How do you put a cat on a diet?

Question

I have 2 REALLY BIG cats and they are starting to loose energy and I am very concerened.

Answer 1

OK…so I have (actually “had”) an overweight cat and I really don’t like the advice some people are giving you. Here are things that I have heard from both veterinarians that my former fatty has gone too, (not like it completely matters but both were cat-only doctors):

1) You should NEVER underfeed your cat…it can cause all kinds of digestive, liver, and thyroid problems. Your fat cats are likely eating more than they should, but to drastically cut their food intake now may be detrimental to their health. You should switch to a “light” or “weight management” food, and gradually reduce their food intake (very little by little) to the recommended amount on the bag. Their weight change won’t drastically occur, but over time they will shape up.

2) Dry food is better than wet food for weight control, but if you cat eats wet food already there are weight management ones on the market. A mixed diet of a little wet food + a bowl of dry food is the best balance for your cat. If you mix their diet, you may notice that your cats will eat less dry food in anticipation of their daily wet food treat. Your cats should also always have access to fresh water, especially if you are feeding dry food mostly.

3) You should consider buying more expensive pet food. The cheaper brands tend to be more fatty and carb ridden (with scary ingredients), while what your cats really need is a diet high in protein. Go to a pet store and talk out your options with the sales people, and also don’t forget to read the labels of the food. I prefer Nutro, pet food.

4) Try and make them more physically active by playing with them more.
Good luck!

Answer 2

This I do not know. I have noticed that all my cats lost weight this summer and there was no change in diet or exercise. Like most cats; mine sleep, stretch and yawn. If only it were that simple for me. I am on my feet nearly eight hours a day in a hot sweaty factory. I get a ten minute break about seven times per shift. By the time I go to the bathroom and to the break room and make a food selection and put the money in the machine and get the idem and heat the food my break is over. It isn't easy eating while I am suppose to be using my hands on the job, so I don't try often to do so. I do yawn a lot. Sleep, stretch and yawn collectively is not encouraged on the job.

If anyone knows how a cat looses weight in the summer with no change in diet all the while they sleep, stretch and yawn; PLEASE let us all know.

God Bless and good luck on the diet for the cat or anyone for that matter.

Answer 3

1. Use weight control cat food - Iams and Science diet are the best ones in the supermarket. If you can afford to get it from your vet, use their diet food which is better. (Several yrs ago, a vet told me the supermkt brands would take 3-5 yrs to lose the weight vs. the vet brand would take 1 yr). Also, and this is hard, try to limit the amount of food per day they eat. You may need to do this gradually...otherwise, the cat may wake you up in the middle of the night to ask for more food...that's what my cat did.

Answer 4

Switch to a low fat cat food.
Then put down the dry food and measure it.
My cat weighs 9 pounds but only gets 1/2 cup of food per day. She never eats that much but I still measure it and out it in her bowl in the am she nibbles all day.
Dry food is the easiest. If you are feeding canned you will have to measure it out evey time you feed.
Also cut back on treats. And try to get them to play with you some each day.

Answer 5

I have a cat as well. She's not my first. I've always gone by the chart on the bag of food. And remember to stick to 1 kind of food. It's not healthy for a cat to eat different types of cat food. Also a little FYI. Canned cat food is more fattening for a cat then dry food is.

Answer 6

Put the measured amount of food down for a specific amount of time and then pick it up again. Do not let them free feed.

It is NOT good for a cat to only eat once a day. Cats are "snackers." In the wild, they eat many small meals throughout the day.... a bird here, a lizard there. That's what their metabolisms are set up to deal with. Three small meals a day is good for a cat who needs to lose weight.

Also, check to see whether your brand of cat food is mostly meat or mostly grain. Most commercial cat foods are just crap. They're full of corn meal and rice meal, none of which cats bodies are designed to eat. Cats are carnivores.... they eat MEAT! The only grain they get in the wild is in the stomach contents of their prey. They don't sit in the corn fields and graze. Grains (carbs) make people fat. They also make our pets fat.

Answer 7

I have 3 overweight cats. The vet told me that if they don’t lose weight they will get diabetes. She told me to give them as much food as they want for 20 minutes twice a day.

But you should probably ask your vet this question.

Whatever diet you choose to put them on, if it's going to limit how much food they get, be prepared to hear them complain about it. My cats get feed every 12 hours and sometimes Freddie will start begging for food only 4 hours after he's been feed and continue for the next 8 hours.

Answer 8

Feed the recommended amount for the food and that's all they get for the day. When it's gone they wait until the next meal. I don't feel the most expensive brands are needed but that's an opinion. Of course a veterinarian is going to recommend what he/she is selling. All pet foods have a minimum standard to meet in order to be sold.

Answer 9

Only feed it once a day and put the food where it can't get to it.

Also it's best to feed a cat dry cat food, the stuff in the cans can cause worms.

Meow Mix is a good choice.

Answer 10

Almost every brand of cat food now has a formula for "less active" or "indoor" cats. I had a cat that was getting a bit fat and got her one of those bags of cat food. By the time she was through that bag, the weight was off! I wish it were that easy for humans!!!