Cat Waking Us For Food Again!

Lisannez

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I have posted before about my 12 year old Tuxie's constant need for food. We took her off the diet (when she began eating non food objects for the first time ever) despite the vets recommendations, did the math and she is getting the correct amount of calories to maintain her weight. We also added some dry food into her diet, as she was just eating wet before and thought that may help keep her fuller. But she was still waking us up at 4:00 am daily. My fiance gets up for work at 4:30 am. She gets fed four times a day, twice in the am and twice in the PM when we get home. Her last meal is around 8:00 PM or so. We got an automatic feeder to give her dry food set to release at 4:00 am. For almost a month, that worked, she did not wake us up. Then suddenly about two weeks ago she started at 3:30 am meowing for food and she would meow (scream really) until the food came out of the bowl at 4:00 am. She walked around the house meowing. And now she's started at 3:00 am meowing for food and does so for a sold hour, until she is hoarse. The past two mornings she pulled one of her old tricks where she gags so we wake up, it did not work. We have not responded at all. The only thing we did was squirt her with a squirt gun which she enjoys apparently on one or two occasions. We have a three level three bedroom house and we can hear her on the top level from the bottom one screaming. This past weekend, we had guests staying over and she woke them all up, and scratched on all of their doors. She scratches on ours but we ignore her. She's been to the vet, nothing wrong. I am thinking of rolling the feeder back to 3:30 am to see if that helps, but I have a funny feeling that she is just going to keep asking for it earlier and earlier. And then it will cut down on the food she gets during the day, there's only so much we can give her. The only positive thing is that she is not trying to knock over the feeder or sticking her paw up inside it all night to get food something she used to do. We have cameras on the feeder so we can see. One last thing, she only does the whole meowing bit this go round, only if my fiance is there. So if he travels or spends the night away and it's just me, I don't hear a peep from her. He's not responding to her either, I am there I know but of the two of us he's certainly the sucker and she knows it. We have family coming to visit again next month and we want them to be able to sleep peacefully. I have been toying with putting her in the basement (it's finished and safe) with her litter and food so that she cannot get out and maybe putting a noise machine in the guest room. How can we stop this? We cannot leave her food out, she will gobble up a day's worth of food in five seconds and then start asking for more. It seems like every time we solve this problem with her constant need for food it starts up again. I am starting to wonder if we should just feed her constantly and be done with it.
 
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Lisannez

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Hi!
Did you ever try MusicForCats . com?

Can your fiance try different things like changing aftershave/cologne, playing with her more, that kind of thing?

Do Cats Get Jealous? (and What To Do About It When They Do)
We have not tried music for cats but we have tried leaving soothing music on. I am sure he could try different things but not sure if that would help. I think this cat just loves to eat and our choices are to lose sleep or find someway to silence her cries while we are trying to sleep or just feed her until she explodes. Sorry I am just really frustrated with the situation.
 

rubysmama

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Oh, how frustrating. :alright:

Does it only happen when your fiance is there? Or anytime someone is there other than just you? Like the company on the weekend.

When your fiance isn't there does Tuxie have access to your bedroom? And does that change when your fiance is there?

Have you had Tuxie her whole 12 years?
 
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Lisannez

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Oh, how frustrating. :alright:

Does it only happen when your fiance is there? Or anytime someone is there other than just you? Like the company on the weekend.

When your fiance isn't there does Tuxie have access to your bedroom? And does that change when your fiance is there?

Have you had Tuxie her whole 12 years?
Hi it only happens when my fiancé is there. If guests are there and my fiancé is not it does not happen. We always leave the door slightly open so they can come in and out. We put a towel at the top of the door so it does not close fully and they can push it open if they want. Generally Tuxie does not come up until she’s looking for food. We have two cats and her sister is the one if any that enters the bedroom and sleeps in her cat bed in the room and that’s no matter who is there. They each have a bed in the room. They were my fiancé’s cats and yes he adopted them as kittens. But I’ve lived with and cared equally for them for three years now. She’s always been very food driven. For the first 3 or 4 years of her life she was eating her food and much of her sisters food until my fiancé caught her. Now her sisters food is high up and she’s too fat to get at it. It’s been that way since long before I met him.
She’s not really one for attention like her sister she’s pretty aloof. If she wants you to pet her she taps your hand and she’s not aggressive even when it comes to food. She’s generally a very easy going cat. But She’s gone to extremes to get food. She opens cabinets and scratches holes in food bags. She knocks over auto feeders, tried to get into the fridge, the freezer, all cabinets, she eats pretty much any human food if you don’t keep an eye on her.

As she’s gotten older she’s put on weight. She’s pretty much always been heavy but I think her metabolism has slowed. We’ve tried to diet with her many times but she does not lose, thankfully she also does not gain on her current food regime so we are leaving it as is. When we tried to step down she began eating non food items off the floor.

We’ve tried puzzle feeders, frozen food, we’ve stopped giving her treats, but no matter what she eats it’s never enough. The only thing I can think is that she knows that I don’t play around and I will not give her more food. She waits until I get up.

This situation plays itself out several times a year. She gets to be stable and stops begging and then one day she decides she’s not had enough and it all starts over again. If we let her she would eat herself to death.
 

Furballsmom

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Hi. Well, if your fiancee doesn't do something, things guaranteed won't change because he's obviously a big part of the problem, and should be part of the solution. You've stepped up admirably, but I think she wants, and needs, his attention.

I'm now thinking less that she is feeling jealousy but rather that she is feeling abandoned by him. Have him lavish love and playtime on her, have him take her for walks, I mean really pour it on for a few days. See if this makes a difference.

It's possibly too soon for there to be a dramatic change when your company comes, try your basement idea for when they're there.

Also, if I were you I'd find another vet and get a second opinion as to whether she's possibly diabetic.
 
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rubysmama

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This situation plays itself out several times a year. She gets to be stable and stops begging and then one day she decides she’s not had enough and it all starts over again
The fact that it's cyclical, makes me curious as to what might trigger the behaviour. Have you ever been able to figure it out? Obviously, it has something to do with your fiance.

Excessive appetite is a sign of stress, btw. Here's some TCS articles on stress if you want to check them out.

Is Your Cat Stressed Out?
You, Your Cat And Stress | TheCatSite
Potential Stressors In Cats - The Ultimate Checklist | TheCatSite
Six Surefire Strategies To Reduce Stress In Cats | TheCatSite
 
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Lisannez

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Hi. Well, if your fiancee doesn't do something, things guaranteed won't change because he's obviously a big part of the problem, and should be part of the solution. You've stepped up admirably, but I think she wants, and needs, his attention.

I'm now thinking less that she is feeling jealousy but rather that she is feeling abandoned by him. Have him lavish love and playtime on her, have him take her for walks, I mean really pour it on for a few days. See if this makes a difference.

It's possibly too soon for there to be a dramatic change when your company comes, try your basement idea for when they're there.

Also, if I were you I'd find another vet and get a second opinion as to whether she's possibly diabetic.
We tried to have him lavish her with attention, in fact almost everyday since this last post and nada, nothing has changed. This cat has been to many vets and has been tested for diabetes many times. She's just hungry, all of the time. Or she likes to eat. We are having company come in two weeks, and we are going to try the basement thing.
 
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Lisannez

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The fact that it's cyclical, makes me curious as to what might trigger the behaviour. Have you ever been able to figure it out? Obviously, it has something to do with your fiance.

Excessive appetite is a sign of stress, btw. Here's some TCS articles on stress if you want to check them out.

Is Your Cat Stressed Out?
You, Your Cat And Stress | TheCatSite
Potential Stressors In Cats - The Ultimate Checklist | TheCatSite
Six Surefire Strategies To Reduce Stress In Cats | TheCatSite
The only thing I can associate it with is food. She always wants more food. So she was waking us up at 4:00 am for food. We set the feeder for 4:00 am. At first she loved having then, but then she started wanting food at 3:30 am. She's very persistent too.
 

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Gracious sakes!

I sure appreciate the update, thank you! I looked back through your thread and maybe missed it, but have you tried different foods and brands? It's also possible she simply needs more nutritional intake than the vet suggests, and with that, can you get her to be more active so it turns into muscle rather than fat?

From @Kflowers ;

Different brands even for the same flavors have different calorie counts per can/ounce.
 
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Lisannez

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Gracious sakes!

I sure appreciate the update, thank you! I looked back through your thread and maybe missed it, but have you tried different foods and brands? It's also possible she simply needs more nutritional intake than the vet suggests, and with that, can you get her to be more active so it turns into muscle rather than fat?

From @Kflowers ;

Different brands even for the same flavors have different calorie counts per can/ounce.
It certainly is possible, but everytime we take her to the vet they tell us "she needs to lose weight decrease her calories." Even after we show them what we are feeding her, I have done the math. I am going to look into this more and I will get back to you. But honestly I think she's just like some humans, she wants to eat, she's not actually hungry she just enjoys eating.
 

daftcat75

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I have to use two feeders to get my Krista through the overnight. She only eats wet food. I set out last dinner for her at 10 pm. She usually finishes that in short order. Then her first feeder has a half portion that opens at 1am. Her second feeder has another half portion that opens at 3am. That usually gets us through until her first breakfast at 6am.
 
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Lisannez

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I have to use two feeders to get my Krista through the overnight. She only eats wet food. I set out last dinner for her at 10 pm. She usually finishes that in short order. Then her first feeder has a half portion that opens at 1am. Her second feeder has another half portion that opens at 3am. That usually gets us through until her first breakfast at 6am.
I thought about trying this. But I read on some other sites that all that happens is the cat keeps asking for more. How long has she been on this regimen?
 

daftcat75

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It certainly is possible, but everytime we take her to the vet they tell us "she needs to lose weight decrease her calories." Even after we show them what we are feeding her, I have done the math. I am going to look into this more and I will get back to you. But honestly I think she's just like some humans, she wants to eat, she's not actually hungry she just enjoys eating.
I think my Krista enjoys eating too. I put out "tweeners" (between meals snacks) of anywhere from 1/4 portion to half a portion. Between meals, I don't aim to fill her up as much as give her something to eat and then go back to sleep. Not every kill in the wild is going to be the same size.
 

daftcat75

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I thought about trying this. But I read on some other sites that all that happens is the cat keeps asking for more. How long has she been on this regimen?
This is actually an improvement from before. I used to have to feed her every four hours because she wasn't eating enough in fewer meals. (She's old with IBD and dental issues.) Eventually I grew her portions to the point where I feel comfortable with her calorie intake from her regular four meals (two breakfasts and two dinners) that the feeder meals are half or quarter portions to give her something to eat when she's hungry and allow me to sleep the night again or to have the freedom to leave her during the day. She's been using the feeders for about a month.
 
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