Why Is My Cat Always Hungry? (And When To See A Vet?)

Like any loving cat parent, you’ve likely spent a small fortune on the highest quality cat food…only to find your feline buddy meowing endlessly and demanding more – even after you’ve fed them. So if you’ve landed here, wondering – why is my cat always hungry? – you wouldn’t be the first.

Now some amount of food begging or insisting isn’t too out of the ordinary for cats. But if it seems like your cat became hungry completely out of nowhere – it may be cause for concern. So here are all the reasons you might be dealing with a hungry cat – including what steps you can take to ensure they aren’t sneaking outdoors for some extra nibbles and treats.

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So, why is my cat always hungry?

Now before we begin, we do have to admit – a cat with an insatiable appetite can be kinda cute. In fact, some level of being food motivated or extra enthusiastic around meals is 100% normal for most cats. Outdoor cats with large territories tend to be constantly on the move – meaning thousands of extra steps and calories burned per day. Likewise, kittens need extra calories to help them grow.

⚠️ But watch out: a perpetually hungry cat might mean you have to deal with some concerns besides them gaining more weight than they should. By which we mean your cat’s resourcefulness, creativity, and ability to sneak outdoors for some extra treats. (Especially if they’re an outdoor cat – but we wouldn’t put it past indoor cats either!) Which could look like:

• Scavenging for extra food from some unsanitary spots – like the local trash heap
• Sneaking some extra bites, licks, and tastes from the local hotdog stand
• Begging for food from your neighbors, other family members, and even folks at picnics

All of which open up the risk your cat might end up eating something off-limits for them – which could potentially end up with you two at the emergency vet ward.

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Get real-time location information, wherever they go. Find out when they go somewhere they shouldn’t, with Virtual Fences. And discover their favorite spots with Territory.

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My cat is always hungry and meowing – what gives?

Now before we all panic, behavioral issues can also play a role in why your cat seems perpetually hungry. So if your cat is constantly meowing at you and demanding food, it could be due to:

• Stress or anxiety
  Much like people, cats can learn to connect “food” to “comfort.” So it’s possible they’ve learned to demand snacks as a way to cope with any stress or anxiety. If you’ve shifted apartments or brought home a new pet or baby, it could be stressful for your cat.
• Boredom
  Your cat might be demanding more food because they’ve gotten used to you giving them attention around mealtimes. Regular playtime, puzzle feeders, and interactive toys can help keep them occupied otherwise.
• Competing for food
  One of your cats with a more, well, dominating personality might be stealing food from your other cats. Competing for food this way might lead one or more of your cats to overeat as a result. I.e., they might eat more quickly or demand more food for fear the “bully” will take away their food. Try feeding your cats separately – at different times or in different parts of your house. (Each with their own food bowl.) This can help put an end to any food-hoarding or bullying behaviors.
• Not getting enough food
  Your cat’s portion sizes might not be enough for their age, weight, activity level, or current health status. Your vet can best advise you on the right amount of food to give your cat and how to adjust their portion sizes without any unnecessary weight gain.

Read more: Cat Feeding Schedule: How Often Should I Feed My Cat?

Medical reasons why your cat might seem hungrier than usual

You’ve helped them de-stressed, gotten them some new toys, adjusted their portion sizes…and you’ve still got a hungry cat at home? It could be due to certain medical conditions as well.

Including:

⚠️ Notice how many of these conditions involve weight loss as a symptom?

It’s why it makes sense to monitor your cat’s weight to see if they don’t seem to be gaining any more weight despite eating more. This is one of the first signs something might not be right and that you should bring your cat to a vet right away. Here’s a handy cat BMI calculator to help you get a picture of whether your cat is underweight, overweight, or at a healthy weight. Else, you could also use their body condition score as a reference, in case you don’t have a weighing scale at home.

Check Your Cat’s BMI

Steps you can take to monitor your cat’s every morsel

Now a perpetually hungry cat isn’t likely to just be begging you for food. Anyone with cats knows how even the indoorsiest of indoor cats can sneak outdoors when particularly motivated. So if your cat spends any amount of time outdoors – even in your backyard or neighborhood – there’s always the chance they could be:

• Getting some extra treats from neighbors or passersby
• Rummaging through trash
• Stealing from a picnic
• Invading your neighbors’ backyards for some extra treats – and coming in contact with toxic substances like pesticides, poisonous plants, snail bait, or even antifreeze (which smells sweet to cats!)
• Or even hunting smaller animals

⚠️ All of which can open up their risk of eating something off-limits, poisonous, spoiled, or even fatally toxic to them. (Yes, no matter how discerning your cat might be when food is concerned.)

So besides following your vet’s instructions, in case it turns out to be a medical cause, here are some steps to help you monitor your cat’s every morsel.

Stick to regular mealtimes

Which can help your cat regulate their hunger, especially if they’re used to eating at specific times of day. Try and feed them around the same time everyday without much change. (Since a change in routine can stress them out – much like us humans.) Else, you could also break up your cat’s meals into smaller portions throughout the day. It’s a neat way to “trick” their brains into thinking they’re still eating – while not compromising on calories.

Your vet can best advise you on what types of cat food might be the most filling and hydrating.

• Wet cat food, for example, has more water content – which could help keep your cat fuller and more satiated throughout the day.
• Do make sure your cat is drinking enough water throughout the day as well – especially in the hotter months.

Set some firm boundaries with friends, family & neighbors

Everyone wants to spoil your little buddy with some extra treats. But in all, they shouldn’t account for more than 10% or so of your cat’s overall calories. Over-feeding your cat (especially on the sly) can lead to:

• Increased begging behavior
• Weight gain, which increases your cat’s risk for health conditions like diabetes and heart problems
• The risk someone might end up accidentally poisoning your cat by mistake.

So it makes sense to set some ground rules when it comes to feeding a cat that’s “always hungry.” It could just be a learned behavior your buddy’s picked up from your easier-to-convince relatives!

Keep an eye on your cat’s weight

With weekly weigh-ins, you can check whether your cat’s diet and portion sizes are a bit much, a bit less, or just right for them. Normally, if your cat is eating the same amount of calories as they burn, it should help their hunger stabilize over time. But like we’ve also covered, a whole range of medical conditions can result in your cat eating more – but actually losing weight as a result.

💡Which you can catch on to earlier if you’re monitoring their weight and BMI to ensure they aren’t gaining or losing more weight than necessary.

(Or their body condition score in case you don’t have a weighing scale.)

⚠️ Drop by your vet if you notice any unexplained weight loss in your cat despite no change in diet.

Figure out your cat’s favorite hangout spots

Your perpetually hungry cat might have a secret snack stash somewhere in your backyard – or another neighbor’s backyard, or at the local park a few blocks down. Or they could have a favorite hunting spot in the little patch of woodland by your house – or further away from home. Else, they could be getting fed by a new family altogether who think that your cat is actually their cat!

(Makes getting a picture of your cat’s favorite hangout spots a smart idea, if you ask us – especially since it can help you pinpoint where they might be getting some extra snacks.)

💡Which a cat GPS tracker can log for you all day long, if you check your cat’s Heat Map and Location History.

Like, for example, from Parsley the Maine Coon – as shared by his mom, Fiona Campbell-Smith:

“He goes everywhere! His confidence knows no bounds.

He has been in lots of different shops…pubs, hotels and even churches…(even) other people’s houses, whether he knows them or not, and he doesn’t care if they have another cat. He just walks past and makes himself at home. He even crashed a party once…

“Sometimes I’m at my wits’ end with him as he causes so much worry, not to mention them midnight visits dragging him out of a pub – sometimes in my pyjamas!

Read more: Why Parsley The Maine Coon Needs His Own Adventure Tracker

Now maybe your little buddy isn’t AS adventurous as Parsley. But if you’re finding your cat always “hungry” and itching to explore the outdoors, confining them indoors is only going to motivate them to find even more creative ways to escape. So why leave their safety to chance?

Track your cat wherever they go

See where they are in real-time, no matter how far they roam. Discover their territory. Get alerted if they go too far. Track activity, sleep, and receive health alerts if your cat’s activity changes. Keep your feline friend healthy and safe.

Get Tractive

Wondering why else your cat might be acting like you’ve starved them for weeks on end? Here’s a short, sweet video covering the basics:

And if you’ve liked this post, share it with a friend or a loved one – and let’s help build a safer, kinder world for our furry friends together.