Have I been starving my cat?

Nermal does the same thing. The gentle, affectionate paw pat, sometimes with claws extended. I've never felt a claw on bare skin, but doesn't the little fluff brain understand that claws that can penetrate Kevlar body army will also penetrate midweight cotton fabric?

Yikes - even the ever-starving Possum-cat isn't quite that bad!

Whoa! You are definetely not starving your cat! My cat was 3 years old at he was overweight at 14.2 pounds. If anything, give the cat as much food as he wants, but let him out into the garage or something so he can burn some calories.