Does the "I am so starving, you must feeeeed me" routine stop eventually?

[NoNoNoMYDoIt]

Two boy cats. Both 1. They would eat 24/7. Every time I move they nearly floor me by dancing under my feet expecting food. They hassle anyone with food. And vet today said they are a bit porky. They don't get any snacks or titbits. Ever. Is this constant hassling for food something they will stop doing? Have had cats for decades but these two are food obsessed! It isn't like I ever indulge them with anything other than their own food twice a day!

[cozietoesie]

It does. But maybe they're a little bored as well so becoming a little fixated on their food? Have you thought of making them 'forage' for some of their food? There are food balls available right away for dried food - or you could make your own challenges. I'll see if I can find a reference.

[NoNoNoMYDoIt]

That sounds interesting. They do lots of hunting too. Bring me squirrels. They don't eat them though. Maybe I should be grateful for that? They do eat other things judging by the half digested regurgitated rodents I find in random places. They spend a lot of time outside and I wonder if they also get fed elsewhere as they are very sociable...

[cozietoesie]

\link{http://www.apbc.org.uk/system/files/private/advice_sheet_15_-_environmental_enrichments_games_for_cats.pdf\Here's} one reference but if you google on 'cat foraging toys' or something similar, you should find a few ideas.

[cozietoesie]

Hmmm - hunting cats who don't touch their prey and are a bit porky? I'd be suspecting other food sources as well I think. Do they have collars on which you could put a 'Don't Feed Me - The Vet Says So' notice, say?

[NoNoNoMYDoIt]

I will ask neighbours again. They have 3 cats and I know my two are very sociable with their cats. When the neighbours go away, my 2 seem to invite their friends in for sleepovers and indulge in antisocial nocturnal antics which result in me being woken up by someone else's cat sitting on my head at 3am.

I think they are just greedy sods. But it is pissing me off. They hassle me constantly for my food too. And hassle the kids also. The stupid thing is they never get given anything (by us). Perhaps the neighbours feed them their food at mealtimes... Hmmmm...

[Tommy]

my cat is a greedy, lazy so-and-so.
In answer to your question - no, it doesn't - she's 12 and still yowls for food pretty much constantly.....

[cozietoesie]

Microchip cat flap for a start then. It will only allow in cats who have 'authorized' microchips. Sureflap seems to be the one most used by posters - just under £70 online which is more expensive than the standard but will stop strange cats sitting on your head!

[cozietoesie]

Are you a soft touch, Tommy ?

[Treasures]

I read somewhere that cats self regulate what they eat. Or something. I.e. they will stop eating when they're full...

I have a 2yr old boy cat who is an indoor cat. He gets fed 4 times a day - the normal 2 meal amount split into 4 meals because it seems to stop him yowling for food all the time. Maybe you could try that if practical, it worked for us.

[TootFuckingToot]

My 3 are all around 18 months & are currently sat scowling at me through the conservatory door because I won't let them have another supper .
I wish it would bloody stop , the greedy sods

[Lonecatwithkitten]

I'm afraid the self regulations hung is a myth cats will eat themselves obese given the chance. Get a microchip cat flap, don't leave food down, make them hunt for their food and speak to your neighbours again. Obese cats get a huge number of expensive medical problems.

[livinginwonderland]

Mine have their food bowls in the kitchen. If you go in there, they miaow for food even when there's food sat RIGHT there in the bowls! They also know where the food is kept, so they sit by the cupboard and miaow and scratch like they haven't been fed in months.

They're only 10 months old though.

[catameringue]

Just to present the other end of the situation - I have 3 cats, 2 of which are thin but normal weight girls, and a stocky male who is at the top end of normal.

I leave food down all day. When it's eaten I replace it. I don't weigh it. Two never bother me when I eat. One tries its luck but fails. I am thankful I am so lucky. I putit down to dry food being boring for them so they only eat when hungry.

I'd suggest entertaining podge cat a little more. E.g. a laser pen up and down the stairs. Also I'd agree it sounds as though he's a several dinner cat, from somewhere.

[NoNoNoMYDoIt]

Thanks all. It is soooo stressful when they are constantly in my food / the kids' food. It's getting to the point where I have to shut the door to keep them out while we are eating. The kids can't even eat a bowl of fruit in peace without a cat nose in there.

They act like they are utterly starving the whole time, and it drives me nuts!

They are both pretty active - well, at least I assume they are. They are out all the time, and I assumed they were hunting in the woods, but I guess they could be going over the road, eating their food and curling up on their beds. Judging by the state of them when they come in (stuff in fur, muddy, wet), they do venture into the woods though. I see them coming up from that direction often.

I will talk again to the neighbours with the cats and just monitor the situation. The vet said neither of them were fat, but one of them is podgier than the other and at 1yr, he should be leaner than that.

[cozietoesie]

In my experience, you don't often get podgy cats who hunt a lot. The energy expenditure for hunting is really quite high for only a modest reward - although they'll still hunt for the fun (sic) of it even if they're not ravenous. I think you're right to be just a little suspicious that you might have a pair of Six Dinner Sids.

I'd also suspect the DCs (or someone else in the family) of slipping them the odd treat if they're pestering. In my experience, cats are creatures of great habit and they wouldn't continue to pester for absolutely no return ever.

The best thing to do is to keep to a rigid routine for their food and impress on the rest of the family that there are to be no table treats, for health reasons. It's a difficult one because cats can be very manipulative appealing and it's immensely gratifying, for kids especially, to see a small piece of nosh so enthusiastically received - if they are donating to the cats. I reckon they probably are. On the quiet.

Best of luck.

[Fluffycloudland77]

Mine only pesters Dh because he knows I am a no treat zone whereas dh saves him some fish or chicken and then complains "your cats on the table again"

[sashh]

In my experience, you don't often get podgy cats who hunt a lot. That's the theory, but a friend moved next to a wildlife reserve, he cats' treated it like it had michelin stars.

Mine has constant dry food which is refilled when gone, she seems to have a breakfast and an evening meal and the odd snack.

She will try to get what I'm eating. I once went to let a repair man in and returned to find my bacon and egg sandwich was in the garden!

On the cat behaviour course the was a recommendation that you wrapped tinned food (without the tin) in greaseproof paper and hid it around the house - personally I couldn't stand the smell but I do have a feed ball. If it has treats in then it is set to make it much harder work than if it is ordinary food.

[cozietoesie]

I guess the key word is 'often'. You do get the odd piglet of course but the cats I've had who hunted extensively outside tended to be big powerful cats - but it was pretty well all muscle and not lard.

My approach has always been - consistent rules. Because the blighters will take advantage of any perceived weakness. You run the risk of them then making friends with Mrs McCafferty down the road who might slip them choice bits of chicken or ham for nothing more than a bat of the Baby Blues but Hey Ho.

The notion of greaseproof parcels of wet food stashed around the house fills me with horror I must say. What if it's forgotten - or spread around the carpet after being hoicked out of its hiding place? High summer and the house filled with gently decaying Tuna in Gravy? Not for me.

[MartinaJ]

Mine get their dishes refilled twice a day - they were put on a low-cal diet after last winter when especially the young hissy missy put on lots of weight due to eating too much.
I found the low-cal granules and strict regulation great, when they were hungry, they simply went hunting but that made them move more so hooray for the little joys in life. Do not give in - I know it's not easy, cats are great at bullying.

[NoNoNoMYDoIt]

well, I have not put any wet food down now for 48 hours and they are sulking. they are grazing at their dried food but not eating much of it. And one of the cats has taken up station next to the dried food and miaows at me every time I walk past, as much as to say 'yoohoo - you've forgotten the wet stuff'.

I don't think it's my kids who feed the cats titbits. the kids are 7 and 4, and they only have food when I'm around and I don't ever see them slipping the cats any. They know not to. And more or less do what they are told (some of the time!).

However, I have put some fruit soaking for a Christmas cake and one of the cats has had his head in the bowl, even though I've covered the bowl over. Bloody greedy pig!

[cozietoesie]

Do you have a DP around? I'm afraid that unless there's a demonstrable illness (when words can be had), sneaking the cat food is on a par with fibbing about xmas or birthday arrangements. Suspect everybody.

Nothing wrong with giving them some wet food by the way. (You don't want them moving out to Mrs McCafferty's house after all.) Just be sure it's in modest amounts and stay strong the rest of the time.