I adopted a two-month-old kitten from a local rescue centre. He hadn't been fully weaned because he was abandoned, so I've had to deal with quite a few behavioural issues, such as him being very skittish, always being hungry, etc.
He's coming up to six months old now. We've got through the worst of it, but I haven't managed to fix certain problems, like the fact he's always begging for food. I regulate his intake—I give him 60g a day split into four meals using a slow feeder bowl—but he weighs about 8 lbs and still seems starving. Just to mention, he's an indoor cat. Also, he's very (too!) playful; I can have him running around for 30 minutes straight without him getting tired.
This morning, he managed to get into his bag of dry food for the first time. To make sure he doesn't put on too much weight, I've skipped two of his meals and don't plan on feeding him again until tonight. Maybe that’s affected his mood, I don't know.
To help him lose weight, I play with him a lot—between 45 minutes and an hour a day. Today I brought out a new toy and he went absolutely wild with it. It was a feather toy with a bell, and he managed to pull off a feather and tried to eat it.
I tried to take it out of his mouth so he wouldn't swallow it and potentially get poorly, but he scratched and bit me, and even gave a little hiss. You have to understand, this is the first time he's hissed at me in the four months I've had him. I put him in another room for a time-out to punish him.
A bit later, I decided to try playing again, but now he's started growling while playing. He takes the toy, goes off on his own, and growls or hisses as soon as I get near. If I try to take the toy back, he gets really aggressive. The issue is also that he's hiding in places where we have to walk (like the hallway), so it's impossible to give him the personal space he’s trying to claim.
Is this normal? This behaviour is really worrying me. I don't want to lose control of the situation and have him be aggressive towards me or my family. I'm not sure how to react—should I keep punishing him if he's too aggressive, or will that just make the problem worse?
Thanks!
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Hi everyone, I’ve started a new thread to share my POV on pet nutrition.
Originally, this was going to be a reply to your post, but I decided to start a new thread instead because I didn't want you to take it the wrong way, and you’re certainly not the only poster this applies to.
To be honest, besides everything the others have told you—which I agree with—I’d add that 60g a day just isn't enough. That’s why your cat is acting like this, and it could end badly, especially with a cat that wasn't properly weaned.
The fact is, survival instinct—or just instinct in general—takes over when an animal is hungry. Personally, I don't think your cat just "feels" hungry; he is HUNGRY, plain and simple. Hunger isn't just a sensation; it's not like the weather forecast with their "feels like" temperatures versus the actual temperature. When an animal is hungry, it’s not just an impression.
Of course, you have to distinguish between hunger and just being greedy, and also keep in mind that a constant urge to eat can be a bit like OCD. But we have to stop thinking that the absolute bare minimum for survival is "normal," let alone a sign of good health, because it’s just not true.
Anyway, what I’m trying to say is that I’d recommend letting him free-feed on dry food. He should eventually stabilise himself at around 90g a day. Also, give him at least one meal of wet food a day. If he’s been neutered, use food specifically for neutered cats, but that doesn't change the way you actually feed him.
Like the others have said, don't ration your cat's food. A cat that has gone hungry in the past will gorge himself when food is available until he eventually realises that he won't run out again. This can take months (I have a similar character at home!), and since he's a kitten, you should let him eat as much as he likes. I'd suggest giving him a tin of wet food in the morning and another in the evening to keep him full, and leaving dry food out for him to graze on throughout the day. Plus, it's better for their kidneys because of the high water content.
As for the growling, I agree with the others—it's his toy, his prey, and he doesn't want to give it up. This is completely normal behaviour; you'll only frustrate him if you try to take it away and he might lash out. Don't forget that cats are little predators at heart. And don't punish him; it's counterproductive as he won't understand, and it's a double blow for him. If he gets aggressive or over-excited, however, just stop the game. He's a young cat in the middle of his "teenage" phase; he needs to keep moving, burn off energy, and eat!
Hello! Your cat hasn’t been socially weaned (take a look at my article on psychosocial weaning right here). You’ll need to get some help from a cat behaviourist to try and finish this stage quickly, based on what he’s already picked up and what’s left to do. Obviously, it won’t be quite as effective as if his mum had done it, but it will certainly help reduce the issues you’re having. He’s still growing, so don’t restrict his food or deprive him. He’ll learn to self-regulate if you trust him a little. I’d be delighted to help you and your young cat.
Warm purrs, Marie-Hélène Bonnet
https://wamiz.com/chats/conseil/le-sevrage-psychosocial-du-chaton-c-est-quoi-4110.html
Adopting a kitten that’s had a rough start—being abandoned and spending time in a rescue—isn't always easy. It’s a wonderful thing you’re doing.
You're actually doing a lot of things right already. If you’re worried about his weight, using a slow feeder is a great idea, as is making sure his daily food allowance is tailored to his needs and split into several portions throughout the day if he can’t self-regulate.
Regarding playtime, one hour for a 6-month-old kitten who seems very active isn't quite enough. It's great that you're playing with him, but he probably needs more time playing on his own too. He needs to stay busy and burn off energy even when you're not around. To help with this, you could leave out a variety of toys (balls, teaser wands, plushies), cat trees with a view outside, and perhaps some puzzle feeders... Getting enough physical activity to meet his needs should help manage his aggression issues.
From what you’ve described, it sounds like he might be showing signs of resource guarding. It's possible he went hungry when he was younger, for example, and that is still affecting his behaviour now. Because he’s "afraid of going without," he scoffs his food. Taking away half his portion might have caused some food frustration, which only makes the guarding worse. This could also explain why he reacts that way when you try to take a toy; he’s protecting what’s his and lashes out because he’s scared. In this situation, punishment is likely to make things worse.
You could try to create a more reassuring environment and atmosphere for him. Firstly, with his food, to avoid that frustration. You could try adding some boiled courgettes to his meals, for example, which will help him feel fuller (or other cat-safe vegetables). There are also weight-control dry foods available; you might want to have a chat with your vet about those. As for play, in addition to what I mentioned earlier, try not to take toys away during your play sessions (if you're worried about him swallowing bits, stick to safe, sturdy toys). Finally, make sure he has his own "safe spaces" where he can retreat and feel secure, like hidey-holes or high-up spots.
These situations can be tough for both cats and owners, and if the problems persist, it would definitely be worth seeing a veterinary behaviourist. They can offer long-term solutions and put your mind at rest for the future.
Hope this helps.
Have a lovely evening and best of luck with everything,
Hi,
I agree with Kelinda. There’s no reason to ration a growing kitten, and the same goes for a non-obese adult cat for that matter. The food-related stress caused by rationing has a negative impact on their behaviour. Dry food should be available 24/7. After an initial period of gorging (which doesn't always happen), cats are very good at self-regulating and they become much more relaxed about food.
As for the toys, why do you take them away when he gets worked up? That’s exactly what toys are for—so the cat can let off steam however he likes. Cats love pulling the feathers off wand toys and licking them for ages, as it reminds them of natural prey in the wild. I doubt yours is actually trying to swallow them. Punishing him for this doesn’t make sense given a cat’s natural instincts.
Finally, if it hasn’t been done yet, it’s time to get him neutered. The procedure has nothing but benefits for both his health and his behaviour. An unneutered male cat can pick up the habit of spraying, driven by instinct. Punishing him won’t achieve anything; the only real solution is neutering.
He's growling at the toy to mimic attacking prey, and if he's doing it to you, it's just because he doesn't want you to take it back. In that case, just leave him be; cats like their peace and quiet sometimes. I don't think there's anything to worry about, but you can and should get him neutered – it'll settle him down a bit.
Your cat is behaving perfectly normally. He scratched and growled when you tried to take the feather away because he doesn't like being handled and didn't understand what you were doing. There’s really no point in punishing him for that.
You should leave dry food out for him so he can graze; he’ll learn to self-regulate. He only weighs about 8 lbs (3.7 kg) at the moment, which isn't much at all. He’s definitely not a fat cat, especially as he burns off so much energy and is still growing.
