If your cat is hungry all the time, even though you give them the right amount of food, it could be a sign that they are suffering from certain diseases that could adversely affect their health in the long run. 

So, if you have ever wondered why your cat is always hungry, then you are in the right place and you have to pay attention to your cat’s symptoms. Of course, it could be a behavioral issue, a severe disease or they just want attention, but you have to schedule a vet consultation to find out the real diagnostic. In fact, it’s your responsibility to make sure that you know everything about your cat’s behavior and to notice any strange changes. 

Here are some reasons your cat is extremely hungry. Read on to find out more info!

Diabetes mellitus

Some cats that eat excessively may suffer from diabetes because this type of disease increases hunger due to the inability to use glucose for energy.

“Cats with diabetes mellitus exhibit signs of increased hunger due to their inability to break down and use glucose for energy,” said Allison Mazepa, DVM, DACVIM, BluePearl Specialty and Emergency Pet Hospital in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. “Insulin is the only hormone in the body that allows it to take glucose (i.e. sugar) from food and bring it into the cells where it can be broken down into usable energy. Cats that lack insulin will be unable to use this energy, and one of the classic signs of diabetes mellitus in cats is weight loss in the face of increased hunger and a good appetite.”

In other words, cats with diabetes mellitus will eat extra to compensate for their lack of energy. In addition, this disease increases thirst and urination at the same time. “When an owner sees all three signs together in their cat, this should trigger a trip to the veterinarian, especially in a middle aged to an older cat,” she says.

Hyperthyroidism

Hyperthyroidism is a common disease in cats which is characterized by an increased amount of thyroid hormone. 

“Thyroid hormone is involved in regulating the basal metabolic rate in the body,” said Maryanne Murphy, DVM, Ph.D., DACVN, clinical assistant professor of nutrition in the Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences at the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine in Knoxville, Tennessee.

“When a cat has all this extra thyroid hormone moving around, it’s amplifying the metabolic rate. That means that all the energy the cat is taking in through its diet is being burned through very quickly. And so, it’s extremely common for the cat to become very hungry and even start to lose weight because it can’t keep up with those energy needs,” she said. 

You should talk to your vet if you notice any symptoms, such as increased thirst or urination, be vomiting or have diarrhea, have a dry haircoat and be hyperactive.

Intestinal problems

As you probably know, intestinal problems can increase or decrease your pet’s appetite, but if you notice that your cat wants to eat all the time, it may have to do with irritable bowel syndrome.  

“It depends on the primary cause of the intestinal disease, but if we’re dealing with an increased appetite, it could be because of the level of inflammation is affecting the cat’s ability to digest and absorb nutrients, and it may need to take in a higher level of food to compensate for that,” said Murphy. 

According to Dr. Mazepa, “disease that affects the small intestine results in an inability to absorb nutrients,” she says. “Because of this, the cat will lose nutrients from food in the stool, which results in an increased appetite and weight loss.”

If you notice any symptoms, try to talk to your vet about treatment and medications.

Pancreatic disease

If you notice that your cat is always hungry it may be due to pancreatic problems. The pancreas secretes certain digestive enzymes that help the food digest and if your cat suffers from exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI), the pancreas is unable to secrete these enzymes.

 “This results in maldigestion of food and signs of increased hunger due to maldigestion,” Dr. Mazepa says. “Other signs of EPI include vomiting, severe diarrhea often with greasy stools, an unkempt haircoat and weight loss.”

“To specifically test for EPI, a blood test called a TLI (trypsin-like immunoreactivity) is needed,” she says. “If the TLI is low, then the diagnosis of EPI is made. Treatment involves supplementing the cat’s food with a powdered digestive enzyme with each meal for life.”

Aging

As animals get older, their ability to digest food, especially fats and proteins, decreases and it can lead to a calorie deficit and excessive hunger. 

“Fat provides twice as many calories in every gram as protein or carbohydrates,” Dr. Murphy says. “If you lose your ability to digest that fat, it results in a calorie deficit. The cat has to start eating more to get the calorie load in.”

“We would want to first rule out diseases like hyperthyroidism, diabetes, intestinal diseases and lymphoma before saying it’s just aging,” she says.

Parasites

Intestinal parasites can lead to excessive hunger in cats. “It’s probably not super common, but when it happens, the parasitic load is either competing with the energy that the cat is taking in the diet or is inhibiting the cat’s ability to digest and absorb those nutrients,” Dr. Murphy says. “A combination of those things will cause a cat to eat more food to try to maintain weight.”

“Intestinal parasites cause increased hunger because the parasites themselves are eating nutrients ingested by the host,” Dr. Mazepa says. “This results in less food for the animal and thus increased hunger. You might also see diarrhea or vomiting, a poor haircoat, or passage of worms in the stool.”

Stress or boredom

Just like humans, cats can suffer from stress and while some avoid eating the right amount of food, others eat excessively. This also applies to boredom.

“For indoor cats, though, boredom is a big aspect for them, and cats are persnickety and persistent,” Dr. Murphy says. “So, a lot of times, they’re asking for attention, but the owners misinterpret their cues and think they’re always hungry and asking for food. And, of course, if you turn around and offer them food, they’ll happily take it!”