Does your cat not only eat everything you put in it, but also anything you drop on the floor? Also, does he go crazy every time he smells a can of food you've opened and begs you for food constantly?
The obsession with food is a very common problem for many cat keepers who do not know how to avoid or correct it, knowing that it is not a he althy dynamic for the animal. In fact, your cat could have bad behaviors and aggressive attitudes with his environment if he is not pleased.
In this article on our site we will explain what to do if your cat is obsessed with food, detailingthe main causes and some of the treatments that you can apply to solve this problem.
Why is your cat obsessed with food?
Let's go straight to the source, food. In this area we could have the first cause. Even though your cat is eating all day, isn't getting enough, which is quite another thing. Analyze your cat's physical constitution well and see if he is abnormally skinny or, on the contrary, overweight or obese.
Most cats only need to be fed 1 or 2 times a day, but if they are not being fed, or are fed food from low quality, they will always look for food, both to fill themselves up and to nourish themselves.
Remember that it is very important to provide high quality protein to a young cat. Cats' appetites are closely tied to their protein requirements, so if they're not getting enough digestible protein, they'll still be hungry.
If you have other animals in the house, be sure to separate meals. For example, dogs are expert food thieves. It can also happen if we have several cats at home. Make sure all the animals in your home get food.
Symptom of a disease
Another cause for your cat to be food-crazed could be that he was suffering from some illness Many diverse he alth problems can cause behavioral changes and lead to a sharp increase in the cat's appetite
However we should not panic, most of them are usually treatable if detected early. Among them are: hyperthyroidism, or hyperactivity of the thyroid gland, diabetes (which due to low blood sugar will make you eat and drink more) Cushing's syndrome and digestive problems.
Emotional disorder in cats and boredom
Recently it was discovered that cats can suffer from emotional psychological disorders that lead to harmful behaviors such as obsession with food.
Your cat may be suffering from the disorder known as "psychogenic abnormal eating behavior". Psychogenic means that the disorder has a root that is emotional or psychological rather than physical. It basically means that your cat is addicted to food
The causes are still unknown but the treatment is based on training with behavior modifications, called a behavioral therapy course. Take your cat to an animal behavior expert for a proper diagnosis, but first, watch for the following signs:
- Even after eating his own food, he snatches food from other animals in the house.
- Not only does he beg for food while you're eating, but he's also capable of jumping on the table and stealing your food right off the plates.
- Hissing and grunting in desperation as you place the food portion.
- Excessive attention-seeking behavior.
- Attempt to eat objects and items other than food.
Part of your cat's rehabilitation will carry out the following dynamics:
- Play time and interaction with him.
- Boredom is associated with stress in cats, which in some cases, makes the cat want to eat even though it is not hungry.
- Reward good behaviors and ignore bad ones.
- Enrich the home environment with walkways, scratching posts, toys and cat houses.
- And very important, that there is no food circulating around the house, except at me altime. This applies not only to cat food, but also to human food. Remember that he makes no distinction.
Help him get over the obsession
There are some guidelines you can follow at home and monitor your cat's progress. You may be able to get rid of the food obsession, but keep in mind that this requires patience and can take a while. Consistency will be part of the long-term solution. Here are some tips for a food-obsessed cat:
- Make an effort to find the best quality food possible. This ensures that your diet contains a high level of protein that will help keep you fuller for longer. You can also choose to look for food with a satiating effect.
- A couple of times a week, add a small amount of wet food to his dry food and mix it up. This will make you more attractive to him and he will stop wanting other things.
- At the same time, dry food will make your cat want to drink more water and this will help keep him he althy and satiated.
- Never leave food feed available for him during the day. Stick to routines. Feed him at two regular times or get him used to only small amounts several times a day. One or the other.
- Every time he starts asking for food, ignore him. Leave the room if necessary or lock yourself in another, you must not give in with prizes or treats for cats.
- Restrict your cat's free exposure to food of any kind. Don't eat in front of him, adapt his schedule to yours and eat together
- Meals must be regulated, and for no reason, there is extra food.
- Spend quality time with your cat, this will make him feel less bored, therefore less anxious
