Why is my cat eating twice as much new dry food all of a sudden?

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 :)

Sounds like your cat was very hungry. Maybe you are not feeding it adequately so it will scarf whatever it can. Best feed her a good quality brand name wet food, approx. 5 to 6 oz split into two feeds per day.

Wow, Mau’s appetite does seem quite voracious! There are several things we can see in cats that lead to an increased appetite including hyperthyroidism (high thyroid level) and some intestinal diseases. I would have Mau evaluated by his veterinarian. They will track his weight and may run some lab work to check for underlying issues. If no problems are found, the voracious appetite can be behavioral and then the quantity of food being given would just need to be controlled more closely.

Hello. An increase in eating is not usually associated with neutering, but weight gain due to less activity is. Kovu is very young to have any of the conditions associated with an increased appetite such as diabetes or hyperthyroidism, but it might be a good idea to have this checked just to be sure. If Kovu continues to eat this way, he could become obese & could develop diabetes, so you do want to get on top of this as early as possible. See your vet to make sure there is no underlying conditions leading to his hunger. Otherwise, he may actually need a higher calorie food. Calories in cat food, both dry & wet, can be very variable in their calorie counts. Kovu might eat less of a more nutritionally dense food, so check your labels. If he just as demanding after a few weeks on a higher calorie food, you may need to actually switch him to a "light diet" where he will get more fillers & less calories. It is best to work with your vet, or ask for a referral to a veterinary nutritionist at https://www.acvn.org/ for further information. Thanks for using PetCoach.

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! The symptoms you describe may be indicative of hyperthyroidism or diabetes, both of which are fairly common in older cats. Tests such as thyroid hormone levels (T4 and free T4) can be performed to rule out hyperthyroidism and chronically elevated glucose levels would be determined with a fructosamine level test. These are done with a blood sample, but are not routinely performed. I would also be happy to look at any test results you have for Dylan and provide a second opinion.

Yes, I would stop using this dry food. Because it's for older cats, it's has fewer calories to meet the reduced caloric needs of older cats. That would be why Tim is so hungry all the time. I would donate the remaining food to your local animal shelter, I know they would very much appreciate it. Then you can put him on another Royal Canis diet more suited for his age. It can be wet, dry, or both. I only feed my cats dry without issue. I hope this helps!

Hi. Yes, if he is acting hungry despite getting enough food, I would take him in for an exam, labwork and a fecal test to make sure all is normal. In addition, make sure you are feeding a high quality food such as Science diet, royal canin, Iams, or purina.