Cat gluttonous and eating too fast: what to do?

A cat needs a balanced diet. To do this, she must eat the right amount of food and get all the nutrients she needs. Feeding a cat correctly means adapting to him. You must take into account his age and his particularities. However, it happens that a cat is gluttonous and eats throughout the day. How to manage this behavior? How to improve your cat’s satiety? Answers!

Gluttonous cat: why is my cat always hungry?

Domesticated cats have different needs than wild cats. They don’t have to eat as much because their physical activity is very moderate. This is especially true for indoor cats. A cat’s appetite can be affected by its condition. Some felines need to be monitored. Here are a few examples.
The sterilized cat

Spayed or neutered cats can be more gluttonous. Spaying or neutering results in lower energy requirements. This applies to both males and females, cats and dogs alike. Once neutered, the cat must have smaller portions of food. However, her appetite increases! Therefore, it is possible that he may eat his meals too quickly.

The sedentary cat

Domesticated cats can be very sedentary. This is the case for felines who live in apartments and have very limited access to outdoor spaces. Of course, for them, there are cat trees and other similar structures, but this does not replace the physical exercise they can enjoy outside. The sedentary cat has a very low energy expenditure. Their intake must therefore be reduced. Vigilance is required with these inactive cats because they may develop the habit of eating to keep busy.

Pregnant cats

Pregnant cats have important needs in terms of nutritional intake. For her, you should make an exception and increase the portions. Once the kittens are here, the portions must remain the same until the end of lactation. After that, the amount of food should be decreased gradually.

The growing cat

A kitten can take up to 10 grams per day during its first week of life and then 20 grams per day until it is 7 months old. During this first period of its life, the cat will reach its adult weight which is between 2 kg and 4 kg. This weight depends mainly on the cat’s size and breed. During the whole period of growth, the cat’s needs are more important. It is therefore necessary to give him enough food.

Bulimia in cats

It’s a fact: a cat can be bulimic. This eating disorder can have medical causes, such as a form of diabetes mellitus or thyroid disorders. But bulimia can also develop in cases of anxiety. In this case, other symptoms may appear such as

lack of physical activity,
excessive grooming,
hair loss,
lack of desire to play.

A bulimic cat is most often a fearful cat. This condition can be temporary or long-lasting. It can be explained by a change of life or environment such as a move, a change of family or a different environment. If the symptoms persist, it is recommended to go to the veterinarian.

How to feed a cat?

There are several options for feeding a cat properly and thus regulating its appetite. In the wild, a cat can eat about 15 small mammals each day. A domesticated cat simply has access to a bowl. This is filled several times a day so that the cat can have several meals or kibbles available throughout the day.

To regulate a cat’s appetite, here are two mistakes not to make.

Giving 2 or 3 meals a day. A cat is not a human, it does not eat at a fixed time but when it is hungry. If he has access to the outdoors, he may eat small prey and the quantity of these meals may be too high.

Use kibble dispensers. Kibble dispensers may seem convenient when you’re away all day, but they’re not adapted to a cat’s needs. The portions are too small! They don’t fill a feline’s stomach and don’t generate satiety.

Normally, a cat should be given kibble so that it can eat when it feels the need. However, there may be times when this arrangement is not suitable for a gluttonous cat. A gluttonous cat can finish his bowl in just a few minutes when it’s full.

How to boost a cat’s satiety?

Bi-nutrition is the way to go

If your cat is overly gluttonous, you can improve his satiety. To do this, simply change the composition of his menus. The ideal is to set up a mixed diet that combines :

dry food, i.e. kibbles,
wet food represented by pâté, mousses and minced food,
homemade food.

The first solution consists in mixing kibbles with pâté. This alternative is very interesting because wet food is richer in water. It therefore takes up more space in the stomach and helps your pet feel full. If you opt for this form of bi-nutrition, you should offer your cat 3 to 4 meals a day. It is not necessary to provide kibble. As a reminder, cats live at night, so their evening meal must be more substantial.
Choose quality kibble.

When you choose to give your cat kibble, you must absolutely choose quality kibble. These contain all the nutrients your cat needs and, above all, their composition promotes satiety. This is not the case with entry-level kibbles.

If your cat has specific needs, you can adapt the kibble. There are many formulas such as kibbles for :

sterilized cats,
senior cats,
hairballs,
urinary disorders,
kittens,
overweight cats,
kidney problems,
liver problems,
skin pathologies,
cardiac disorders…

In general, overweight cats, seniors and sterilized cats should have a light kibble. Their nutritional needs are different and the intake to be provided is lower. It is necessary to take these specificities into account to ensure good health.

Monitoring your cat’s weight

Whether you feed your cat kibble or food or cook him small dishes, it is necessary to make sure that he does not gain weight. Obesity in cats is becoming more and more common. To reduce the risks and especially the negative impact of overweight on health, you must monitor your cat’s weight.

Here are some guidelines. The average weight of a cat is 4 kg. Sterilized cats tend to weigh a little more. Of course, this is an average. Some pedigree cats are naturally heavier. This is the case of the Chartreux, the Savannah, the Maine Coon, the Norwegian or the Ragdoll.

The average meal for a cat is :

15 grams of kibble and 150 grams of pate per day,

30 grams of kibble and 100 grams of food per day.

For advice on the composition of a gluttonous cat’s meals, you can contact the veterinarian who follows your pet.