Does your cat constantly ask for food or is he on duty next to your plate? It's not that funny. After all, if you encourage such behavior, the pet will steal food or bite you for refusing to share. We analyze 5 reasons why a cat is hungry all the time, and find 8 ways to solve this problem once and for all.
June 14, 2024
Why does the cat keep asking for food?
First of all, health problems should be excluded — for example, the presence of parasites. They can interfere with the animal’s ability to receive nutrients from the diet in full. Hence the lack of energy, which urgently needs to be compensated, and the constant feeling of hunger.
But if you have already visited the veterinarian and have not detected anything like this (or have identified and cured, and begging continues), then there may be several main reasons for this behavior.
Reason No.1: the cat suffers from boredom
Many people eat out of boredom – and cats have the same thing. They want to entertain and treat themselves to something new when there’s not much else to do. That is, the main problem here is a lack of mental and physical activity.
How do you know that a cat is bored? Here are the main signs:
- The cat takes excessive care of itself. It constantly licks the fur – so often and diligently that it can even lead to skin irritations.
- It constantly requires attention: it walks on the keyboard while you are working, etc.
- It sleeps a lot (and you know for sure that it’s not because of illness, old age or depression)
- It destroys the house: throws things off the table, unwinds toilet rolls, tears up wallpaper, etc.
The good news is that all this is completely solvable (we will tell you below).
Reason No. 2: the cat competes for food
This is topical for a house where several pets live at once. Fear of competition makes them literally pinch food. Hence the conclusion: every four-legged should have one’s own plate, which no one encroaches upon, and it is allowed to eat only from it.
Reason No.3: the cat is afraid of hunger
This fear is usually formed in shelter or former street animals. They need time to understand that they will now have regular meals (but not on request).
Reason No.4: you’ve spoiled your cat
You may have shared your food with your cat one or more times. The cat liked it, remembered it, and now expects that this practice will become permanent. In an effort to get rid of the annoying meowing for a while, you go forward and “pay off” with delicious pieces from your plate. The circle closes.
Reason No. 5: the cat’s main food is not suitable for it
Our furry companions are very picky about food, and for this reason alone it can be difficult to find the right food. In addition, some breeds have a very delicate digestive tract that requires special nutrition.
And, unfortunately, not all brands offer good quality cat food – with impeccable ingredients and an optimal ratio of proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins and fats. If the cat’s diet is unbalanced, it will try to compensate for the shortage by requiring supplements from you.
In addition, some manufacturers add appetite-enhancing ingredients to the feed. This trick makes pets eat large portions and want more.
In the end, the food may simply not be tasty enough. And a cat has only one way to satisfy its taste buds – to look for or ask for something more appetizing.
We have found out the main reasons why a cat constantly asks to eat. Now let’s look at some simple ways to wean it from this habit.
The bowl is full, the cat is hungry: 8 ways to solve the problem
Let’s make a reservation right away: there are no universal tips for all pets without exception. And what works quickly on one cat may go unnoticed by another. Don’t give up and remember: cats, like ourselves, need time to get used to the new rules.
Strictly adhere to the recommendations for feeding
Perhaps you belong to those pet owners who pour food into a bowl “by eye”. Ignoring the instructions on the back of the package, you are making a mistake: the pet may not receive the necessary nutrients. Check if you are doing everything right. Every self-respecting manufacturer indicates the recommended portions based on the age, weight (and sometimes breed) of cats.
More positive reward
Gently invite the cat to eat, gently talk to it while it eats, and always praise it for eating everything. This will help the pet understand when it’s time to eat, and what portion size to expect. And most importantly, it will gradually learn that its meals differ with yours in time.
Try the puzzle feeder
Not just a bowl, but a puzzle from which the cat will literally have to procure every piece of food. The game element stimulates both mental and physical activity of the pet, as well as slows down food intake (which, in turn, reduces the likelihood of stomach upset). Moreover, if you eat slowly, the brain manages to transmit information about saturation to the stomach in time. This means that the cat will eat faster and stay full longer.
Stand firm and ignore requests
The mistake we have already mentioned, which many owners make: the inability to resist. In no case be ruled by your cat. Learn to ignore it or just walk away from the place where the pleading meow caught you. Over time, the cat will learn to spend its time on something better than begging. And you will be able to show your love and care in another way. For example…
Hug and kiss (instead of eating)
Cats are observant and pay attention to what they get when they ask. Therefore: instead of treating the cat when it asks, it is better to hug, kiss and snuggle it.
As a rule, cats get angry and twist about in response to such a result, tearing themselves away from embrace, but over time they draw the right conclusion: begging entails consequences. Not always related to food.
Try to change your diet
It’s time to choose a new high-quality cat food that matches the profile and health status of your pet. It should be: balanced, designed taking into account all the needs of the animal, easily digestible and enriched with protein (which, as you know, gives the predator a feeling of satiety quickly and for a long time). And, importantly, the food must have high taste qualities.
As a rule, wet food for a cat is of more interest than dry. Its pate texture seems more appetizing to them. But there are exceptions. Tests have shown that the hypoallergenic dry cat food Cosmocat, developed by the innovative Russian company Cosmopet, has a high digestibility and a high protein absorption index: more than 90%.
The composition, developed by veterinary nutritionists, includes only natural, carefully selected ingredients. The formula is easily digested and promotes gut health, stress reduction and prevention of ICD.
The food is presented in the Cosmopet store on OZON. Consult with your veterinarian whether Cosmocat products are suitable for your pet and purchase them at a discount for subscribing to our Telegram channel .
Use an automatic feeder
This device will pour food at an unexpected time for the cat. Gradually, it will understand that: a) food does not appear at it request, but according to some laws of its own; b) food appears in the absence of a person, therefore it is pointless to keep at him.
In addition, portions can be adjusted using automation. For example, make them frequent, but small – this way, the food in the bowl will always be fresh, and its appearance will heighten pet’s interest.
Don’t let the cat get bored
There are several ways to entertain a bored cat. We recommend using everything:
- Put soft pillows and bedding on every windowsill in the house. Cats can sit by the window for hours and watch the birds, completely forgetting about boredom.
- Buy a cat house (ideally a multi-level one), with a scratching post and a ladder. Even if the cat does not use the attractions, it will surely love to hide in the “hole”. Staying in a confined space in itself is a great entertainment for cats. Remember the love of boxes in which it is so pleasant to sit, meditate, doze or hunt down hypothetical catch.
- Buy different types of toys and check which ones the cat really likes, and which ones just collect dust. Not all cats like toy mice, some like balls and puzzles. In general, take the time to choose a win-win option.
What is absolutely not allowed to do?
- Lock the cat in a separate room so as not to hear the meowing. This only contributes to boredom and destructive behavior of the pet.
- Allow the cat to eat from the dog’s bowl. We will tell you in a separate article why cats should not eat dog food and vice versa.
- Beat the cat, throw it out of the kitchen and show violence in any other way. But we hope you understand this yourself.
It is better to choose a Cosmopet diet that is ideally suited for your pet.
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