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Binge eating?

post #1 of 5
Thread Starter 

Not sure what to make of this so I thought I'd post here and run it by some of you TCSers.

 

Mooch and Noodles are both overweight and have been for some time.  I did figure that while they are big cats; they are getting a bit too much food every day.  So I cut back their night feeding by a little bit.  My intention was to slowly go to more of what my vet recommended.  It's been about 6 weeks since I started this. 

 

A few weeks ago I took both cats for an annual checkup.  Mooch has lost 1 lb over the past year.  Noodles has maintained her weight.  I told the vet that we feed them twice a day and it's gone within a few hours tops and they are begging for more.  She said it's pretty normal for them.

 

So here is the problem.

 

The past few days especially Noodles has been driving me NUTS with her begging.  Tonight DH and I happened to notice that she sat there and ate steadily for 10 minutes!  Normally I pour the food and Mooch will eat a few bites then sit back while Noodles eats.  Then Mooch eats some more.  DH actually went to see how much she'd eaten and shooed her away but Mooch was in the living room with us at this point so didn't get to take advantage of that.  As soon as DH left the kitchen Noodles went right back to stuffing her face so he put both bowls up for a few hours.

 

We have problems off and on with both cats scarfing the food then throwing it back up.  But we've had it a few times the last few days and I'm suspecting it's Noodles doing this.  She's not quite aggressive; but she clearly is the dominant one when it comes to feeding times.  One of them got on the counter last night and stole and ate most of the crust from DD's grilled cheese sandwich I'd forgotten to toss.  Found that on the floor.

 

If Noodles is getting most of the food; no wonder Mooch has lost weight!  I'm thinking I should try to feed them in separate areas so Mooch at least has a chance to get her belly filled.

 

Any thoughts or suggestions?

post #2 of 5

I have a binge eating kitty as well. And, it can be very frustrating when trying to whittle her weight down while still maintaining the others' weights. Another talk with your vet is likely in order, but, in the meantime, I can share what I've done that has worked. Maybe something will help you as well...

 

Cassidy is always hungry. She will beg for food constantly sometimes. And, she can also be very domineering at the feeding station if left to her own devices. So, I have had to feed her separately. When it is mealtime, I put her in the bathroom with a kibble dispensing toy. It keeps her mind busy while I am feeding the others and it is a good way for her to get in some much needed exercise and enrichment. I also went from feeding twice daily to three times and that has helped her get through the day without the addition of more food. Once the other cats are finished eating (I should mention that they all have their own dishes and measured portions), I take Cassidy into the spare bedroom and feed her there. She gets a measured portion three times daily. All kibble put into the treat dispensing toy is included in her measured feeds. At one meal per day, usually in the evening unless time does not permit, I place her meal in dishes around the room -- up on the high shelf of the cat tree, on the nightstand, on the far windowsill...so on and so forth. This gives her an opportunity to "hunt." And, while it was frustrating for her in the beginning, it has become a bonding experience.

 

Unfortunately, due to her weight, I've also needed to change her diet some. She also has IBD and has gastrointestinal issues. So, meal time can be a potentially stressful time. For both her and me. She eats a specific diet and everything...EVERYTHING...is measured out. I've also had to incorporate more wet food into her diet to help her lose some weight. It's not been easy and there have been countless consultations with (numerous) vets at work. But, we seem to be on the right track and things have gotten better. My other cats are maintaining their weights, Cassidy is on a weight loss diet that is working, and there is less stress when it comes who, what, where, why, and when I feed. What I do with Cass and the other is definitely more time consuming than what I was used to. And, it takes a lot of patience and dedication. But, with time, we're getting there. It's been as rewarding as it has been aggravating. What's important, though, is that it works for us in our situation. Everyone is different and I suspect you'll have to come to a conclusion about what will work for you, Mooch, and Noodles. But, it can be done. If nothing else sticks or makes sense, remember that.

 

I should mention that another component has been activity. I spend 30 minutes a day (at least) playing interactively with the cats. That means I'm waving a wand toy around, shining a laser pointer, or throwing a ball or furry mouse around the house. Sometimes, I noticed that Cassidy or the others would beg for food because they were bored. And, if that's the case, I try to give them new and entertaining things to do on a daily basis. On my days off, I up our play time to about an hour a day. If I can't do that, I will give them something to do on their own. And, regardless of the day, I switch out their toys and give them things that they need to think about as well as play or interact with. Keeping their minds busy keeps them from wanting to spend their time eating. And, it's a good way to ensure that they are active and moving around. What I do with them is tailored to their personalities and I've seen them become happier, more well-adjusted cats. I also have a lot of vertical space and scratching posts to keep them moving and entertained as well. Every little thing helps.

 

Rome wasn't built in a day. And, Cass is certainly not going to become an ideal size overnight. Awareness and willingness is key. And, it seems that you have both going for you. I wish you the best. A hungry, cranky kitty with a weight problem is no fun. But, as I said, it can get better. Talk to your vet, keep an open mind, and good luck...

post #3 of 5
Great post Alison!!

I have a former binge eater who by chance is the alpha male in our house (Stumpy). When I would fill their food bowl (I had a medium sized bowl), Stumpy always had his face firmly planted in it and would occasionally lift his head out so others could eat. He would gorge himself until he would vomit (we called him Captain Bulemia for a while), then come back and eat more. One day I was watching a documentary on lion prides and learned that the alpha males in a lion pride control who eats the kill - they eat first and eat as long as they like. Keeping others away is the alpha's way to maintain the pecking order in the pride. That explained Stumpy's behavior and may explain Noodles behavior.

I added a second food bowl next to the first. Stumpy wasn't as stressed about being the only one to control the bowl and his eating actually slowed down to the point where he no longer vomited. While the other cats gathered around the other bowl, Stumpy started to share his bowl with some of the other cats. I noticed he shared the bowl with the cats he liked the best, and would actually defer to kittens (he LOVES kittens) entirely. Both bowls are fairly large (about 8 inches across) so many heads can fit in there at one time. While I feed 7 cats now, there were 13 cats sharing those bowls at one time.

When we do wet food here, every cat has their own bowl. Stumpy is fed in his own spot away from the other cats because he will nose out other cats for their food if his bowl is close to others. There are times when he wants to eat close to the other cats, and still continues to nose out the others. When he does that, I simply put Stumpy's bowl in front of the cat who lost his and everyone stays happy. I can get away with this since everyone gets the same wet food. If any are on special diets from time to time, I separate that cat from the others so Stumpy cannot steal their food.

I can't say that I've had any cat ever beg for food around here, unless I happen to be late in feeding them. I've kept their feeding schedule so tight over the years that they simply know when I'm supposed to feed them, and they remind me when I'm late. I don't give into mid day feedings and they know it.
post #4 of 5
Thread Starter 

Thank you!  I'm going to really think over your replies and see what I can apply in our house.  I really don't want to go to 3 feedings a day.  I was thinking of that as an option since I'm a stay-at-home-mom; but I'm not necessarily home EVERY day in the middle of the day.  But I've got to make some changes.  I think first will be feeding in different spots.  Right now they have a small bowl each; right next to each other.  The idea of making her "hunt" for her food is intriguing.  I've given up on wet food for them.  That gets thrown up EVERY time anymore; no matter the brand or flavor.

 

Noodles has been seeking attention lately too.  Normally Mooch dominates my lap if I'm on the couch and Noodles will run off; though she is alpha in every other way around here.  Noodles goes through spurts of wanting a lot of attention; to not wanting much at all. It's all got to be on her terms. rolleyes.gif

 

The vet said Noodles has a heart murmur; and she will get to panting if I don't stop her from playing with her laser pointer or da bird.  She was like that before she was overweight too.  I guess because of that it's made me back off from playing with her like that.  But she still runs around here like a maniac on a regular basis.  Especially after using the litter box. cringe.gif  If I hear her in there and then she goes running; I know someone needs to light a match. rolleyes.gif

post #5 of 5

I didn't see anyone mention it, but... the food itself could be part of the issue.

 

I had a tortie would would gorge on food, then throw it up. such a pretty bolemic. But she was also on the husky side - even with throwing up every day.

 

I got tired of cleaning the red dye out of my carpets, so i changed food.

 

Strangely, not only did she tend to slow down how much she ate, but my flamepoint did too. Both of them dropped down to a more comfortable weight.

 

I admit that I tend to be a very erratic feeder and prefer to be able to put a bowl down and leave it there to fill again a few days later - or better yet for me, the self feeders are a godsend - as I'm almost always running late in the mornings and get frantic if the cats can't get fed, and often end up working late because some deadline changed during the day. With the food I had been using, I couldn't leave food down for them - because they would both gorge, though only the tortie would do it to the point of throwing up on a regular basis. After I changed food (to something I think was better for them in a lot of ways) I was able to let them graze throughout the day and night.

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