It’s natural for a cat to stuff itself when it can. In the wild, it may be days between meals caught, so when food’s available, instinct says to gorge. And when not actively hunting, sleep to conserve energy for hunting.
I’ve had five cats in a row who were given food constantly, and who could eat whatever they wanted whenever they wanted. Not a single one would “pig out”. They all ate moderately, and didn’t gain a pound. I know there are some cats who will become blimps if they’re given the chance, but not all of them wll – and, in my own experience, most won’t.
During Career Day at the middle school, asked a vet about this. He said some cats just get fat. He said he had two, treated them the same, and one got fat and the other one didn’t and he didn’t know why…All cats are cool though….
Did this once, without the note, when went out of town day before my mom got back from trip. When I called her the next night, she chewed me out for not leaving food for the cat when I said that I’d left HEAPING bowl, she paused, then commented that the cat was acting a bit ill.
Sadie-bug, our black and white domestic, is a nibbler. Dry food is always available but she will nibble periodically all day long. Never pigs out and she is slim. She’ll mooch chicken from us when available though. Loves cat-nip!
I know a dog that ate tried to a whole 50 pound bag of dog food. Sad to say it was found dead beside the half eaten bag. I leave cat food out for my cats and they never over eat.
I agree with the cat owners here. Even fat cats won’t eat much at one time…unless they have been without food for a while. Now a dog on the other hand…
I have been owned my numerous cats…rescues….once they found out their food supply would be there when they wanted it, they ate normally and never pigged out….or “catted” out perhaps….
Our cats mostly eat moderately too – until we heap up their bowl and go away for a day or two – then, we can count on the bowl being empty no matter it had three days worth of food in it.
My cat was a nibbler (had one of those multi-day feeders) , but when I moved into a place with two other cats, I had to lock mine in my room because the other (original) cats would completely pig out on any food left out in the open. So much for socialization.
Until recently we had 3 cats and a dog. We had to keep the cat food dishes in a separate room that we could put a gate on. The cats could get under the gate but the dog could not. The cats would nibble and had food out all the time. The dog would eat all his at one sitting, and anything else he could get to.
One of the cats liked the dog food, too. He would sometimes beat the dog (Rusty) to his food, and Rusty would sit back patiently until the cat walked away. He knew the cat would not eat much or for long. He was a good dog with the cats, and they would even go to him for protection during a thunder storm. I miss him, and our girl cat that left us soon after Rusty. RIP *2
Yeah, sorry, but that just doesn’t play out in RL..Aside from all the cat owners who’s cats DON’T gorge (my 5-7 lb.er included) just look at the big cats in the wild. Panthers drag carcasses up a tree and leave them there to come back to later for more meals. If an animal eats itself sick, that’s food (and thus the energy to catch it) wasted. In the real world, MOST animals do NOT eat every scrap of food avialable unless sick.
bigbob1946 almost 11 years ago
Cats have only one outlook ME ME ME
WillardMBaker almost 11 years ago
It’s natural for a cat to stuff itself when it can. In the wild, it may be days between meals caught, so when food’s available, instinct says to gorge. And when not actively hunting, sleep to conserve energy for hunting.
farren almost 11 years ago
I’ve had five cats in a row who were given food constantly, and who could eat whatever they wanted whenever they wanted. Not a single one would “pig out”. They all ate moderately, and didn’t gain a pound. I know there are some cats who will become blimps if they’re given the chance, but not all of them wll – and, in my own experience, most won’t.
Clotty Peristalt almost 11 years ago
All cats fail the marshmallow test
emjaycee almost 11 years ago
He even ate the note. That is one hungry cat.
Varnes almost 11 years ago
During Career Day at the middle school, asked a vet about this. He said some cats just get fat. He said he had two, treated them the same, and one got fat and the other one didn’t and he didn’t know why…All cats are cool though….
missmokie almost 11 years ago
Did this once, without the note, when went out of town day before my mom got back from trip. When I called her the next night, she chewed me out for not leaving food for the cat when I said that I’d left HEAPING bowl, she paused, then commented that the cat was acting a bit ill.
Inkwell Files almost 11 years ago
Nice to see those two finally went out.
JoeStoppinghem Premium Member almost 11 years ago
Hmm, they were talking about haven’t gone to a movie in a while. Perhaps Iron Man 3?
twj0729 almost 11 years ago
Sadie-bug, our black and white domestic, is a nibbler. Dry food is always available but she will nibble periodically all day long. Never pigs out and she is slim. She’ll mooch chicken from us when available though. Loves cat-nip!
fixer1967 almost 11 years ago
I know a dog that ate tried to a whole 50 pound bag of dog food. Sad to say it was found dead beside the half eaten bag. I leave cat food out for my cats and they never over eat.
Spooky D Cat almost 11 years ago
I agree with the cat owners here. Even fat cats won’t eat much at one time…unless they have been without food for a while. Now a dog on the other hand…
jppjr almost 11 years ago
I have been owned my numerous cats…rescues….once they found out their food supply would be there when they wanted it, they ate normally and never pigged out….or “catted” out perhaps….
vegas scott almost 11 years ago
He needs to leave 3 pieces and never eat them no matter how hungry he is.
Greg Johnston almost 11 years ago
Our cats mostly eat moderately too – until we heap up their bowl and go away for a day or two – then, we can count on the bowl being empty no matter it had three days worth of food in it.
terek almost 11 years ago
I really doubt that cats or dogs understand how to ration out their food!
emjaycee almost 11 years ago
My cat was a nibbler (had one of those multi-day feeders) , but when I moved into a place with two other cats, I had to lock mine in my room because the other (original) cats would completely pig out on any food left out in the open. So much for socialization.
lynnskay almost 11 years ago
Until recently we had 3 cats and a dog. We had to keep the cat food dishes in a separate room that we could put a gate on. The cats could get under the gate but the dog could not. The cats would nibble and had food out all the time. The dog would eat all his at one sitting, and anything else he could get to.
One of the cats liked the dog food, too. He would sometimes beat the dog (Rusty) to his food, and Rusty would sit back patiently until the cat walked away. He knew the cat would not eat much or for long. He was a good dog with the cats, and they would even go to him for protection during a thunder storm. I miss him, and our girl cat that left us soon after Rusty. RIP *2
SnuffyG almost 11 years ago
In my life, I’ve owned and fed dozens of cats, and everyone will eat as long as there is food.
water_moon almost 11 years ago
Yeah, sorry, but that just doesn’t play out in RL..Aside from all the cat owners who’s cats DON’T gorge (my 5-7 lb.er included) just look at the big cats in the wild. Panthers drag carcasses up a tree and leave them there to come back to later for more meals. If an animal eats itself sick, that’s food (and thus the energy to catch it) wasted. In the real world, MOST animals do NOT eat every scrap of food avialable unless sick.