I've got a real problem with my 6-month-old cat. She's constantly hungry; it seems like a real obsession for her, even after being spayed. She's actually started stealing food off plates, raiding the bins, and even tearing open bags of dry food herself. She wolfs down her dry food and then rushes over to eat my other cat's food too... Even though I'm already giving her way more than the recommended portion.
I've tried everything to stop her from stealing food, whether it's using a water spray bottle to startle her, using my voice, gestures, or taking her out of the room by the scruff of her neck. I'm at my wits' end... so if you have any ideas, please let me know.
(I'm wondering if she might have lacked food as a kitten or if she was weaned too early, and if that's the case, I don't know if it's possible to change anything...)
Thanks in advance!
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At 6 months old, she hasn't finished growing yet, so she might be having a growth spurt, getting the munchies, or I don't know what.
I went through something similar with a puppy years ago. Because he hadn't been weaned properly (basically, he’d been left hungry during the weaning period), my solution was to top up his bowl as soon as he emptied it. He ate like a madman, making himself sick, throwing up and then eating it all over again... two or three days were enough to calm his food anxiety and reprogramme him to eat according to his appetite, knowing there’d always be more.
Your cat is young, so I reckon that could work.
My cat is about the same age as yours. She has dry food available all the time. While she might tuck into her food with a healthy appetite at times, she barely eats half a cup in total over 24 hours.
My little girl, who I’ve had since she was 6 months old, is now 18 months, and she’s a proper little glutton and a total scavenger.
As I’ve read in some of the other comments, the dry food makes a huge difference. Since I switched her over to a high-quality kibble (Nutrivet), Maki eats much less (which is better for my wallet!) and she doesn’t try to raid her food bag anymore. I can even leave her a full portion out and she doesn’t just wolf it all down in one go like she used to—sometimes she doesn’t even finish it!
However, she’s definitely still a foodie. As soon as I take any food out of the fridge, she’s right there with her whiskers twitching, and if I’m unlucky enough to turn my back for a second, there’s nothing left on my plate, haha! But without scolding her, I’ve never given in; I always took back whatever she’d stolen and gave her a little blow on the end of her nose. Now she does it much less and just settles for sitting on a chair at the table next to me to watch (though there are still a few cheeky attempts now and then).
As for the bin, I put some weights in the bottom so she can't knock it over anymore, and obviously I don't leave any scraps lying around.
Anyway, I don’t know if that helps at all, but good luck with it! ^^
First of all, thanks for your reply,
she was 2 months old and was found in a woodpile, so it is indeed very possible that’s one of the reasons.
I feed her Virbac; it’s the dry food sold by the vet, so it’s very high quality.
😈
Angelaba... Welcome to the club! For me, it’s been going on for nearly ten years... ^^ Ever since I got him as a kitten, he’s been an incredible phenomenon that still leaves me speechless. My cat spends all his time wanting to eat; you strictly cannot leave anything lying around, and I mean NOTHING. I don’t know if it’s the same for you, but obviously mine has no self-control whatsoever, so it's impossible to leave dry food out all the time like loads of other owners do. lol
So, I get the impression yours might be heading down the same path as mine, so if that's the case: you just have to be careful with how much food he gets (especially when you factor in the 'stolen' snacks). Personally, I always try to keep my cat in good shape just by eye. It's also best to go for certain high-quality dry foods and make sure to play with him so he can burn off some energy. But don't worry, it doesn't stop the cat or his owner from being happy; your cat is probably just like mine and millions of humans: he just loves his food and enjoys the good life! :)
Jack’s owner
That’s exactly what I was thinking. It’s not just about feeding her more and more; it’s all about the quality. The dry food you’re giving her contains very little meat and a lot of junk, so it’s no wonder your kitty is constantly asking for more...
Don’t forget to give her some wet food too. Wet food is essential, along with plenty of fresh water always available.
It sounds like she wasn't weaned properly, which explains the food obsession.
Virbac (like all the dry food you get from the vet) isn't actually suited to a cat's diet at all, despite what people think. Since cats are obligate carnivores—just like tigers or lions—their nutritional needs are based on meat intake (animal protein).
Here’s what’s actually in Virbac dry food:
- Grains => really bad for cats because of the high carbohydrate content, and potentially toxic due to mycotoxins.
- Animal protein of very questionable quality and a relatively low percentage (likely under 30%).
- Vegetable by-products.
On top of being too high in carbs (over 30% is just massive), they clearly aren't suitable or nutritious enough.
Basically, when your cat eats this food, it's like you being starving and trying to fill up on peanuts: it takes the edge off at first, but it doesn't actually nourish you. It doesn't meet the nutritional requirements your body needs, it increases the risk of health issues (diabetes, obesity, pancreatitis...), and you'll be hungry again in no time.
That is exactly what happens with your cat when you give her dry food that’s mostly made of grains and poor-quality animal protein! To be truly satisfied, your cat needs a much meatier diet and, importantly, one that's lower in carbs, which they can't process well as they don't have the right enzymes in their saliva. In fact, grains are harmful and completely unnecessary in a cat's diet (or a dog's, for that matter).
I’d suggest looking into some of the research out there regarding what's really in pet food; there are some great books and blogs that expose the issues with standard dry food.
So, I’d advise switching brands to a more appropriate range like Orijen, Power of Nature, Go! Trout, Porta 21 Feline Finest Sensible, Purizon, or Nutrivet...
Just make sure you do a proper transition, even if you have to use intermediate brands to gradually reduce the carb levels, so you don't mess up your cat's gut flora.
Dry food like this will provide the nutrients her body actually needs, and she’ll feel full much quicker. I think that will help settle your cat's over-the-top appetite.
Not all cats are thieves, but for some, the urge to steal is down to instinct. Even a well-fed cat with "free-flow" meals (having high-quality dry food available all the time) isn't immune to the desire to pinch something.
For some cats, food they’ve actually had to work for is far more satisfying than what you serve them every day.
You have to remember that stealing is just part of a cat's nature; it could be instinct, but sometimes a cat will start nicking food simply because they're a bit of a glutton.
They’re also full of mischief and love putting their intelligence and problem-solving skills to the test.
Don't bother scolding them unless you catch them red-handed. Your cat might understand it's not allowed (though that won't necessarily stop them from doing it again!). Since it's a natural instinct, it's not something you can just train out of them. The best thing you can do is avoid tempting them as much as possible. For instance, pop them in another room while you're prepping meals. If there's no temptation, they won't do anything. Also, make sure not to leave anything lying around and keep your bin lid tightly shut, etc.
It’s not very pleasant, I can imagine! I’ve been lucky enough never to have had this problem myself.
