I have a fat kitty. She always makes me feel so guilty, I give into her demands and she just gets bigger and bigger.

We hear this all the time. Most cats are experts at getting us to do what they want. However, most cats can easily self-regulate their food intake and will not maintain excess weight when they are fed a proper carnivore diet.

Some cats will eat whatever food you place in front of them and then beg for more. Some of us have a hard time looking into those pleading eyes and we give in to their demands. This back and forth between cat and care giver can be hard on both parties and decisive action needs to be taken to break this cycle.

First let’s distinguish between a hungry cat and a cat acting out of habit. A cat wanting food out of habit will generally look at their food dish then at you, as if to say I’m hungry. If you walk away and your cat goes about their normal business then your cat was not really hungry, but may have been acting out of habit or concern that their food supply is getting too low. On the other hand, a hungry cat will become very vocal, follow you from room to room, always be under foot and may even become aggressive. No cat should be allowed to go more than 12 hours without food.

If your cat is not really hungry and acting only out of habit, then you can change their behavior. Changing a cat’s behavior will generally take a minimum of two weeks, you will need to be both patient and consistent.

Always separate love and attention and play time from food. Try to keep all interactions with food as boring as possible. A cat acting out of habit will be easily distracted with playtime or a good brushing. A hungry cat will not be deterred and will be very vocal. It is your job to feed enough food to satisfy their metabolic needs and then learn the difference between habit and actual hunger. We are always here to help, please do not hesitate to contact us with questions.