Demanding food is thought to be one of the main reasons why the number of obese cats is rapidly increasing. Cat owners often respond to their cat’s meows by feeding them, assuming that their feline friend is hungry. It is important that if cats do genuinely seem desperately hungry, that veterinary advice is sought immediately. However, the cries of pet cats are not always about food.

As long as cats are  in good health with access to enough food each day and a constant supply of fresh water, it’s more than likely that they have learned to become demanding of their owners. Domesticated cats learn quickly and from a young age that meowing grabs their owner’s attention which may even result in more cat food or even a few cat treats. Once cats have learnt this, they’re likely to begin meowing more often, especially when the home is quiet and there aren’t other distractions.

Unless cats are ill or in pain, constant meowing is an attention seeking behaviour, and should not be given into. Cats will quickly become obese if their every demand is answered by cat food or treats. Ignoring the usual cries is the best way to overcome the learned behaviour and at first, cats are likely to try even harder to grab their owner’s attention, making even more noise and perhaps jumping up or rubbing against their person. As hard as it may seem, it’s important to continue ignoring cats at this stage and they’ll soon learn that their behaviour does not always get them a bowl of cat food or a handful of cat treats.

When cats quieten down, owners should make a greater effort to give them their full attention and provide meals. Responding to the louder meows and physical demands for attention will only teach cats that this is the way to earn meals and treats, making the problem even worse. It’s a good idea to provide cats with distractions and cat toys to keep them both mentally and physically stimulated. Often, cats will crave attention simply out of boredom. Activity feeders and cat treat dispensers are a great idea, making cats work for their food and treats, helping them to burn off excess energy and promote natural behaviour as cats will use their natural predatory instincts, making the food and treats much more satisfying.

It can take time to change a cat’s learned behaviour as they are very determined animals, and can often hold a power over their owners with their adorable antics and pitiful cries. However, if owners remain consistent and do not give into their cats, they’ll eventually learn that being excessively vocal does not result in being rewarded. For naturally vocal breeds such as Siamese cats, owners must simply accept that their cat will use their voice to express pretty much anything!

If elderly cats begin to meow excessively and seem to be constantly hungry or thirsty, it is vital that veterinary advice is sought immediately.

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Jackie Sheppard is a veteran in the field of  Pet Supplies,She is the brand manager with www.netpetshop.co.uk, UK’s one of most trusted online pet supplies store. Netpetshop stocks a huge range of Cat Food.