Feline Eating Disorders Can Be Psychological
Published at
iStock/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) — Cats often exhibit behavior that is confounding to humans. Sometimes, though, they can be just like us, like at dinner time when the portion in front of them isn’t enough to satisfy their appetites.
Italian researchers decided to find out why it happens and studied an eight-month-old Siamese cat named Otto who was food obsessed. After a series of tests ruled out a physical cause for this addiction, they reached the conclusion that Otto was afflicted with psychogenic abnormal feeding behavior.
Essentially, the cat’s insatiable appetite was caused by an emotional or psychological disorder and other cats may have it too.
A team of eight veterinarians then taught Otto’s owners how to cure his food cravings through a behavioral therapy program that was successful after five months.
Other cat owners are advised to see their vets if they suspect their pet is exhibiting psychogenic abnormal feeding behavior.
Follow @ABCNewsRadio
Copyright 2014 ABC News Radio