Siamese Eating Too Much?

by Denise Ramsay
(Dorset)

I have 2 siamese cats (brothers) 7 months old ...they seem to constantly want food. They get 3 meals a day, as soon as they are fed and I get up and head into the kitchen they are constantly mewing and all around my feet all the time. They have to be shut away when we are eating as they go mad for food and get on the table and all sorts. They will never just stay in their basket or sofas when we eat so I shut them away. They are so demanding and costantly in the kitchen crying whenever any one enters it they follow... even when preparing dinner I have to lock them away so I can get on. When I open the fridge they jump in it, also the oven if they could. What is wrong with them. I have wormed them, they get more to eat than my other cats who never bother me. When I feed them one of them turns into a tiger and growls and grunts like a gremlin whilst he is eating, they are supervised so one is not getting more than the other. Apart from this they are devoted lap cats and do not leave my feet at any time. Help they are tripping me up all the time.

My Answer

Hi Denise, You certainly seem to have your hands full. Having two Siamese teenagers in the house can be hard work.

Firstly you need to rule out any medical problems that might be causing the food fetish. A vet visit should sort this out. Assuming that all is well lets tackle with Plan B.

Your cats are growing rapidly at this stage so they will naturally need more food than your other cats, more frequently.

When it comes to the food you are providing you need to make sure that it has a really high meat content. A dry diet has cereals and other ingredients in it so that it can be formed into shapes - and therefore less meat content. The latest thinking is that a wet canned cat food is far superior to the dry. Many people say that dry cat food is like our junk food. We love to eat it, and can't resist eating more than is good for us! And junk food consumed over the years does lead to serious health problems.

If you're feeding your Siamese dry food it probably isn't filling them up and the carbohydrates (and sugars) within the cat food could make them feel hungry.

The solution?

If you have the time to make your own cat food from meat, finely ground bone and vitamin and mineral additives then your cats will be nutritionally satisfied, and will be getting the very best natural diet. This should stop your pair from asking for food because they will be getting all the nutrients they need and the meat will fill them up. Failing that a premium canned cat food with the greatest proportion of meat should benefit your Siamese much more than dry cat food.

For further details and how to make the raw cat food diet try www.catnutrition.org
or the book 'Your Cat Simple New Secrets to a Longer, Stronger Life' by Elizabeth M. Hodgkins will help you get this right.

The Siamese as a breed do love to be close to us all the time so changing their diet will not change this! A change in diet should stop their excessive reaction to feeding time though.

Good luck and please tell me how you get on.