Content
- why my cat eats fast
- 1. Slow feeder
- 2. Silicone mold
- 3. Ice form
- 4. Egg carton
- 5. Bowls around the house
- 6. How to make a cat feeder
Cats usually have no problems with food. They usually know how to control the speed of ingestion and the amount they need to eat very well, often leaving part of the feed in the bowl. But there are some cats that, for some reason, eat in a very hasty way and, in the blink of an eye, clean the bowl without leaving a crumb.
This is a tricky problem because you can't sit next to him and talk to understand his behavior and not even convince him to chew more slowly to process food better. If the cat always behaves like this, it's because it's part of your personality. Consequently, the only way to alleviate this problem is to think of ways to make it difficult for him to eat the feed quickly.
In this PeritoAnimal article we will give you some simple and economical tips, if you have one. cat eating too fast: causes and what to do. So, let's present ways you can make it difficult for the feline to access the entire ration.
why my cat eats fast
Different reasons explain a cat eating fast. Let's detail the reasons below:
- Competition between cats in the same house
- unbalanced diet
- Stress
- Boredom
- parasites
- Depression
- Trauma
If you live with more than one feline at home, this could be the explanation. It is common that when they live in a group, one of them is considered the dominant or alpha cat, which can accumulate food. So, the other cats, when they have the opportunity, eat quickly because they believe they won't get another chance anytime soon.
Cats may be eating in a hurry due to stress, boredom or even depression because they feel too alone or because they are suffering from some illness, such as diabetes or hyperthyroidism, diseases that drastically increase the thirst and hunger of felines.
Our four-legged companions may also hurriedly feed due to some kind of trauma of the life I had before being adopted (when is the case). Traumas can affect a range of behavior in felines, and the way they feed is certainly one of them. In the past, he may have gone without food for several hours or even days and, therefore, when he has some food nearby, he eats voraciously so as not to suffer as in the past.
Another possibility that explains a cat eating fast is the offer of a unbalanced diet to him. Our feline friends need foods that provide the proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals in a balanced way to ensure their health. However, if your body starts to miss these nutrients, it may start eating more and in a hurry just in an attempt to make up for what is lacking.
Finally, it is possible that your cat has a parasite, such as tapeworms. So if you notice any changes in your furry friend's behavior, be sure to consult a veterinarian. Now, if you know him well and know that since a puppy he maintains this behavior, there are some measures you can adopt to help him eat more calmly. Keep reading.
1. Slow feeder
The stores that sell pet food and accessories also have slow feeders stainless steel or plastic designed to slow down the cat's rapid food intake. The most common models consist of bowls with obstructions in the center that prevent the cat from putting its entire head inside the feeder and eating practically without breathing.
So the cat needs to do true adventures with the tongue to be able to eat, changing the position of the head all the time. Slow feeders that hinder the cats' unbridled way of eating can cost from R$20 to R$200, depending on the type of material they are made with and the brand, so we recommend extensive research.
2. Silicone mold
Another way, more economical than the previous one, to make it difficult for the cat to eat food is to use silicone molds to bake cookies.
You can distribute the feed in different cavities of the pan, forcing the cat to eat the contents of each one little by little. One tip is to distribute the usual portion served in a bowl in every available space. It is a homemade adaptation of a slow feeder.
3. Ice form
An ice pan will also act as a kind of slow feeder, further delaying your cat's food intake. Like the cavities are even smaller than the silicone biscuits molds, the feline here will eat even more slowly.
Possibly your cat will use its paw to "catch" the feed and bring it to its mouth. This strategy, in addition to reducing the speed at which it feeds, will also stimulate your mind, something quite worked on in several toys for cats.
4. Egg carton
If we enter the recycling plan, a base or even the lid of an egg box can be reused if we use it as described in the two previous ways, also acting as a type of slow feeder.
The idea is to spread the feed through the spaces formerly occupied by eggs so that the cats have to ingest little by little the available food. We emphasize here that we must NOT use these bases or lids that are made of cardboard, and yes the plastic ones, which we can clean before and after use by the kittens.
5. Bowls around the house
Another way to definitely delay your cat's compulsive eating is to spread out different bowls of food around the house.
It's very simple. In addition to the feeder that the cat uses daily, you will need other bowls, whether they are saucers or even plastic, glass or china plates. Distribute the portion of the ration between all of them - using at least 3 and at most 6 - and place each container in a place in the house (the farther away the better). This way, the cat will have to find, with or without your help, the rest of the containers. This will force you to walk around the house looking for food, taking breaks to better absorb the feed.
6. How to make a cat feeder
Another option is to make a cat feeder at home. Below is a video from our YouTube channel where we show you how to make one of these. To make it difficult for the cat to ingest, it is enough that you insert some kind of barrier in the feeder that you make to prevent the feline from putting all its head inside.
And now that you know what to do if you have the company of a cat eating too fast, you might be interested in this other article by PeritoAnimal where we talk about cats that eat without chewing.
If you want to read more articles similar to Cat eating too fast: causes and what to do, we recommend that you enter our Power Problems section.