Hi people I have a cat that recently gained some extra weight, and i need tips for weightloss, help?

Question

The cat is a male and is about 9 months old.

What are the best ways to excercise him? Tell me if this exercise works. I use a laser pointer and get my cat to run up and down the stairs.

Answer 1

First of all: feed less, or use a weightloss diet, like Hill's R/D (only available at your vet's)
The laserpointer is ok, but I would recommend also using a tabletennisball - the laserpointer trickers the hunting instinct, but there are no release in the end, because there are no "prey" to catch, this stresses some cats tremendously! So don't overuse it.

Try hiding his food around the house, and put some in a paper (not plastic!) bag or in a box with paw-size-holes to let him work for his food a bit.

Using the amazing, but easy to learn, technique of "clickertraining" you can teach your cat all sorts of tricks, including running a catagility course, which is lots of fun and great exercise.
Look at clickertraining.com for more info on this

Remember - you get fat if you eat more calories than you use in exercise - so in theory loosing weight is simple: eat less, move more....the hard part is putting it into real life ;o)

Answer 2

Every summer my cats gain weight, they eat Purina Cat Chow.
Some lose the weight after summer's over. You should talk to a vet before putting your cat on a strict diet. They usually gain more weight after being spayed or neutered. Table scraps will help to put weight on him, so be careful in that way of what you feed him. A vet can weigh them and tell you how over weight he is, and they'll let you know how to make him healthier. The laser pointer is a great way to keep him going. Our cats can run for thirty minutes after that thing. Just don't point it in their eyes.

Answer 3

Just like for humans, the key is to eat less, exercise more. Cut back the amount of food you give him, don't let him have table scraps, and consider feeding him a weight loss cat food. Also, make time to play with him every day, for at least 10 minutes a day, more if you can.

Or you can do what I did when my kitty started getting a little too chubby - I got a kitten to keep her company and to play with. The best exercise for a cat is another cat.

Answer 4

decrease the amount of food you give him by 10% if a cat looses weight too fast it damages their liver and get him some excercize by getting him running like you are with a laser pointer or a string toy.

you might want to take a trip to the vet just to make sure there isn't a medical reason that he has gained some weight.

Answer 5

that laser pointer is a good idea (as long as it doesn't get in his eyes) i pick the two rooms in the house that are furthest apart and run between them with a load of feathers on elastic. It gets a bit hairy on the stairs but its good exercise for both of us and we bond over it too.

Check with your vet though to make sure he is overwieght. I have a moggie who's mother was a british blue. This makes him rather chunky and although he looks like a little fatty he is actually the perfect wieght. Exercise yours anyway but check that he actually needs a diet.

Answer 6

Regular exercise will definitely help. Also, if your cat eats mostly canned or wet food, try gradually replacing that with dry food. Most canned/wet food is very high in fat. I give my cat high quality dry food only and canned food maybe once a month. Make sure you have fresh water always available - even add ice cubes now and then. My cat will drink twice as much if the water is cold. Plenty of fluids will help flush out the fat and keep your little guy's system working well.

Answer 7

dont feed it as much and dont give lots of treatsand it helps if u feed it 3 meals everyday at the same time everyday and make sure it is not laiying around all day

Answer 8

Reduce his carb intake and bring him to the park with you everymorning, let them run (of course let them wear a chain or string) similar to dogs... hehehehe

Answer 9

your cat is young, if its neutered let it roam your backyard, my tortoishell was really fat, but after we let her outside, she has lost weigth, not drastically, though, since we havent changed her diet

Answer 10

http://www.homevet.com/petcare/feedingyourcat.html