Key Takeaways:
- Hyperthyroidism, parasites, certain medications, malabsorption, diabetes, and pregnancy are some of the medical reasons why cats may be showing signs of extreme hunger (or Polyphagia). These are commonly alongside other symptoms and should be investigated by a vet.
- Other, more minor reasons can include boredom, stress, a low-quality diet, or simply their genetic makeup.
- If your cat’s increased appetite is accompanied by other symptoms like rapid weight loss, changes in behaviour, vomiting, changes in stools or swollen tummies, then be sure to contact your vet.
The cat’s been fed - check! But why do they seem to be pestering you for more?
There’s a range of reasons why your cat is showing signs of hunger despite eating, ranging from minor reasons that call for some lifestyle changes to more serious health issues that require veterinary attention.
Reasons your cat is always hungry (Polyphagia) range from major medical issues that need immediate attention to minor issues that could be addressed by simply making some changes at home.
Reasons that require a vet visit
Some of the more concerning reasons why your cat is always hungry and may require a vet visit include:
Hyperthyroidism
Hyperthyroidism is a common disease in cats where a tumour sits on the thyroid gland.
This tumour is usually benign and causes an overproduction of hormones (particularly Thyroxine (T4) and Triiodothyronine (T3).
This overproduction of hormones can cause:
Increased appetite and thirst
Weight loss
Increased hyperactivity
If your cat seems to be happily eating bowl after bowl, but at the same time is losing weight, it could be pointing towards Hyperthyroidism, and it’s best to book a trip to the vet.
Diabetes
Diabetes is a common disease in cats, especially Type II diabetes.
This is when the cells in their body stop responding to insulin that’s produced by the pancreas, and their body initially tries to keep up by producing more and more insulin.
Eventually, it gives up. This leads to a spike in blood sugar, and symptoms to settle in.
Symptoms of diabetes in cats include:
An increased appetite but rapid weight loss
Increased thirst and peeing
Lethargy
Changes in their coat
Diabetes in cats typically develops in cats who:
Suffer from obesity
Have other health conditions like Pancreatitis
Long-term use of some medications, like steroids
Are senior
Have low-activity lifestyles
If an increased appetite is paired with any of the above signs and symptoms, be sure to get them checked by your vet.
They’ll test your cat’s blood and do a urine analysis to diagnose diabetes and then guide you on the next steps towards their treatment.
Diabetes is incurable in cats, but can be managed through diet and medication.
Worms and parasites
Just like dogs, cats are prone to contracting intestinal worms and parasites. This is especially true for outdoor cats, who roam the streets and come across who knows what!
Some worms and parasites can not only make cats lose weight, but also increase their appetite.
This is because, as the worms live in their gut, they take all the nutrients and goodness from the food your cat is eating. So the more your cat goes without, the more they’ll be coming to you for a bowl refill.
Worms that typically increase your cat's appetite are:
Hookworms
Tapeworms
Roundworms
Keeping up with your cat’s worming treatment, as well as flea treatment, is crucial, especially for outdoor cats. They’re very common and not necessarily life-threatening. However, they can lead to serious health issues if left.
Signs your cat has worms include:
A noticeable swelling of their tummy, or a ‘pot belly’
Runny poos or diarrhoea
Vomiting
Weightloss
An increased appetite
White flecks or segments of worms are present in their poo
They may also scoot their butt across the floor as worms irritate their back end
If your cat seems to be nudging you more for food, even after their usual meals, and is displaying any of the above symptoms, be sure to assess their worming schedule and get them checked by a vet.
Malabsorption
All those beneficial vitamins, minerals, postbiotics, and nutrients that keep your cat at the top of their game are extracted from a complete diet.
This supports their overall health, their wellbeing, their energy and keeps them in tip-top shape from the inside out.
Sometimes, cats can suffer from malabsorption, where their body isn’t soaking up all the goodness from their diet. Instead, it either comes out as waste in their poop or is taken by worms or parasites.
If this is the case, your cat will be trying to replace their nutrients by begging you for more food - and thus starts the vicious cycle!
Signs your cat is suffering from malabsorption include:
Losing weight despite always seeming hungry and eating excessively
Runny poos and diarrhoea
Vomiting
Smelly farts
Bigger poos that may contain pieces of food
There are many causes of malabsorption in cats, including underlying health conditions like IBD (now referred to as CIE), parasites, as we’ve covered, or they could be suffering from dysbiosis.
Dysbiosis is where they’re lacking the right balance of bacteria within their gut that helps support the absorption of these gold star nutrients.
If the bacteria aren’t there, the vitamins, minerals, fibre, and other nutrients just go out the other end.
If this is the case, focusing on bettering the balance within their gut with pre, pro, and postbiotic-packed food is a great place to start!
Pregnancy
If your female cat’s hunger cravings can’t seem to be satisfied, they may have a bun in the oven!
Of course, this is circumstantial. If you’ve got an indoor cat without any cat friends, then pregnancy is incredibly unlikely. But if you have an unspayed female outdoor cat who roams the streets, then they could be expecting.
And a sudden and significant increase in their appetite could be a sign!
A pregnant cat will always appear to be hungry as their body prepares extra nutrients to aid the development of their kittens. Both while they’re still in utero and when they’re born and need milk.
A pregnant cat will add an almost 50% increase to their daily food intake, and will noticeably get bigger as their kittens grow.
As well as an increased appetite, other signs of pregnancy include:
‘Pinking up’, where their nipples get noticeably larger and pinker
Lethargy and sleeping more
Becoming suddenly more affectionate and cuddly
Signs of nesting (looking for a safe space to give birth)
Significant weight gain
If you’re thinking your cat may be pregnant, be sure to book them in at the vet to double-check and assess their health.
Cancer
Certain feline cancers can cause their appetite to increase, as it zaps your cat’s energy and they look to replenish it.
Whilst it may increase their appetite, if your cat is suffering from cancer, they’ll lose weight rather than gain it.
Other symptoms of cancer in cats include:
Lethargy
Vomiting
Diarrhoea
New lumps and bumps that change or grow rapidly
Difficulty eating or drinking
Swollen lymph nodes or abdominal swelling
Rapid breathing
If you’re worried about your cat and their symptoms, be sure to get them booked in at the vets for peace of mind, or to kickstart the right treatment.
Minor reasons
More minor reasons why your cat might seem hungry all the time, that either are natural or require some change at home, can be:
Boredom
Cats are quite primal creatures. No matter how spoiled they are or accustomed to home living, it seems that instincts from their big cat cousins don’t leave them!
For some indoor cats, a lack of opportunity to scratch their primal itch can lead to a bit of boredom, even if they have a basket of toys.
To fill their time, some cats may turn to eating excessively, begging you for more food even after they’ve had their fill.
If your cat isn’t displaying any other worrisome symptoms, it may be that they just need a little more entertainment! (Not like we need a reason to spoil them with extra attention).
Stress
Just like dogs, a break in routine and usual environment can cause stress for your cat.
Stress can also encourage a cat to eat more and beg for food even after you’ve fed them.
They may do this to provide themselves with some comfort or just confusion stemming from a change to their usual routine.
So if you’ve moved house, got a new pet, or just have been spending more time at home, you may find a friendly paw swatting your arm more than usual.
Low-quality food
Cats are naturally high-energy creatures and need a complete, balanced diet to keep up with their lifestyle and ensure optimal health and wellbeing.
A low-quality diet for your cat often means they aren’t getting the necessary vitamins, minerals, and nutrients they need to satisfy their appetite and metabolic rate.
Not only do lower-quality cat foods often contain lots of filler, sugar, and additives, it’s not the best support for your cat’s gut health. This can also impact the way your cat absorbs the necessary nutrients, and a cat meowing at you for another bowl could be a sign that their body isn’t satisfied.
What makes a complete diet for a cat?
A complete and balanced diet for your cat often contains:
High-quality meats and protein
Oily fish for their Omega-3
Taurine to support heart, vision, and nerve function
Healthy fats
Nutrient-rich, cat-safe fruit and vegetables.
It’s wintertime
Yep, it’s true!
When the colder weather hits, your cat is more likely to seem hungrier.
This is because their bodies work harder to retain their core temperature, and natural instincts tell them they need to bulk up. That way, they have the energy they need to keep warm.
The opposite tends to happen in the summer, when your cat’s appetite may appear to decrease.
Unsuitable feeding schedule
Whilst each breed of cat will have certain characteristics they share, each cat is different and will have their own little quirks (we see you, Orange cats).
When it comes to their eating habits, some cats might be more of a grazer, eating little bits of their food at a time, and some might just not agree with the amount of time between meals.
This might lead to some whiny protests and the assumption that they’re always hungry.
They’re high energy
Outdoor cats that spend a lot of time playing and roaming outside may tend to beg for more food as they’re looking to replenish their energy. The same can be said for high-energy indoor cats (hello, Bengals) who love nothing more than to play, run, and pester you for cat toys!
If this is the case, you could try switching up their feeding schedule, feeding them smaller portions more often throughout the day, or placing their meals up high, making it into more of an enrichment game.
Ageing
A cat’s appetite and hunger can increase as they age. So, it could be that it’s your senior cat badgering you more than usual for some extra food. As your cat ages, their body isn’t as good as it used to be at absorbing nutrients from their everyday diet. This causes them to seek more food to keep their weight on and replenish their energy. That said, ageing cats are also more susceptible to many of the aforementioned health conditions, many of which have an ‘increased appetite’ as a symptom. If your senior cat seems to suddenly not be satisfied with their feeding, be sure to check in with your vet.
Genetics
Some cat breeds just naturally have bigger appetites than others, so they tend to beg for food even after being fed.
Cat breeds with notable, increased appetites include:
Maine Coons
Sphynx
Ragdoll
Bengal
Siamese
Cats who used to be strays also tend to have an increased appetite as they’ve learnt to fend for themselves and always take the opportunity to eat.
When to see a vet
Your cat always being hungry can be put down to many reasons, some more major than others.
It can sometimes be put down to something as simple as boredom or just who they are. But it can also be a symptom of a more serious, underlying health condition.
If your cat seems constantly hungry and has other aligning symptoms, be sure to get them checked at the vet to rule anything out.
The main, most concerning symptoms to look out for would be:
Weight loss
Vomiting
Stool changes
Behaviour changes
Symptoms are coming on suddenly and getting progressively worse
FAQs
Why is my indoor cat always hungry?
Boredom, stress, or anxiety may be the culprit for why your indoor cat seems hungry all the time.
Cats are quite primal creatures and love to exercise their hunting instincts. Outdoor cats get to do this a little more, whereas indoor cats may rely on you and their toys to fill their day. If your indoor cat is bored, they may look to eating to fill this time.
Alternatively, indoor cats are more exposed to your household’s routine. Any change to this routine or environment can cause stress and lead to an increased appetite.
If your indoor cat is showing any worrying symptoms alongside always being hungry, like vomiting, stool changes, or weight loss, be sure to get them checked with a vet.
Is my cat actually hungry or just greedy?
If your cat isn’t showing any other symptoms, is generally at a healthy weight, and is still begging for food, it could be that they’re just a little bit greedy!
Alternatively, if there aren’t any underlying health conditions present, it may be that your cat is bored or stressed.
If your cat is constantly begging for food, be sure to try some enrichment activities, plan in some playtime, or appeal to their hunting instincts with healthy, hidden treats. Or, catnip can work a treat.
What to do when your cat is hungry all the time?
Your first step should always be to rule out any underlying health conditions. If your cat is displaying any symptoms like vomiting, weight loss, and stool changes while always being hungry, be sure to get them checked by a vet.
If you’ve ruled anything more serious out, you could consider trying enrichment activities, slow or puzzle feeders, treats and training, or even feeding them smaller meals more often to cure any boredom and satisfy their craving.
Should I feed my cat every time they’re hungry?
In spite of how persistent they may be, try not to feed your cat every time they beg for food.
The odd treat is fine, but feeding your cat a meal every time they beg for it can quickly lead to weight issues and obesity.
If your cat is constantly begging for food, first try distracting them with enrichment games, playing, toys, or even some treat puzzles. That way, they’re not only entertained but also satisfying their craving for something to do.
Try to stick to a regimented feeding schedule to help your cat recognise when feeding time is. If you’ve got a particularly hungry cat, this could look like more meals with smaller portions, just to keep the begging at bay.
An increased appetite can indicate an underlying health condition, so be sure to keep an eye out for any other worrying symptoms and get them to a vet to rule out anything sinister.
