Successful treatment of abnormal feeding behavior in a cat

Abstract

An 8-month-old male cat was presented with a history of abnormal feeding behavior. Physical examination revealed a dull hair coat and slightly thin body condition. A detailed history and a behavioral examination revealed context-specific excessive appetite, pica, food-related aggressiveness, and excessive solicitation of interspecific interactions. Results of routine hematological and urine laboratory tests were normal, except for the presence of hyperglycemia. The presumptive diagnosis was of psychogenic abnormal feeding behavior. The treatment was aimed at reducing exposure to stressors and modifying the cat's behavior through desensitization to food and counterconditioning to feeding. The diagnosis of a psychogenic problem was supported by the progression and the successful outcome of the proposed treatment. Given the lack of an exhaustive description of psychogenic abnormal feeding behavior in the scientific literature, the present case provides the first characterization of its clinical aspects and demonstrates the efficacy of treatment.