Can food affect behaviour?

[abbybaby]

Because he really seems to like their "Paw Licking Chicken", I gave Abby some Weruva tuna (I forget the name of the other ingredient) yesterday. She ate it quite readily. No doubt it was a coincidence, but she was a psycho kitty for the rest of the night. Not that she isn’t anyway, but the intensity was higher than usual. An hour and a half of wand toy playing didn’t seem to have any effect on her energy at all. As soon as I stopped (while she was lying on her side panting, seemingly done) she continued to dash all over the place, jumping up where she knows she’s not allowed (not that this usually stops her anyway). Actually it was more like she flung herself onto the back of my upholstered kitchen chairs, the end tables etc. rather than simply “jumping” and she kept making a noise, kind of a cross between a moan and a yowl. Several time outs in my bedroom did nothing to slow her or calm her down. I can’t imagine the food having an effect like that on her, but it was the only thing I did differently yesterday. Is it possible that food can have this kind of effect? It is not a full moon for a couple of weeks.

 

[losna]

Of course food can affect behavior. Just like with people, the quality and kind of food can affect health and behavior for cats. Not just behavior - food also affects the softness and silkiness of fur, the texture and smell of their stool, poor diets can even bring on health problems. Just like with people.

I can't answer the specifics of your question (Weruva types on your cat), but the general question is yes. Food definitely can and does affect a cat, just as it affects people.

Cats can even have food allergies, too.

 

[abbybaby]

Sorry, I wasn't clear. This change of behaviour was after feeding her one meal of something different. She bolted the food down then went into crazy kitty mood and never came down, and that's what made me wonder. Tonight I fed her the "usual" and it  has been a much more typical evening, with her having a session of playing, then bouncing around for a bit, jumping up where she isn't supposed to etc. but then lying down on her scratch pad, with her head resting on her paws, taking a little down time, in fact, she appears to be dozing a bit at the moment. This is much more like her usual self. Last night she just never stopped - in fact she seemed to get more and more wound up. It was a bit disturbing, actually. I was starting to wonder what was wrong with her, as she seemed unable to settle.

Believe me I know food can have an effect long term. My previous cat had issues with food, including suspected allergies that probably contributed to her chronic pancreatitis. When I first got her (she was five) I fed her what her previous owner had, but when she started developing her issues, she was switched to a hypoallergenic food and it helped a great deal. She had the softest fur - my vet, the specialist, and various vet technicians all commented on it. I felt that was due in part to her getting a high quality food (once she got sick) and also because she was such a meticulous groomer. Having gone through that, I feel it is very important to give Abby the best food I can. I planned to switch her to whatever my friends with an 18 year old cat who has had minimal health problems use. I was pleased to learn that they used the same dry food as the rescue organization does, so I didn't have to switch her. For wet food, I tried Wellness (which my friends use) but no matter how much I pare the portions down, she won't eat it all. The first Weruva flavour (the chicken) has been a different story - she eats it all. So that's why I tried the tuna one. As I said above, probably a coincidence, but I just wondered if there was anything to it, if maybe certain foods will generate a catnip like reaction. Actually, Abby doesn't react to catnip. Maybe tuna is her catnip.

 

[losna]

Ah, though my response is still the same.

I know what you're talking about though I think... Sinbad and Tempest have similar responses on mornings when their chicken hearts didn't fully thaw. I feed them a mix of wet and raw diet - so their typical breakfast is a mix of canned food with chicken hearts. This leaves them feeling sated and happy, and they will usually curl up after breakfast to groom and snuggle and nap. It's so cute, they'll sit and lick their lips like they've had a happy, tasty, delicious  meal.

Anyway - sometimes the chicken hearts don't fully thaw, and when that happens I fill out the missing calories with a little extra wet food. And this causes them to get what I call the zoomies. Sinbad starts letting out a cry that sounds kind of like BRRRRUUPPPPPPP!!!!! and he charges like a speed demon around the house. Tempest doesn't leave her safe room, but she flies around it in hyperactive acrobatic play mode like a mini tasmanian devil.

It sounds kind of like what you're describing, perhaps?

I always try to take out the hearts early enough in the day so they will be thawed in time for breakfast. Not only do they behave this way, but I've noticed when they don't start the day with some actual meat they never feel like they've eaten enough and will spend the entire day begging for food no matter how much they get.

Exactly like people, I guess.

If I don't start the day with a full breakfast I spend all day snacking.

 

[abbybaby]

Interesting. Abby tends to go psycho kitty under the best of circumstances, but this was a whole different level. I may give it a couple of days and try the tuna flavor again and see if I get a similar response. If so, I won't give it to her again. She has already broken enough of my belongings without my doing something to contribute to the behaviour.

Right now I am trying to get her to eat a can of wet food a day, but she usually leaves some behind to dry up in the bowl, so finding something she will finish is a work in progress. I make sure she has a bowl of dry food as well, since she won't eat enough of the wet. (I tried not leaving any dry to see if it would make a difference - it didn't). At least she will eat wet - my last cat wouldn't and I am convinced it caused some of her health issues. Abby also drinks water from her bowl, which is a huge relief, as Bailey would only drink it from the tap (or out of my glass or mug).

It would be nice if food had a controllable effect. If say, giving her turkey pate made her calm and mellow.

 Oh well.