Your Cat is Always Hungry: What Should You Do?

Cats are typically grazers who snack throughout their waking hours, so if your cat finishes their meals and asks for more, this may indicate a problem, ranging from boredom and medical causes to simply needing more calories. Different commercially available foods have different caloric contents, and you can typically find a guide on the food container.

Because a cat's metabolism is impacted by their individual characteristics, including age, weight, and spay/neuter status, ask your veterinarian for guidance on determining your cat's ideal body weight. Your veterinarian can suggest how to adjust your cat's meal plan to safely reach and maintain their target weight. Your veterinarian may even recommend switching your cat to one of several other food options that can help them feel full and satisfied between meals.

If you have trouble easily feeling your cat's ribs or you can't easily identify your cat's waist when looking down from above your cat, they may be overweight. A consistent feeding schedule may be all that they need. Many pet parents choose to free-feed their cats; however, this can lead to extra pounds and unwanted health consequences, such as joint disease and diabetes mellitus, for those cats who lack self-control.

Remember, your cat's needs will vary depending on their size, energy level and health. Your cat's age will also play a role, as a cat's metabolism slows as they age, similar to our own. Your veterinarian will be able to provide a target weight and daily calorie number your cat should be consuming.

Some cats are better than others at cutting themselves off from the kibble when they're no longer physically hungry. No different from some humans, some bored house cats have been known to snack purely out of boredom. Unfortunately, snacking when they aren't actually hungry can lead to a host of medical conditions, including obesity, osteoarthritis, urinary problems and diabetes mellitus. According to Cornell Feline Health Center, obese cats are twice as likely to pass away when they're middle-aged (that's ages 6-12 for cats) compared to cats with a healthy weight. With this in mind, keeping your kitty occupied with activities beyond another trip to the food dish is a smart move on your part and well worth the effort.

Originally used in zoo settings, food puzzles are a great way to stimulate kitties and mimic an environment nature selected them for. Making your cat work for their food can not only improve their health but it can also decrease unwanted behavior problems that often arise out of boredom, such as anxiety and destructive behaviors. According to the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, food puzzles with rounded surfaces are best, so cats can easily bat them around. Many food puzzles are available on the market to stimulate your kitty, giving them a mental workout along with some physical exercise.

Each cat has a unique ideal weight and number of calories to achieve this weight, and this number may rise and fall throughout their lifespan. While it's easy for cats to gain weight, especially as they age and their activity levels fall, most cats will temporarily protest when their food is adjusted to an appropriate amount.

Keep in mind that this protesting is different from a nonstop appetite. If your cat seems insatiable or there's a change in your cat's appetite abrupt enough for you to notice, this usually indicates an underlying problem that warrants a visit to your veterinarian.