Cat Self-Control: How Felines Regulate Their Food Intak

Many cat owners who harbor such concerns are worried that their feline friends might overeat and harm themselves. They may even go to the extent of controlling their cat's feeding times, meal frequency, and portion sizes.

But cats are not goldfish; they possess the ability to recognize when they are full and will not force themselves to eat even when they are full.

Do cats know when they are full?

Indeed, cats are highly intelligent mammals, much like humans, and they are capable of experiencing hunger and satiety. Their stomachs are equipped with sensors that allow them to accurately gauge how much food their stomachs can hold. When a cat eats too much, its stomach sends a bioelectric signal to the brain, prompting it to issue a stopeating command. This way, the cat knows it has had enough to eat.

Cats are wellsuited for a "few small meals a day" diet.

Given that their stomachs are relatively small and do not expand much, cats are perfectly adapted to a lifestyle of eating several small meals throughout the day. Many cat owners are aware that their cats will eat multiple times a day, feeling hungry again shortly after eating. This may create the misconception that cats are constantly eating, but this is actually a normal behavior.

A small stomach and quick digestion suggest a "few small meals a day" approach.

Some cats require timed and measured feeding.

For most cats, all the owner needs to do is place the cat food in the bowl, and the cat will eat when it's hungry and play elsewhere when it's full. However, there are some greedy cats that don't know when to stop and may overeat, leading to digestive issues. For these cats, it's crucial for owners to control their daily feeding times and not allow them to eat as much as they want whenever they feel like it. This kind of feeding approach is actually incorrect.

Follow a timed and measured feeding schedule.

Start by feeding according to the recommended portion sizes on the cat food packaging. After 30 to 45 minutes, remove any remaining food from the bowl, wash the bowl, and store the leftover food in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Cats have a sense of smell 80 times more sensitive than humans, so even if you leave the cat food open in the kitchen, it's as if it's right in front of them.

Do not feed the cat between meals, even if it looks pitiful. Some cats may exhibit heartwrenching behaviors, like sniffing the bowl, walking away, and then performing a burying behavior as if covering up waste. Many owners, upon seeing this, may soften their hearts and switch to better cat food or abandon the "timed and measured" feeding method.

Do not let greedy cats eat as much as they want, as this can lead to obesity and various health issues. For the sake of your cat's health, always be vigilant about its feeding habits!