My senior cat is overweight and always hungry. How can I help her?

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.

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 :)

When an senior cat is eating more frequently yet losing weight, this can be a sign of hyperthyroidism. With hyperthyroidism, the thyroid gland is secreting too much hormone which causes an increase in the pets metabolism and subsequent weight loss. Have your vet check Hopes T4 levels to see if she is hyperthyroid and in need of medication to help stabilize her hormones so that she doesn't continue to waste away. This is easily diagnosed and treated with medication (i.e. Methimazole). Your vet will also want to run baseline bloodwork on your pet to make sure no other disease processes are there.

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.

Hello, thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. On average, most normal sized cats should be between 8 and 12 pounds. Any cat over 12 pounds (unless it is a large breed cat like a Maine Coon) would be considered overweight. So, Mittens is at the high end of the range already. Based on the photos she does look to be overweight. Due to her body frame I would say 10-11 pounds would be a more ideal weight for her. You just need to cut back on her food. Typically wet food is very high in calories so I suggest you cut that way back or stop giving it all together. My recommendation would be to work with your vet on weight loss if you attempt to get her to lose weight and she doesn't. Sometimes a prescription weight loss diet is needed. Many cats are just vocal - it doesn't mean they are hungry. If you give in to her every time she begs you she will continue to gain weight. Many times it is not food they are after is that they are getting something from you (it's like a type of bonding). You many have to get her an automatic feeder so she does not associate you with food. Hope this. helps. Best wishes.

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.

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.