Increased Appetite in Cats - Causes

Increased appetite in cats is usually disregarded and attributed to obesity and aging. It is essential to know your cat’s behaviors and habits keenly because any abrupt change in their attitudes and intense temptations might be alarm for a potential disease. One of such change in cats is an abrupt change in the appetite, known as polyphagia. Most of us link a disease with loss of hunger, but sometimes increased appetite can also be a major sing of serious illness.

Medical Causes of Increased Appetite in Cats:

Increased appetite in cats should be taken seriously because it might lead to following diseases such as:

• Diabetes mellitus
• Diabetic ketoacidosis
• Hyperthyroidism
• Acromegaly
• Cushing’s Syndrome
• Lymphocytic Cholangitis
• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
• Benign tumors
• Brain injury
• Cerebral disease

Other non-fatal medical causes of increased appetite in cats include:

• Pregnancy
• Reaction of certain medication
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting

Non-medical causes of increased appetite in cats:

A big and intense hunger in cats also occurs due to many environmental and psychological causes such as:

• Excitement and stress
• Boredom and loneliness
• Cold environment
• Rapid physical growth
• Low quality food that cannot satiate the hunger impetus of the cat
• Involvement in physical activities

What should you do as master of your Feline?

You should see a veterinarian to rule out all the major diseases as mentioned above if you feel an unexplained increased appetite in cats.  He will ask you for few tests that will confirm the good health of your cat. A reasonable quality of life can still be attained if diabetes, hyperthyroidism, and bowel disease are managed properly with high pet care. Hence, take serious increased appetite in cats like other pet illness.