ravenous. This includes the newly diagnosed feline diabetic. As her diabetes becomes more regulated, her appetite will normalize. Feed a high quality canned food. Food that comes from the can looking like a hockey puck. No minced or diced food and no sauces or gravies. All those tend to have high carb content. Cats have no dietary requirement for carbs and excess carbs can complicate the diabetes. Most cats require about 6-8 oz of food daily.

It is more likely she is bored rather than hungry. You should do some environmental enrichment for her and I would also suggest you get an automatic feeder that will dispense food every few hours (her daily amount broken up into multiple smaller feedings through the day). I would cut out the wet food all together. Some Feliway diffusers may help to calm her a bit as well. ( https://www.feliway.com/us/Products/FELIWAY-CLASSIC-Diffuser ) ( thedrakecenter.com/materials/environmental-enrichment-indoor-cats ) ( https://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-5-Meal-Automatic-Dispenses-Digital/dp/B000GEWHNS/ref=sr_1_3?crid=3LGP5X3KNCN9U&keywords=automatic+cat+feeder&qid=1563116991&s=gateway&sprefix=automatic+%2Caps%2C485&sr=8-3 ) Hope this helps. If you have more questions you can always opt for a private consultation where we can chat back and forth. That way you can ask as many questions as you'd like. Best wishes.

Thanks for visiting Petcoach! In a situation like this where your pet is always seemingly hungry and eating other pets food, you want to first rule out any underlying disorder that can cause an increase in appetite, including Diabetes Mellitus. I would first get some baseline bloodwork done at your local vet to do a good overall health check. Then if she comes up clear for any underlying condition, I would recommend getting her on a food that is going to make her feel fuller longer. My top recommendation here is the Royal Canin Feline satiety. This is a prescription food however, so you willl need to get a prescription card through your vet in order to purchase the food from your local pet store. https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/royal-canin-veterinary-diet-satiety-support-dry-cat-food Her urinating outside the litterbox may be related to an underlying UTI or it also may be signs of diabetes, so it is important to get her tested. I hope this helps and best wishes moving forward with your pet Guinevere. I hope you get her appetite and inappropriate urination in control soon. Take care.

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.