Dr. Dan Christian specializes in small animal medicine, with special interests in behavior and nutrition. He has been instrumental in establishing animal behavior residencies for veterinarians at leading veterinary schools and developing innovative programs with veterinary organizations in the United States. He is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, the American Animal Hospital Association, and the Southern California Veterinary Medical Association. During his professional career, Dr. Christian earned the American Association of Feline Practitioners Award. He has also appeared as a guest on television and radio pet health programs nationwide, and to has authored numerous articles for pet health magazines.

Q: My one-and-a-half-year-old cat, Annie, loves food and weighs around 15 pounds. My vet has told me to put her on a strict diet of dry food only. The problem is that although I've been feeding Annie a small helping, maybe half a cup, three or four times a day, she still wants more food. She gobbles her portion up and then goes to finish my two-year-old cat's food, unless I'm watching her to get the other's food away. She always seems to be hungry! Could there be something wrong with her? My vet did mention that it could be some kind of a thyroid problem that we could investigate in the future.

A: Overeating is such a common problem with many of our cats, especially when there are multiple cats in the house. This is because many of them will eat out of competition and not self-regulate their food intake as they should. There are a couple of suggestions you should follow: Make sure your veterinarian performs a good physical exam, including a blood test for thyroid problems and for diabetes. One of the signs of both these conditions is obesity.

Another suggestion is to elevate the food bowls so that the larger cat will think twice about having to jump up for the extra food. Often the additional effort discourages the desire to eat and weight loss ensues. Otherwise, you'll have to feed a special food designed for weight loss, available through your veterinarian. You may also have to play "food police," watching that your heavier cat eats only what is fed to her. It's important to resolve the overeating issue, whether medical or behavioral, since a leaner body condition will be healthier and your cat will live longer.