Why Is My Cat Always Hungry? Causes of a Hungry Cat and When To Worry

A hungry cat may constantly ask for food because of boredom, anxiety, or an underlying medical condition such as hyperthyroidism or diabetes.

While some cats are natural grazers, free access to food can lead to obesity. Feeding measured meals at specific times can help you monitor changes in your cat’s appetite.

Here’s what pet parents should know about the causes of increased appetite in cats, signs to watch for, and when to contact a veterinarian.

Why Is My Cat Always Hungry?

A hungry cat may have an increased appetite due to boredom, anxiety, or an underlying medical condition such as hyperthyroidism or diabetes.

Signs of an increased appetite include:

• Eating their food faster than normal
• Asking for more food after finishing their meal
• Begging for food or treats between meals
• Scavenging for other food items around the house

Along with an appetite change, you may notice a weight change. In some cases, an increased appetite leads to weight gain, but several conditions can cause your cat to lose weight despite an increased appetite.

Luckily, an increased appetite is not an emergency; however, that doesn’t mean a hungry cat is something to ignore!

What Causes a Cat To Always Be Hungry?

A hungry cat may have an increased appetite due to behavioral causes, such as boredom or anxiety, or medical conditions, including hyperthyroidism, diabetes mellitus, internal parasites, and cancer.

• Boredom: Just as a human might snack when they’re bored, a cat may turn to food to occupy their time. Eating out of boredom can easily cause obesity in cats, which increases their risk of health conditions such as arthritis or diabetes.
• Anxiety: Some cats are anxious eaters, meaning they use food to soothe their anxiety.
• Hyperthyroidism: A hyperthyroid cat has increased levels of thyroid hormones circulating in their system, which leads to an increased metabolic rate. This means your cat’s body needs more energy to function. An increased appetite, especially when accompanied by weight loss, is a classic sign of hyperthyroidism.
• Diabetes mellitus: Diabetic cats often have an increased or normal appetite but still lose weight. Other signs of diabetes include increased thirst and urination.
  
  If diabetes goes untreated for too long, your cat can develop a potentially life-threatening condition called diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). In addition to excessive thirst and urination, you may notice lethargy, vomiting, and dehydration if your cat develops DKA.
• Internal parasites: Parasites that live on or inside your feline friend can rob them of nutrients by feasting on material in their digestive tract or their blood. To make up for this loss, your cat may want to eat more. Parasites are more likely to cause significant problems in kittens than in adult cats.
• Cancer: Some cancers cause your cat to require more energy to carry out basic life functions. As a result, your cat’s appetite may increase. Despite an increased appetite, a cat with cancer may lose weight. Depending on the type of cancer, it’s also possible for a cat with cancer to experience a decreased appetite.

When To See a Vet for a Hungry Cat

Contact your veterinarian if your cat remains unusually hungry despite attempts to alleviate boredom, or if you notice other changes, such as weight loss or increased urination.

If you notice that your cat is always hungry but haven’t noticed any other changes in your cat’s behavior or appearance, you can try to rule out boredom by providing them with extra enrichment. Ideas to try include:

• Using puzzle feeders
• Providing new toys, especially interactive ones
• Going for walks (using a leash or enclosed stroller)
• Providing catnip
• Turning on cat TV

If your previously hungry cat suddenly stops eating, this may be a sign of a more serious situation. If you notice vomiting, difficulty going to the bathroom, or other concerning behavior, seek emergency attention.

How Veterinarians Diagnose Increased Appetite in Cats

Veterinarians may diagnose the underlying cause of increased appetite in cats using blood work, urine testing, fecal testing, X-rays, or abdominal ultrasound.

• Blood work: Testing your cat’s blood allows your veterinarian to look at your cat’s overall systemic health. Blood tests are also used to diagnose diabetes and hyperthyroidism.
• Urine testing: Urinalysis is another important diagnostic test for monitoring systemic health. It can determine if the urine is too dilute, which could suggest other health conditions, such as hyperthyroidism or kidney disease.
  
  Your veterinarian will also note if glucose is present in your cat’s urine, indicating that they are diabetic.
• Fecal testing: Your veterinarian may test your cat’s feces to rule out parasites.
• Chest or abdominal X-rays (radiographs): X-rays are a standard way to look for abnormalities in the chest and abdomen, including the presence of tumors.
• Abdominal ultrasound: Abdominal ultrasound uses sound waves to generate real-time images of structures inside your cat’s abdomen. This imaging technique provides more detail than abdominal X-rays.

Your veterinarian will tell you if your cat needs to be fasted before their testing.

If you have a cat who doesn’t tolerate diagnostics well, your veterinarian may have you give them medication, such as gabapentin, before their visit to help ease their anxiety.

How To Treat Increased Appetite in Cats

Treatment for a hungry cat depends on the underlying cause of the increased appetite. Options may include environmental changes for boredom or anxiety, medication for hyperthyroidism, insulin and dietary changes for diabetes, or cancer treatment.

• Cats with an increased appetite due to boredom or anxiety may need changes to their environment. These changes may include things like providing more enrichment, a safe place away from dogs or children, or different litter box management. Some cats with anxiety may be placed on medication, such as amitriptyline.
• Cats with hyperthyroidism are most often managed with medication, specifically methimazole. Methimazole comes in oral tablets or a transdermal gel that’s applied to the inside of the ear flap. Other treatment options include prescription diets or radioactive iodine therapy. Surgery to remove the affected thyroid gland is rarely an option.
• Diabetes in cats is usually managed with injectable insulin and diabetic-friendly diets. Both diabetes and hyperthyroidism require frequent veterinary visits and monitoring while the most effective medication dosages for each individual pet are determined.
• Treatment for cancer will vary depending on the type of cancer. The most common treatments are surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy.

How To Prevent Excessive Hunger in Cats

Not all causes of increased appetite in cats can be prevented, but feeding measured meals, monitoring your cat's weight, providing enrichment, and maintaining regular veterinary care can help reduce certain risks.

To help manage a hungry cat and reduce the risk of preventable causes of increased appetite:

1. Feed your cat measured meals at specific times to prevent obesity.
2. Monitor your cat’s weight.
3. Keep your cat on year-round parasite prevention.
4. Provide your cat with ample opportunities for mental and physical stimulation.
5. See the veterinarian for your cat’s annual wellness check and allow them to perform lab work to monitor systemic health.