• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Our website uses cookies. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our use of cookies. To see what cookies we serve and set your own preferences, please review our Cookie Policy. Learn More.

The Dog People by Rover.com

Powered by Rover.com

Tips, stories, and reviews for people who love dogs, powered by Rover.com, the world's largest network of 5-star pet sitters and dog walkers.

  • The Dog People by Rover.com
  • Dog Breeds
    • Golden Retriever
    • Australian Shepherd
    • German Shepherd
    • Pomeranian
    • Shih Tzu
    • Border Collie
    • Labrador Retriever
    • Boxer
    • Beagle
    • Dachshund
    • Chihuahua
    • Poodle
    • Yorkshire Terrier
  • Dog Love
    • Cute
    • Funny
    • Heartwarming
    • Quizzes
    • Trending
    • True Stories
  • Dog Names
    • Best Girl Dog Names
    • Top Boy Dog Names
    • Unique Dog Names
    • Cute Dog Names
    • Best Puppy Names
    • Dog Name Generator
    • Tough Dog Names
    • Food Dog Names
    • Romantic Dog Names
    • Literary Dog Names
    • Country Dog Names
  • Dog Videos
  • Life with Dogs
    • Dog Safety
    • Dog Behavior
    • Dog Psychology
    • Dog Nutrition
    • Dog Training
    • Health and Wellness
    • Recipes
    • Can My Dog Eat…?
  • PuppyHQ
    • Dog Adoption
    • Puppy Essentials
    • Puppy Names
    • Puppy Training
  • Shopping
    • Shop Rover Goods
    • All Dog Product Guides
    • Dog Gift Guides
    • Safety and Training
    • Toys and Chews
  • Cats!
    • Cat Breeds
    • Cat Names
    • Cat Psychology
  • Dog Training
  • Get Rover
    • Dog Boarding
    • Pet Sitting
    • Dog Walking
    • Doggy Day Care
    • House Sitting
    • Search Pet Sitters & Dog Walkers
    • Shop Rover Goods
    • Sitter Resources
  • Languages
    • en-CA
    • en-GB
    • fr-FR
    • es-ES
    • de-DE
    • it-IT
    • nl-NL
    • nb-NO
    • sv-SE
    • fr-CA

My Cat Eats Too Fast! What To Do About Your Speedy Eater

Share38Pin It0
Orange cat eating too fast
iStock/eclipse_images

My Cat Eats Too Fast! What To Do About Your Speedy Eater

Caring for Your Cat
By Janelle Leeson

Share38Tweet0Pin It0

Table of Contents

  1. Your Cat Is Stressed
  2. Your Cat Needs More Enrichment
  3. Your Cat Experienced Trauma
  4. Your Cat’s Diet Is Incomplete Or Biologically Inappropriate
  5. Your Cat Has A Medical Condition
  6. How To Slow Down a Cat Who’s Eating Too Fast
  7. What Happens When Your Cat Eats Too Fast
  8. Takeaway
  • This post contains affiliate links. Read more here.
  • Not a substitute for professional veterinary help.

If your cat is a chronic fast eater, then it’s time to take a closer look at what might be going on. How fast is too fast? If your cat can finish her meal in about two minutes or less, they’re likely eating too fast. If you can’t hear or see your cat chewing, they’re eating too fast.

A cat eating too quickly doesn’t always mean a trip to the vet. But when fast eating is accompanied by unwanted behaviors, digestive upset, or weight loss, then it’s time to schedule a checkup. Cats who eat too fast can savor their meals with a few tweaks at home; one of the best and most popular ways to slow your cat’s eating is with a special slow feeder.

Sure, your cat could eat fast because they really enjoy their food. But according to Dr. Laura Greene, DVM, DACVIM, Senior Professional Services Veterinarian and national internal medicine expert at Merck Animal Health, it’s more common for cats to eat fast because there is a medical or behavioral factor at play. The following are the most common culprits behind your cat’s speedy eating.

Your Cat Is Stressed

“Cats are not naturally family-style eaters like we are,” says Dr. Mikel Delgado, a cat behavior expert and consultant at Feline Minds. “Eating next to another cat is unnatural to them.” In fact, it’s not just unnatural—it’s stressful for some cats.

Cats happily live in multi-cat households and create strong bonds with other cats. But when fed in close proximity, competition for food and territorial behaviors can lead to speed eating, food stealing, and unhealthy body condition scores.

Cat nuzzling their pet parent

iStock/Chalabala

Your Cat Needs More Enrichment

Are you more likely to binge eat when you’re bored or sad? So is your cat, Dr. Greene says. “Like humans, it is suspected that some cats may display impulse control when they are bored or unhappy, and this may lead to excessive or more rapid eating.”

Your Cat Experienced Trauma

Pets can experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), not unlike humans. If your cat’s traumatic life event included a lack of food resources, they may express aggression at mealtime or eat quickly in fear that their food may be taken away.

Your Cat’s Diet Is Incomplete Or Biologically Inappropriate

Commercial cat foods are developed to meet your cat’s nutritional needs when fed in appropriate amounts. Veering away from a recommended diet could leave your cat hungry and eager to gobble their next meal. If you’re unsure of the best diet for your cat, it’s always smart to consult with a vet.

Your Cat Has A Medical Condition

When a medical condition causes a cat to be hungrier, that’s called polyphagia. Common medical conditions that cause polyphagia include the following.

  • Hyperthyroidism
  • Intestinal parasites
  • Inflammatory bowel disease
  • Certain intestinal cancers
  • Pancreatic exocrine insufficiency
  • Diabetes Mellitus
A cute cat playing with their food

iStock/insonnia

How To Slow Down a Cat Who’s Eating Too Fast

If your cat’s eating too fast, luckily, there are many different options to stop it. The following are some of the best ways to curb your cat’s speed-eating antics.

  • Give your cats space. If you live in a multi-cat household, Dr. Delgado recommends feeding your cats from separate bowls at least a few feet apart. If your cats are hyper-sensitive to their territory and food resources, try feeding them in separate rooms.
  • Use a microchip feeder. Dr. Greene and her colleagues at Merck Animal Health often recommend the Sure Petcare® Microchip Pet Feeder Connect. Using microchip identification, the feeder opens only to your specified pet. Microchip feeders like the Sure Petcare® Microchip Pet Feeder can be especially helpful in reducing territorial behaviors and building confidence in PTSD cats.
  • Feed your cat a high-protein diet. Before changing your cat’s diet, talk to your vet about the right food and serving size for them. Ask your vet if a high-protein diet can keep your cat feeling fuller for longer while meeting their dietary needs. Switching to a high-moisture diet or adding water to a meal can also help your cat feel full.
  • Use a lick mat. Silicone or TPR rubber lick mats work by grabbing spreadable food on textured surfaces. Your cat must work harder to get their meal, naturally slowing them down. Lick mats are especially popular among pet parents with anxious pets since the act of licking is said to reduce stress and self-soothe.
Cat using a slow feeder

iStock/insonnia

  • Use food puzzles or a slow-feeder cat bowl. In the wild, cats forage and hunt for their next meal. This prevents overeating, slows down mealtime, and stimulates cats mentally and physically. You probably shouldn’t release a live mouse in your house, but Dr. Greene says you can incorporate food puzzles and slow-feeder bowls to slow your cat’s eating and mimic their natural feeding behaviors.
  • Serve many small meals. A cat’s natural dietary schedule is many small meals throughout the day. By replicating this feeding schedule, cats have a lessened chance of overeating and regurgitating their meal. Of course, we can’t all stay home to serve our cats (as much as they think we should)—that’s where automatic cat feeders come in.
  • Make a DIY slow feeder. Slowing your cat’s mealtime down doesn’t need to come with a hefty price tag. Spreading your cat’s food across a flat plate rather than plopping it in a pile will slow your cat’s eating. Or, craft a slow feeder puzzle using everyday items in your house—from a used toilet paper roll to an ice cube tray.

What Happens When Your Cat Eats Too Fast

A cat’s stomach is the size of a ping-pong ball. Typically, a cat in the wild would forage and hunt multiple small meals a day, not overextending their small stomachs but staying fueled for the next hunt.

It’s thought that eating too quickly doesn’t give the brain time to receive signals from the stomach saying, “stop, I’m full!”. When this happens, the food that doesn’t fit inside your cat’s ping-pong-ball-sized stomach extends into the esophagus and is regurgitated.

But regurgitation isn’t necessarily barfing. “Regurgitation is a passive process of bringing the food back up. It does not involve abdominal contractions, nausea, or repeated gagging, and the underlying cause is a problem with the esophagus,” Dr. Greene explains. In other words, regurgitated food hasn’t had a chance to break down in the stomach.

When your cat gulps down their food, they also gulp air. This increases the likelihood of your cat passing gas (yes, cats fart and burp) and can cause cramping and pain.

A cat that eats too fast going the vet

iStock/FatCamera

Pro-tip: You can identify if your cat eats too fast and throws up rather than regurgitating their food by the consistency of the contents. If your cat is vomiting, they are expelling contents of the stomach that have begun to be broken down by stomach acid. Unlike regurgitation, you’ll also spot repeated abdominal contractions. Your cat may show signs of nausea, like licking their lips and drooling.

Vomiting in cats may be a sign of a medical, behavioral, or digestive issue. It’s common for cats to vomit, but it’s never normal. So, schedule a visit with your vet if your cat is feeling unwell.

Is my cat choking from eating too fast?

Cats can also choke when eating too quickly. Look for these signs that a cat is choking:

  • Pawing at the face or mouth
  • Rubbing of the face against a surface
  • Labored breathing, gasping, or wheezing
  • Gagging
  • A panicked expression
  • Drooling
  • Blue lips and gums

If your cat is choking and you don’t know pet first aid, they need immediate medical care.

A hungry cat eating out of a green bowl

iStock/michellegibson

Takeaway

Cats can be picky eaters—or just the opposite and scarf down their food. If you worry about how to feed your cat, what to feed them, and the speed at which your cat eats, you’re not alone. According to a survey conducted by Blue Buffalo in 2021, 40% of cat parents agree that cats are fussier than kids when it comes to mealtime.

But providing your cat with an appropriate meal doesn’t need to feel complicated. There are lots of approaches to feeding your cat in a way that feels natural to them and fits your lifestyle.

If you’re worried about your cat’s health or eating habits, talk to your vet before making any dietary changes or adding fiber, probiotics, or vitamins to your cat’s meals. Feeding your cat nutritious cat food in a way that feels natural to them will support their overall health—from digestion to their mental well-being.

Share38Tweet0Pin It0
Avatar photo

Janelle Leeson

Janelle is a Rover sitter and a cat mum to two resident adventure kitties, Lyra and Atlas, and numerous cat and kitten fosters. Janelle and her furry family enjoy filling their days with hiking, kayaking, and seeking out the best cat-friendly destinations. You can follow Janelle, her adventure kitties, and adoptable fosters at @paws_pdx.

Article Sources
Trust and integrity are foundational to our editorial process at Rover.com. Our editorial team prioritizes primary sources, including peer-reviewed studies and industry experts, to provide factual, accurate, and high-quality information to our readers.
"My Cat Is Choking, What Do I Do?". Germantown Veterinary Clinic. (2002). https://www.germantownvet.com/blog/cat-choking-what-to-do/ "Why eating slowly may help you feel full faster". Harvard Health Publishing. (October 2010). https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/why-eating-slowly-may-help-you-feel-full-faster-20101019605 "Pets vulnerable to post-traumatic stress, too". NBCNews. (September 2005). https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna9344094

sidebar

Avatar photo
By Janelle Leeson

Share This Article

Share38Tweet0Pin It0

Popular Posts

  • 3 Frozen Dog Treats You Can Make in Less Than an Hour [Recipe]
  • 5 Reasons Dogs Lick and Chew Their Paws — And How to Help
  • The ‘Catluminati’ Magically Makes Friends With Every Cat He Meets
  • Ice Licks Keep Your Dog Cool and Happy All Summer Long [Recipe]
  • What to Do if Your Dog Is Stung by a Bee
  • What You Need to Know to Prevent Heatstroke in Dogs
  • Two-Ingredient Watermelon Ice Cream Is an Easy Summer Treat for Your Dog [Recipe]
  • 4 Blended Summer Slushies to Share With Your Dog [Recipe]
  • Peggy the Staffordshire Bull Terrier and Molly the Magpie Make the Cutest, Unlikely BFFs
  • Esther the Wonder Pig and Her Dog Brother Phil Are Besties for Life
Advertisement
Advertisement
More from The Dog People
Kitten plays with toy mouse

Why Do Cats Like To Play With String So Much?

Man and cat at home

Do Cats Smile? Here Are 5 Signs Of Truly Happy Cats

Growing cat paws

What Are Cat Toe Beans? 8 Facts About Your Cat’s Feet

Learn More

  • About Rover.com
  • Download the App
  • Rover Store
  • Sitter Resources
  • In The Press
  • Terms of Service
  • Affiliate Disclosure
  • User Terms
  • Privacy Statement
  • Cookie Policy

Need Help?

  • Help Center
  • Join the Team
Advertisement
© 2023 Rover.com. All Rights Reserved.