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Written by Wendy Christensen
Q: We've just gotten a 6-month-old kitten. He's our 6th cat. Ever since we've had him (about 4 weeks), all he wants to do is eat!! He has eaten (before we catch him) butter, eggs, bacon, salad, cukes.. .if you can name it, he eats it (as long as it doesn't bite him). He's even gotten into the garbage pail. Is something wrong with him??
A: Depending upon where you got your kitten, his behavior may be perfectly understandable. If he was a rescued cat, or born as a feral baby, or was in a shelter (especially a crowded shelter) for some period of time, or was born in a household with a lot of cats, he may never have had enough food in his short life. Some kittens who've suffered from early deprivation of food overcompensate when they finally get enough by eating everything in sight. If this is the case with your kitten, he'll settle down to a more normal appetite as soon as he's totally convinced that there will always be enough food for him from now on.
Even kittens born in more plentiful situations can feel deprived. If they are members of a large litter, or are the "runt" of a litter, they can get out-bullied by their larger or bossier siblings right from the start -- including access to MomCat's best nipples. Then, when the litter is weaned, the bigger kittens still push him out of the way at mealtimes. The kitten's owner might not realize what's going on, since all the food is disappearing. The assumption is that all the kittens are getting their share, though this might not be true.
Since your household includes six cats, your newest kitten may feel that he has to eat everything edible he sees before somebody else does. This might be because he was deprived before, or because he's afraid he won't get enough with all those other cats around.
Make sure each of your cats has his very own food bowl. Discreetly monitor mealtimes for awhile to make sure the new kitten is actually getting his full share of the cat food. It's possible that another of your cats might be pushing him aside and taking his food while you're not looking. It's very important, especially for a new cat in a multi-cat household, for each cat to feel that there's plenty of everything for everybody. Cats thrive on a sense of peace and plenty, abundance and luxury. So, especially at first, work hard to convince your new cat that you're a good provider and that there will always be enough food for him.
Also, remember that a six-month-old kitten is still growing rapidly and needs a lot of calories to keep up his growth and daily activities. Even so, it might be a good idea to take him to the veterinarian for a checkup, just to make sure he's not suffering from a metabolic disorder or other medical condition. Be sure to tell the veterinarian your observations about your kitten's eating habits.
Also, monitor carefully to make sure your kitten isn't trying to consume dangerous or non-food items. These can cause tummy-aches, as well as blockages and other internal injuries.
And please do keep ALL your cats out of the garbage and trash! There can be lots of dangers there, including spoiled food (harboring toxins and harmful bacteria), paper and plastics, foods and food parts that are toxic to cats, bones, etc. Use a trash can or garbage pail with a cat-proof cover, or take all garbage outdoors or otherwise make it completely inaccessible to your cats.
Herding Cats At Home - October 2004 1
Herding Cats At Home - October 2004 2
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