This cat blog will answer the major question, “Why does my cat want to eat all the time?” we will also discuss the reasons why cats want to eat all the time, how you can cope with this problem, and what are the precautions you should take to avoid this kind of problem in your cat.
Why does my cat want to eat all the time?
Your cat wants to eat all the time because of the following reasons:
- Less food
- Psychological causes
- Worms
- Hyperthyroidism
- Diabetes
These are the major causes of your cat always wanting to eat something. You should rule them out one by one.
What are the reasons cats always wanted to eat something?
Following are the reasons cats always wanted to eat something:
Less food
If you provide less food to your cat it will always be hungry and will always want food. Besides this, the right amount of nutrients is also necessary for your cat. If any vitamin or mineral is deficient in the food it will lead to problems in your cat. If your cat is not getting enough calories from the food it will be hungry after eating.
Psychological reasons
There are psychological reasons for cats being hungry all the time. Your cat will eat all the time to escape from boredom. Boredom is the major factor of stress and it can cause abnormal behavior in your cat. Your cat will also eat to avoid anxiety.
The cause of anxiety is always in the environment. You have to find it and kill it and see if your cat returns to its normal diet.
Your cat will also eat more if it likes the food more. Cats and dogs are greedy eaters. They will eat if they like the food as much as they can and will want food after having a meal.
Worms
Worms are also a cause of increased hunger in your cat because the worm will take all the nutrients from the intestine leaving very little for absorption in the bloodstream. Following are the major clinical signs of worm infestation in your cat:
- Pica
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Worms in the feces
- Lethargy
- Weakness
- Rough coat
Hyperthyroidism
Hyperthyroidism is a condition in which there is overactivity of the thyroid gland in the body. The overactivity of the thyroid gland means it will release more hormones and so the body needs more energy to overcome this problem.
If you check the lower part of the neck of your cat, you will see two swollen lobes on both sides of the trachea. These are the thyroid glands.
Diabetes
Diabetes is also another problem that can lead to hunger in your cat. In diabetes, the pancreas is unable to perform its function so the body needs the energy to overcome this problem. It will trigger the hunger center in the brain to increase the appetite of your cat.
Cancer
The last problem is cancer in the body. If you have ruled out all the possibilities then this is the last one you should look for. You should take your cat to the vet and let your vet examine the cat. Your vet will go for some tests to check if your cat is suffering from any kind of cancer or not.
How can you cope with this problem?
The first thing you can do is to diagnose the cause of this problem. The second thing you need to do is to remove the primary cause of the problem. After that, you need to formulate the diet for your cat. The formulation of the diet is according to the age and the weight of your cat.
The kittens need more energy as compared to old cats. In the first 4 to 6 weeks you can give the meal in 4 chunks to your cat. After 12 weeks of age, you need to shift to a more coarse diet as the stomach of your cat is well developed by this age.
What are the precautions you can take to avoid these kinds of problems in your cat?
You need to do the following things to minimize the risk of such conditions in your cat:
- You need to take your cat off and on for a routine check-up at your nearest vet clinic.
- You need to formulate the diet of your cat according to the weight and age of your cat.
- You need to remove the stress from the environment.
- Provide opportunities for your cat to play on the ground.
Conclusion
In this cat article, we answered the major question, “Why does my cat want to eat all the time?” we also discussed the reasons why cats want to eat all the time, how you can cope with this problem, and what are the precautions you should take to avoid this kind of problem in your cat.
