Is my cat to fat?

Question

I have a seven year old gray tabby who loves to eat and is getting very fat. Right now he weights over 15 pounds. Is that fat for a gray tabby?

Answer 1

The average size cat should weigh about nine pounds. Do your cat a favor and put him on a diet. Overweight cats (particularly males) can suffer from a lot of expensive health problems.

Answer 2

I have a 7 yr old cat too and she has recently begun eating more and is getting fat as well. I wonder if 7 yrs is a point in life when cats become lazy and start packing on the pounds. I also tend to over-eat and have a small problem with weight myself and I wonder if I set a bad example for my cat. I recently switched her food to a lower fat kind and am hoping that does the trick. I would suggest buying Science Diet or a brand of catfood designed for indoor cats to help it manage its weight. Make sure to watch to see if your cat is drinking more water than usual because that could be a sign that it has diabetes.

Answer 3

Yes that sounds too big. If you stand above him and look directly down at his hind-quarters, you should still be able to see his haunches, and his waist should be slightly tapered. The best thing for you to do is get him on one regular hard pet food, use the same brand all the time. If you give him treats, limit his treats to just a few per day. Cut back significantly on wet food as well. Watch his eating habits. Does he eat from his bowl all day long or does he clean his plate every time you fill his bowl? If he finishes it all every time, then give him less and only feed him three times daily, in smaller amounts. Remember you do NOT want rapid weight loss. The best thing to do is see the vet and ask their advice. You might even be able to call your vet and they can tell you over the phone without having to pay for a visit.

Answer 4

No way! I have a 31 pound cat! Now that is fat.
But seriously, my vet told me that the average female cat is 12# and a male cat is between 14 and 20 pounds. So I would say he is right on course.

Answer 5

The best way to tell if your cat is overweight is by checking the cat. Move your hands along the sides of the body and gently try to feel the ribs. If the cat is within range of its ideal weight, you should be able to easily count the ribs. The ribs should be covered with a layer of fat, but not to an extent that would make it difficult to feel them.

With obese cats it is easy to see that they are larger than usual, have a large abdomen, and experience difficulty walking and grooming themselves. Obesity can sometimes be a side-effect of a more serious disease and requires urgent veterinary attention.

Answer 6

When my Tabby was about 10 years old he weighed 20 lbs. I started feeding him food for seniors or cats over 7 years old & now at 15 years old he only weighs 11 lbs. If you are really worried ask your vet, thats what i did & he suggested the diet change. GOOD LUCK ______

Answer 7

Is my Cat too fat? That depends on each Cat. Personally I hate Cats and I killed over 200 hundred Cats for sport in Hawaii, because they over populated and the Wild Cat's that stray became a nuisance Waipio. So the health department could not get rid of them all and encourage everybody not to adopt nor feed them because disease had spread. So the sport began and I worked along side of Hawaiians and we killed a lot of Cats and today I still have haunting about it. Today it is illegal to do it, but back in 1964 it was totally awesome killing Cats and kittens.
It is barbaric to do anything like that now and could wind you up in jail.

Answer 8

I have they same question in a different format. I do not over feed my cats. But worried if the get enough. I feed my 2 cats a cup of food AM and a cup PM. The are in really good health, but I don't want them hungry. They always beg for food. One is an indoor cat, and the other in/out cat. He eats mice, frogs, birds, and is always wanting food. Just feed you cat a cup or less 2 times a day.

Answer 9

Yes your cat is too fat!!

Cat Food Info #1 Cats Need Protein in their Cat Food

The cat food you feed to your cat should always be rich in protein. This generally should come from meat, poultry or fish. Many cat food brands advertise chicken, beef, and tuna flavored cat food because they know that cats need protein and cat owners are looking for quality cat food. However, you need to make sure the cat food you buy has a sufficient amount of cat food regardless of what flavor it is.

Cat Food Info #2 Cat Food with Taurine

Also check the cat food you typically buy for an amino acid called taurine. This particular amino acid is very important in the overall health of your cat, and your cat will eat as much food as it has to in order to supplement this particular amino acid. So, if you are buying cheap cat food that does not have the proper nutrients your cat will eat a lot. If you buy a nutrient rich cat food then your cat will eat little and save you more money while still getting proper nutrition.

Cat Food Info #3 Canned Cat Food or Dry Cat Food?

Many people do not know whether they should buy canned or dry cat food, or whether it even matters. Because of this, many people simply buy the cat food that is most affordable or convenient for them. This is actually a mistake. Cats should be fed a mixture of cat food. The dry cat food should be given for free feeding, especially if you are away on vacation or out for the day. Canned cat food should be supplemented at other times as well because it has water in the food and significantly more protein than the carbohydrate rich dry cat food. Not to mention the same food over and over might bore your cat and cause him to stop eating that cat food altogether.

Cat Food Info #4 Avoid Cat Food Fillers

Cats need to eat a cat food that is rich in protein, so make sure the amount of fillers is kept to a minimum. Carbohydrates are not essential for a cat’s existence, so don’t buy cat food that is full of them. Instead, read labels and buy cat food that is not filled with fillers and other by products.

Answer 10

Sounds like he's getting pretty big.

Do you leave food out for him to munch on when he pleases, or do you feed him at specific times per day?

I would start feeding him on a timetable, and then gradually cut his portions down or switch him over to a weight-control formula cat food. Also, he might be in dire need of exercise (cat toys, laser pointers, or 'feather sticks' are all good cat exercise aids.)