Bulimic Cat

[Roughquest]

Why does my cat contstantly gorge himself stoopid on cat food only to throw it up a few moments later, then come back and eat more????

Its getting to be horrible habit and I have no idea why he is doing this, he has been wormed and all his vacinations are up to date.

[wolf63]

it is almost certainly a physical problem. It might be purely due to him guzzling food, he must be a Labrador Cat.

Try slowing his eating down, cut the mice into little chunks and feed it to him slowly. If this works you can work out if giving him smaller portions would be better.

If it doesn't work take him to the vet.

However being that he is a cat he is probably doing it to spite you.

[Roughquest]

I think its a 'hierarchy' thing as i introduced another cat 4 months ago and i think he wants to just eat up all the food before the little one gets his tuck, but if i ration sicky cats food, he just howls at me until he gets more...and he really howls at me !

[Noweia]

Does he bring up all the food he eats just after eating it, and does this happen often?

There is a condition called megaoesophagus which can cause cats to do this - a trip to the vet maybe required!

In the meantime try wolf63's advice - give smaller portions or spread the food out so it takes your cat longer to eat it!

Let us know how you get on!

[luckyeight]

Is it wet food that he gorges on? Try feeding him a small amount til he has time to digest it (couple of hours) then feed him the rest of his rations. Contrary to popular opinion, cats don't always regulate their appetite and will quite often eat so fast that they make themselves sick. Good luck with your greedy tom! Hope he hasn't got body image disorder. Do you tell him he looks fat a lot?! ;)

[makemesmile]

My cat sometimes does this. I read somewhere that it harks back to when cats were ferral. It's a way of 'claiming' food - bit like filling your pockets at a buffet incase it runs out later (not that I ever do this!). As you say you've recently introduced another kitty, it kind of makes sense. Having said that, I only have the one cat, so god knows what her excuse it. We sometimes call her 'bulimic kitty'! If you're worried though, I'd get him checked out, just to be sure. Great fun clearing up cat sick, isn't it? : )

[jenky]

Does he shoot backwards while he throws it up? makes me chuckle.... I've known loads of cats that do this. We feed them smaller portions, and also raise the bowl off the ground a bit. We were told that this can help digestion as cats often bend over so much to eat, they're are virtually swallowing against gravity... anyway, a combination of these has saved me a lot of time and kitchen roll

[Roughquest]

Yes Jenky - he does like do a moonwalk backwards while ejecting food ! It is so funny! And when I read your post I had hysterics! I will try and raise the bowl off the ground, to see if it helps him, will keep you posted.

thanks
RQ x

[makemesmile]

yes - they seem to do as if they're 'laying it out' - just for you!

[Roughquest]

Lovely thought Makemesmile - very nice.....bleh bleh

[Mrs Flowers]

My cat sometimes does this, he usually does it on the bed or a cushion. I read up about it a little while ago and they call them 'Vacuum Cats' .

It said spread the food out in a thin layer on a flat plate. It seems to work.