[MoreWhisky]

My cat whos a healthy 6 yr old male has just stated eating about half as much again than he normally does.

He loves being outside as much as possible and seems fit and healthy enough, should i be worried? im tending to think its because it got colder.

Any comments? im not sure if i just panicking a bit.

ps. its killing the wallet lol

Cheers MW

[Yorkie]

Could he have been stocking up elsewhere and that source of food has now dried up? 

[MoreWhisky]

Good answer Yorkie lol

[Yorkie]

Keep an eye on him over the next few weeks; might be an idea to weigh him now, so you can tell if he's putting on weight.  It won't do him any good to be overweight.

[MoreWhisky]

I will.

Hes gone out now hes probably heading your way as he has quite a range., ive seen him all over York. 

[arugula]

ive seen him all over York. 

I have a vision of a cat with a guilty look on his face when you spot him miles from home.

[Yorkie]

  Well if he makes it to South Bank then I'll tell him he's a norty puddy tat and send him home!

[mumofstig]

my cat always eats more in winter than in summer, don't others notice the difference? 

[Hesse2509]

Our cat is certainly eating a lot more this week. So far she has broke into the fridge and stole two packets of ham, a packet of Ardennes Pate, half a block of cheese, and some gammon leftovers. Needless to say she is not very popular at the moment! Currently I am having to use one of the stools from the breakfast bar to stop any further raids until a more permanent solution can be found. 

[Oliveview]

Our dog was good at opening the fridge, we bought VELCRO strips, with sticky back on one side to keep fridge tight shut.  Clever pussycat!

Pamela

Sorry! Just noticed velcro had changed to crochet!  Crochet strips might work though!!

[Living in Hope]

Out cat eats more in winter - I assume it is because he catches less - mind you, been out to the shed to check over the potatoes to find that the mice have already moved in and having started helping themselves - funny how I can't persuade him to earn his keep!

[grendel]

two thoughts occur to me, one he needs more calories to stay warm, or two he may have got worms which would cause him to eat more. Our 7 eat more in the winter - and they are indoor cats.
Grendel

[maxyboo]

As Grendel says, he may be increasing his intake to stay warm through winter, you say he spends a lot of time outside so he may be increasing his fat insulation. If he hasn't been wormed for a few months I would definitely get him wormed now as he probably spent  the summer chewing on mice and birds.
There are illnesses that cause increased appetite such as increased thyroid levels and diabetes but you should see other symptoms like increased thirst and urination. I wouldn't worry, just keep an eye on him.

[ANHBUC]

Our cat is certainly eating a lot more this week. So far she has broke into the fridge and stole two packets of ham, a packet of Ardennes Pate, half a block of cheese, and some gammon leftovers. Needless to say she is not very popular at the moment! Currently I am having to use one of the stools from the breakfast bar to stop any further raids until a more permanent solution can be found. 

You can get a fridge safety latch for a couple of quid, the type to keep children safe from fridge and freezer.

MoreWhiskey, I would agree with grendel and worm your cat just to be on the safe side.

[Hesse2509]

You can get a fridge safety latch for a couple of quid, the type to keep children safe from fridge and freezer.

Thanks for the suggestion, but it's incorporated into the kitchen units, so I'm not sure that would still work?