Do you sometimes want to strangle your cat...

[SpecialRed]

I would like to say not guilty, but he does get the odd treat  

I may go to vets if it gets worse, but while he still visibly eats small amounts of a variety of food and stays the same weight I will just keep an eye on him, and whip him into shape if need be!

[blackcat]

Mine do that even when they have just been fed and have full bellies - it is reflex pavlovs response I reckon. And in your case, messing with your head. Did you, when at home tend to give him a treat each time you got up??

[Dawn (DiddyDawn)]

I'm not sure, he's acting as if he's hungry by the sounds of it.  Are his motions okay?  I would definitely get a vet to check his mouth out, he may have a problem with one of his back teeth.   If you mention how he's acting as well, they may well be able to think of something     With his food, do you get a variety of flavours or stick to the same?   Mine prefer chicken or fish but not many of them like Beef flavoured so I stay clear of that one, plus it gives Billy a bad tum 

[SpecialRed]

how would you explain all the times he then goes and sits next to the cupboard with all his food in. If i walk into the kitchen he always follows and goes straight for where his food is kept.

[Dawn (DiddyDawn)]

I just think like humans, cats are going to feel hungry at different times so won't always want to eat when you give it to them.

[SpecialRed]

I do leave dry out sometimes and he eats a bit of it, then demands something else! I read that taking food way after 10 mins teaches them to eat or they go hungry, may be true may not, either way it doesnt work! lol

[Dawn (DiddyDawn)]

I've not read the whole thread but I don't agree with the withdrawing of food in this situation.   As Gill said he may have a mouth problem and needs to be checked.  If he's not got a mouth problem, it may be worth trying him on dry food as some cats prefer dry to wet, most of mine do anyway.  With mine, I just leave the dry down all the time and they eat it when they want and the wet food they have two or three times a day.  Whatever the problem, I hope you get it sorted.

[blackcat]

My lot colonise the dog kennel if, for some reason, they are unable to gain access. You might consider putting out a box with some warm bedding and make sure it is weatherproof for him. If you are renting, installing a cat flap may not be an option. A good idea I have seen in the past is actually to install a timber panel at the bottom of a sash window with the cat flap cut into the panel. That way the flap can be removed if you move out and you have not done anypermanent damage to the property. It will, however, require a couple of screws into the sash so that people with unkind intentions can not open up the window and let themselves in ...

[Rosella moggy]

Barry has no cat flap. I see where your going with this but I know a few people who only feed there cats twice a day without problems.

Does Barry have a warm place to stay outside as, if not, me and my pal suspect Barry has a second home esp as he's such a loving boy.  Does he always come when you call him or can he not hear you too well from his mat by his other fireplace or perhaps he wants to finish his other dinner first 

I think most peeps feed twice a day. Ours graze but that's not something I would recommend as such, just works for our 3.  Any particular reason why no cat flap? 

[SpecialRed]

Barry has no cat flap. I see where your going with this but I know a few people who only feed there cats twice a day without problems.

[Rosella moggy]

Just been discussing this with a colleague and her Lucy is exactly like Barry but she's an indoor puddie and certainly is not losing weight altho she ought to. She's definitley 'aving a larf

Am I reading your post right in that Barry cannot get in when you are out?

I'm sure you have got plenty of choices of cat food but someone could easily be feeding him something else that he loves probably thinking that he is being starved at home. Some cats are wonderful liars  

[JackSpratt]

I don't give them any choice.  What they get given just stays down and they get no alternative.  They both like their food too much to refuse to eat at all.  Sorry I can't offer any advice!

I think I'll have to ditto that. I used to be terrible for pandering to the cats whims, but my partner pulled me up on it - and I'm glad he did! It illustrated how much they took the mick. (It was a lot!)

[SpecialRed]

He ate all his food this morning and acts the same as he has ever done. He had a abcess last month and his weight was the same as 6 months earlier at his check up. I have a feeling its him being fussy as he has already eaten when he has been out. If both myself and my partner go to work he can be out for 8 hours at a time and so its possible he gets hungry and someone feeds him. The other factor that makes me think its fussiness is due to having a knee operation I have not worked since October ad so he has got used to me being around and feeding him more often, therefore allowing him to be fussy.

I just put my fingers in his mouth and had a feel and he just purred his head off!! He is that soft he lets you do things most other cats wouldnt. There was no discoloration or lumps etc

[blackcat]

and a paper collar with a message would not go astray either ...

[Gill (sneakiefeline)]

I dont know if we crosss posted Red but from what you have said I think a vet trip is definately needed.

[SpecialRed]

I never thought about the mouth problem as he does not having a problem eating when he does eat, biscuits or dry. As for his weight I can ony guess but im virtually 100% sure he is not loosing weight. As for your comment about getting nicer food, I cant see how, as I have every type of food going and some is very expensive high quality stuff.

One thing I will say is that it might be to do with the fact he has no collar on. After you lot scared me to death I took it off, so maybe one of the old dears thinks he is a stray. I might have to get a collar with do not feed written on it.

One thing he will eat is donner meat, he is mental!! (dont have a  go he doesnt get much, its just he growls when he eats it so I do it occasionally only)

He has been sort of fussy for several months. I dont mind the changing of minds in regards to what he likes and doesnt but he sometimes only eats a small amount of his fav food where as in the past he may have eaten it all.

[Gill (sneakiefeline)]

I think Barry has a problem and needs checking by a vet. How old is Barry and how long has this been going on.

I dont agree with some of previous posters cos know that my Kocka had loads of probs eating and if she refused food she would carry on doing so and would starve herself to death and this started before her health probs. I also had a cupboard better than any supermarket.

I would agree with Rosella and suspect a mouth problem but if he is not a young cat then it could be one of many things, and it sounds like he needs a check over.

If that is OK, the vet may say he is under the weather and give him a jab to induce his appetite but if he has not lost any weight at all then he may have an alternative place to feed where the food and company are better 

Seriously , first stop is the vet. Good luck.

[Rosella moggy]

It is just possible that he may have a mouth problem.  I have electronic scales so I know our lads' weights. Do you actually know for certain he isn't losing weight?

If you are certain he isn't losing weight then yup he's messing you around and prob getting fed nicer food by a neighbour.

[Desley (booktigger)]

My cats try that, but they get food put down morning and evening and they either eat it or go without - although I do only let them have one day of not eating. they generally do have biscuits to nibble on, but if htey dont like the choice of those (I have some in they dont like that much, so mix them iwth other things!!) then they dont get an alternative for a day. I dont take it back up after 10 mins though, and I have found with some of my cats that they prefer to eat when it has been down a few hours, or overnight when I am asleep.

[blackcat]

He's messing with your head. Cats can be very manipulative. You need to make sure he knows who is boss. I know we joke about being slaves here, but your relationship with your cat is very much a parent/child relationship. Domestic cats display more kittenish behaviour with their owners than the adult behaviour they show when out on the prowl. A mother cat will not take a kitten messing with them, and neither should you.

[SpecialRed]

He is an outdoor cat but spends it about 50-50. Why would he meow for more, sit outside his food cupboard and then finally turn it down. He wont eat the £1 small tins of the expensive stuff, so I can see him eating what some one else puts out.

[Susanne (urbantigers)]

I have never had a fussy eater, so can only tell you the theory. Mine eat what they are given and come back for more ...

Same here.  Occasionally they do seem to go off something they loved the previous week, but will still eat it.  I don't give them any choice.  What they get given just stays down and they get no alternative.  They both like their food too much to refuse to eat at all.  Sorry I can't offer any advice!

If he's the same weight and he's not eating what you give him, it does sound like he's getting fed elsewhere.

[blackcat]

Is he an indoor cat? If so you can break him of the habit by just offering the food for five or ten minutes then withrawing it. If not, he has probably found another food source outside and so that will not work. I have never had a fussy eater, so can only tell you the theory. Mine eat what they are given and come back for more ...

[SpecialRed]

Barry has become the fussiest eater ever. My cupboard looks like the pet food isle in Tescos!! Its now beyond a joke, he eats one food one week then wastes it the next. I have cut down his feeds and he only gets fed twice a day and even then he eats a mouthfull and then begs for more. He only eats the jelly and not the meat. I dont leave the food in his bowl for long after he has eaten as to encourage him to eat or be hungry. He is a decent size and weighs the same. He doesnt act ill. He is also like a dog in that he sits and watches us eat, and its not like he ever gets any scraps given to him. I have literally bought 7 types of wet in both gravy and jelly, 5 types of dry and in some instances he turns away fresh fish and sits by his food cupboard. My cats a idiot!