I need some advice about my cat

[liz25]

My cat "Sabrina" is about 8 years old and in good health. But, she is constantly begging for food and is worse than a dog. She is really my mom/s cat, but I live with her and she gets fed can food twice a day sometimes 3 and the dry is always out. She is a lot thinner than she used to be but all of our cats have always gotten thinner with age. She isn't vomiting and is having no problems going to the litter box, but why is she so hungry? We are thinking maybe worms but we have had cats all our lives and anytime one of them has had worms there are signs and she has none other than being annoying and begging. Any suggestions on what we could give her to fill her up? Or any ideas on what may be the problem? We haven't taken her to the vet yet because she acts like her normal self besides begging. The begging has always been there, but now it is out of control. Any comments would be appreciated

[ICNDonna]

I think it would be a good idea to have your vet check her just to be sure there's nothing wrong.

Donna

[Shalai]

Hey Liz

I've got a new kitten that my DH started feeding tidbits too, and now, he is making a nuisance of himself, and guess who gets to break him of this lovely habit??:cussing:

Did this habit just start, or has it been gradually getting worse? From your post it sounds like she's got more than enough to eat, and that she is physically ok. It sounds like she might just need to learn some good old fashioned manners. Just keep pushing her away, and telling her "no", and don't give in, no matter how pitiful and sad she looks. She will eventually get the message (as long as no one else in the house is sneaking and undoing what you have done, which my dh has been known to do, lol).

My mom n law has an older cat who has been a beggar all of her life. If she tries to ignore the cat, she will literally keep on trying to get up in my MNL's face, trying to seize the food as my MNL goes to put it in her mouth. At the same time though, my MNL has never really tried to break the cat of this habit, and allows it to continue.

As far as being skinny goes, did this just happen recently, when the weather warmed up? My cats have always dropped weight in the summer (they are indoor 24/7).

Hope this helps some!

[hawkbabe143]

It Wouldnt Be Worms, With Worms They Loose Weight And Appetite (usually)..But It Is Always Good To Get An Annual Fecal Exam...Now As For The Begging..See The Pug Below Me...She Is The QUEEENNN Of Begging And It Is All Our Faults We Feed Her People Scraps So Now She Expects It!!...Honestly For As Many Years I Have Been Doing My Vet Tech Thing, I Havent Really Heard Of A Cat Being A VEry Bad Begger!!!...Ask Your Vet He Might Be Able To Shed Some Light On The Behavioral Aspect On That...

[Sarojini]

My kitty loves to beg too -- he begs for meat, especially steak, when we are having it. Usually I give him a few pieces and then offer him a piece of whatever veggie we are having with dinner. He sniffs it and since he hates veggies, he turns his nose up at me. Then, he thinks that the steak is gone and that veggie is all I've got left, so he leaves. LOL :lmao:

[armslee]

Liz,
I worked in vet medicine for 7 years. Call your vet and make an appt to take kitty in. Nothing is life threatening so don't be upset. Tell your vet her symptoms and they will check her thyroid gland to see if she is hyperthyroid.

My cat became hyperthyroid in her later years. It is very common. Early treatment is a daily pill for her. In more advance stages the treatment is very costly and more aggressive that is why it is best to treat early if that is what is wrong with her.

Let me know what your vet says. I will be thinking of your kitty and hope that everything turns out fine!! :grouphug:

[plaedes]

i know you said she is only 8, but some cats can show signs of being "senile" early just like people. all of my cats have started out as beggers, but learned over time that the only food they are going to get is what i choose to give them when i am done eating. i either put my plate on the floor or scrap it into their food bowl. one loves mac n' cheese sauce and another loves pork chop bones. i leave meat on there for her th gnaw on. i just hate it when she decides to drag it to another room. but any change in behaviour can be a sign of something going on internally and i would take her to the vet. always better to be safe than sorry. i recently spent $300 on that theory, but i'm glad i did. any later and my cat might have lost her back molars. she has black inside her mouth so it is hard to see if everything is pink and normal. everything looked fine, but her gums had receeded so bad she was in real danger of loosing 3 of 4 molars. now she eats much better and acts years younger (she's 9). my 10 yr old had to have a cleaning and a canine pulled last year. same thing, acts better, eats better. does beg more i think because she was having a hard time eating and it took a while to sink in what was wrong with her. thyroid and teeth are good places to start. good luck!

[liz25]

Thank you everyone for your advice!:) She has had some of her teeth pulled previously from them getting infected so, she doesn't have a ton of teeth left as it is! I did check her mouth and it is ok. She is actually my mom's cat and I have started to watch her more and I think she is begging a lot because she knows if she does it enough someone will eventually give her something. She is so bad! She always goes for certain people knowing that they will give her something, she is just way too spoiled. My mom is going to take her to the vet as soon as she has the extra cash just to be sure, but I am starting to think it is really just her begging. She acts like she can't hear you or something until you gett up to smack her butt, then she will move, but she will try to come back if it is something she really likes (shrimp, chicken, fries, cheese etc.) Thanks again and any more advice anyone has would be great!

[hawkbabe143]

It's Good To Hear That Your Gals Get Your Kitty's Teeth Cleaned And Pulled When Necessary!..I Have Done Many Cat Teeth Cleanings And They Really Have Alot Of Plaque Your Dont Realize They Have!!...Bad Teeth Can Also Turn Into Being A Unhealthy Kitty..It Affects The Entire Body!..Dental Cleanings Were Always My Favorite!!:smile tee