Our kitten never stops eating? I don't know what to do!?

Question

She was given to us as a young kitten and we have probably had her for about 6 months now but she is obsessive about food. We have two cats and they have a huge bowl of biscuits out all the time so it's not like she has to wait for her food. But as soon as you go anywhere near her, she runs for her food bowl and starts scoffing the food like she has never eaten before. We are going through nearly 3kg of biscuits in a week which is way too much for two cats. I have tried limiting the food and it doesn't make any difference. She has milk and wet food once a day also! I just don't know what else to do with her? My ears are wide open to suggestions!

Answer 1

she may have come from a large litter where she would have to wolf down her food quickly to be sure she got her share, or she may have worms, the best thing would be to have a chat with your local vet, he may have a suggestion or maybe would like to examine her. good luck.

Answer 2

Often a cat or kitten that has known starvation does act frantically hungry for a long time after they've experienced starvation, and will eat every meal like its their last, but they still become full after eating a fairly normal amount.

There are a number of medical problems that can cause cats to overeat. Healthy cats rarely ever overeat.
If she really is eating all the time if food is available, have the vet check her for digestive problems. A deficiency in some enzymes for instance, can cause an animal to eat constantly. Such problems are usually handled by addiition of the proper digestive enzymes to the cat's diet, or other treatment, depending on whether there is a deficiency and what that deficiency is.

Incidentally, make sure there is always plenty of fresh water available, and an adult cat doesn't need milk. In fact, many older kittens and adult cats will get diarrhea from drinking cows milk, because they can't digest the fats in cows milk very well.

Answer 3

Even though you say limiting her food doesn't work it should. Your in control of what and how much your kitten eats. Limit the wet food to half a can a day. Milk isn't really the best its fating try water. and only feed your cat 3/4 cup of dry cat food a day. Check with your vet. Portion it out some in the morning and then some at night.

Answer 4

Is she overweight? If she isn't fat, I wouldn't worry about it. If she's getting fat, then you'll have to put them on a feeding routine. Limit the milk and wet food to very occasional treats. Then, check with you vet as to how much food to feed them - about 1 cup a day I think is more than enough for adults. Your vet will know how much.

That being said, if she's not fat, no worries. I had a cat who loved to be pet while she ate. If I walked into the kitchen, she'd run to her bowl (I also free-feed my cats, meaning the dry food is in the bowl all the time), and want me to pet her while she ate. She wasn't fat, so it was no big deal, just a very sweet habit.

Answer 5

I always considered the happiness of the cats a bit higher than health. Cat likes to eat. Why not just let it eat? It might shorten out that ancient cat phase of the cats life, but I don't think the cat's very content at that point.

Mmmmmm biscuits! Happy cats.

Answer 6

your kitten is insecure about his food. if he has to share a food dish, he will continue to binge as if someone else gonna take it away from him. normal behavior. make 2 separate dinner/food spaces--one for each kitty--you will notice a difference.
remember--kittens have to eat a lot so they grow right--i keep an auto-server of dry and then supplement with wet x3 each day, so kitty grows big and strong with good fur and eyesight and vitals.

show the insecure kitty his special food place and love him special times without having to share with the other cat.

Answer 7

Take her to the vet and get her checked for worms this is common in kittens.. She will also start to eat alot during growth spurts

Answer 8

take your cat to the vet immediatly, it's most likely worms