My cat is too fat. But under those luscious locks is a fair lot of padding, and my vet said he could use to lose a few hundred grams — or about a 10th of his current body weight. And I'm not alone in this. The Australian Veterinarian Association estimates almost half of our pet cats and dogs are overweight in Australia. While we might think a tubby tabby is cute, increased fat on your feline also increases their risk of diabetes, blood pressure problems, osteoarthritis and all sorts of other health issues.
It can be really hard to tell if Kitty is carrying too much weight, particularly with the fluffier kind, so it's best to get the vet to check what weight your cat should be.
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I spoke with a couple of specialist cat vets and a kitty owner for tips and tricks to help keep pussy trim, entertained and purring. Gabby Lawson, a vet at the Cat Clinic in New Town, Hobart, says a big part of the problem with overweight cats is the never-empty bowl phenomenon. In households with more than one human, this automatic top up of the bowl can often happen multiple times a day by multiple people.
Dr Lawson's tip for avoiding this play-off by the lying feline is to have containers labelled for each day of the week with that day's food in it. Dr Lawson says unless your cat has special dietary requirements, it's best to feed them a mix of wet and dry food. Dry food is good for cats' teeth, but it's very calorie-dense, so it's easier for cats to get more than they should. Most cat food packaging has a guide on how much to feed your cat a day depending on how much they weigh. If you're trying to reduce your cat's weight, talk to the vet about how much and what type of food to feed them.
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6 Ways to Help Fat Indoor Cats Lose Weight
Explore this Article parts. Related Articles. Article Summary. Part 1 of Get your cat checked by your vet. This is a life-threatening form of liver disease that can develop in obese cats who have a drastic shift in their diet and do not eat properly. So it is a good idea to bring your cat to your vet for a check-up and a consultation before you put her on a weight loss plan. She may also do some diagnostic testing on your cat to ensure she does not have any underlying diseases or health issues that could affect her weight loss.
One common health issue for overweight cats is diabetes.
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If your vet determines your cat is diabetic, she will likely recommend a nutritional program to help your diabetic cat lose weight safely. Your cat may also need insulin injections, which can be discussed in more detail with your vet. Your vet will use the results of the physical exam and an ideal body weight formula to come up with a target weight for your cat. Depending on how obese your cat is, your vet may recommend a target weight for your cat that is higher than the average weight for her size and build.
If your cat weighs 18 pounds, for example, her ideal weight may be around 10 to 12 pounds. But your vet may suggest you aim for a goal weight of 15 pounds so it is realistic and manageable for both you and your cat. Once your cat reaches a realistic goal weight, your vet may recommend that you work towards a lower body weight. Your cat should lose weight gradually over an extensive period of time.
If her goal weight is 15 pounds and she currently weighs 18 pounds, for example, you should get her to lose one pound a month for three months. Stretching out her weight loss so it occurs gradually will ensure she does not develop liver issues or other health problems.
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This is the amount of calories she needs to stay healthy when she is not doing any physical activity. For example, if her ideal weight is 10 lbs, you should try to have her eat calories a day. If her ideal weight is 12 lbs, she should have calories a day. Keep in mind the daily calorie intake should be used as a guideline.
Cat Obesity: How to Help Your Cat Lose Weight
Do not underfeed your cat, as this can lead to health issues. Look for canned high quality food for your cat. For many overweight cats, canned wet food can be an effective way to lose weight. Many cats enjoy wet food over dry food and the canned wet food allows you to control how much food you give your cat every day. Look on the canned food labels for the calorie count and give your cat only enough food to fulfill her ideal calorie intake for the day.
Aimless eating can often lead to further weight gain. Your vet may be able to recommend high quality brands of wet food that you can give your cat. Transition your cat slowly into her new diet. Most cats will adapt fairly well to a new diet as long as they are eased into it. After five days, you can switch her completely to her new diet food only.
You should also create a feeding schedule where you feed your cat two to three times a day at the same time every day. This will help her get used to her new food and help her body adapt to her new food intake. If you have other pets, you should feed your overweight cat separate of the other animals so you can monitor her food intake.
To encourage your cat to eat her new food, you can add a small amount of flavoring such as ketchup and salmon or tuna juice. You can also try warming up the food so it is warm and appetizing to her. Feeding your cat less food will also mean she is going to get fewer nutrients. You should give your cat supplements to ensure she stays healthy and active.
Is Your Cat Obese?
Your vet can recommend several supplements you can give your cat, such as omega-3 fatty acid supplements and a multi vitamin. Some diabetic cats do so well on an adjusted diet that they eventually no longer need insulin injections. You should monitor your diabetic cat closely and bring her to the vet before taking her off her injections. Give your cat low calorie treats.
Your overweight cat likely gained some of her weight from too many high calorie treats being thrown her way. Avoid giving your cat table scraps from your meals, as these are often high in fats and sugars.
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You can slice up canned food and bake the slices until they are crispy or freeze them as a small snack for your cat. More and more pet-owners are being forced to ask their local vets 'why is my cat fat'. Read on to discover how you can help an overweight cat get back to a healthy weight. In fact, about 1 in 3 cats in the UK are classed as overweight. These include encouraging exercise and improving their diets with low-fat cat food.
Read on as Reveal discusses how best to help your overweight cat!
9 Tricks for Getting Your Cat to Lose Weight
This problem is more common among house cats because they tend to be less mobile if not stimulated properly. Just like us, the best way for cats to overcome obesity is through dieting and exercise. With a multitude of different resources available online detailing different ways to help your cat lose weight, it can be difficult to know which one works best. Which is why Reveal will help cut to the chase and discuss what we know works from experience.
While there are certain quick fixes that cat owners can do to help encourage exercise, such as activity-based toys like climbing and scratching frames or by allowing outdoor access for indoor cats, we suggest getting more creative with your approach.
The key, however, is to change up the routine. Studies have found that owners with healthy cats play more games with their felines than those with overweight cats.