How to stop cats from being hungry all the time ?

9 tips to help your cat eat less

1. Offer him good quality food.

Food must contain in sufficient quantity healthy essential nutrients to be of good quality. In addition, the food must be highly digestible, that is, a large proportion of the nutrients present must be digested and then absorbed by the animal. If these criteria are not respected, the cat will always be hungry.

With all the cat foods available on the market, it can be difficult to know which ones are of good quality and which ones are not. You can read the label on the bag to get some information about the quality of its content.

2. Offer him several small meals during the day.

For your cat to be less hungry between meals, it is better to divide his daily portion of food into several small meals (3 to 5) during the day. This way, the level of nutrients and energy in his blood remains stable for longer than if he eats a lot at once.

3. Offer him canned food.

By eating canned food, the cat ingests a lot of water. This water takes up space in his stomach, which cuts his hunger faster than when he eats dry food.

4. Use a kibble vending machine.

A distributor provides controlled portions of food at pre-programmed time intervals. This is convenient if you have to be away from home for long periods of time each day because then your cat does not have to wait all day until you come back to eat.

5. Offer a prescription food designed to trigger satiety or to lose weight.

This type of food is suitable for cats who already eat good quality food, but who are still hungry. The fibers contained in these foods swell on contact with water in the stomach and take up space. Cats therefore generally feel full with smaller amounts of food.

6. Add dietary fiber to the food.

Regular Metamucil®, that is the one without any added flavors or additives, can be mixed with the cat's food. ½ teaspoon once or twice a day can help appease his hunger. In order for his stools to not get too dry, make sure that he drinks enough water and that he is well hydrated. Metamucil® can change the stools texture, which can soften or become larger.

7. Put food in a food toy.

Food toys are particularly beneficial for glutton cats because they help fill their hunger by slowing down their food intake.

Food toys also help cats with their behavior. Indeed, they stimulate their intellect, mimic hunting and help prevent them from developing behavioral problems caused by boredom.

8. If you have several cats, feed them separately.

It is difficult to control the portions of each cat if they all eat in the same bowl and at will. This way of doing things can make a glutton cat gain weight because that cat will tend to eat the portion of others.

If one of the cats rushes to eat his food and then goes to finish that of others, you can put him in a separate room to feed him. If he has difficulty jumping, you can also place the bowls of other cats higher up. For example on a counter or a small table.

9. Use a microchipped food dispenser.

Microchipped food dispensers are food bowls covered with an airtight lid. When the cat carrying the corresponding microchip approaches the bowl, it opens automatically.

This type of bowl is useful for preventing cats from stealing food from others. They can also be used when a cat suffering from a medical condition has to eat a particular food.

Why is my cat hungry all the time ?

For various reasons, the satiety signals that glutton cats' bodies send do not reach their brains. Therefor, these cats will continue to eat as long as their food bowls keep getting filled. When the food is digested a few hours later, they will become hungry again.

Why?

First, because the large volume of food ingested will have stretched their stomach a lot, which will feel even emptier afterwards. A bit like an elastic that has been stretched too much. When the tension is released, the elastic does not resume its original size and remains distended.

Second, the large amount of food digested all at once will raise the level of energy and sugar in the blood of these cats immediately after the meal. However, shortly thereafter, the sugar level will drop quickly and again cause hunger.

Why is it better for cats to eat small meals often ?

Cats are strict carnivores, which is to say that their diet is made of meat. In the wild, they have to hunt for 8 to 12 hours a day to be able to eat about 10 to 15 prey. Their digestive system is therefore designed to digest small amounts of food at a time.

Most indoor cats nibble throughout the day. Glutton cats, on the other hand, tend to eat a lot and very quickly, which goes against cats’ natural way of feeding themselves.

What is going to happen if my cat continues to eat all the time ?

A glutton cat that eats too much will get overweight. This is because the number of calories he consumes exceeds the number of calories he spends, especially if he does not exercise.

Obesity is a problem that is getting more and more common in domestic animals. It is estimated that today about 35% of cats are obese.

Yet, we now know that obesity is not just an aesthetic problem. Obesity is a condition that affects the health of animals by causing other diseases that, in turn, have a negative impact on their life expectancy and quality.

Indeed, obesity:

· Reduces life expectancy;

· Increases the risk of hypertension and heart diseases;

· Causes breathing difficulties and decreases exercise tolerance;

· Causes insulin resistance leading to diabetes and difficulty to control it;

· Causes fat to accumulate in the liver, which can affect its function;

· Increases the risk of infections and urinary stones;

· Impairs grooming, which can lead to irritation of the skin of the buttocks with urine and stools;

· Causes constipation;

· Decreases the fertility of breeders and increases the risk of dystocia (difficulties during delivery);

· Increases the risk of osteoarthritis due to excess weight on the joints;

· Increases the risk of anesthetic and surgical complications;

· Increases the susceptibility of the animal to develop cancers and skin problems.

In a word...

Cats are made to eat fractioned meals, meaning several small meals throughout the day. They are not made to eat big meals at once. Therefore, it is best not to give them food at will or to make it too easily accessible. Unless they limit their food intake naturally.

Your cat is becoming obese, but he is harassing you with meowing if you do not fill his bowl? Make an appointment at one of our establishments.

First, a veterinarian will examine him to make sure that this behavior is not caused by an illness.

Then, if his health permits it, we will be able to include him in our weight loss program specifically adapted to his needs and his conformation.

Text created in February 2019