anyone got any diet tips for my overweight cat?

Answer 1

Hi there...to acheive sufficient weight loss avoid cat foods that contains corn products (ie. corn, corn meal), preservatives such as BHT and byproducts are not ideal as well. Cats always will still feel hungry as the corn fillers break down into the system quickly converted into simple sugars spiking the blood sugar up quickly later turning into body fat stored in the cat's body. Essentially these are "simple" carbohydrates. Complex carbohydrates is reverse of this found in premium brands of cat foods.

Most commercially found brands in the pet stores and grocery stores don't meet the best nutritional needs of cats who are obligate carnivores.

Ideally it's best to look to cat foods that are devoid of these filler and byproduct ingredients and look for a crude protein of 30% or greater and ALSO use "whole" animal meat products. The higher the protein the more weight loss and management can be attained.

Cats who eat the premium brands will more feel satiated eating these brands and can eat less than the pet store equivelents as well.

Nature's Variety Prairie, Innova Senior and others like them found at specialty pet stores use quality ingredients that can help with weight loss, weight management, lower urine acidity to minimize infection common to male cats and the other benefits, softer coat of hair, less shedding and overall improved health.

Additionally, cats benefit from weight loss being fed on a scheduled regimen such as twice a day (e.g. morning and before your bedtime) rather than free fed (food left out all day and night). Generally, most cats who have access to food anytime have been known to nibble out of boredom and hence put on weight. Scheduled feedings control this and help you also monitor their intake as well. Weight maintenance servings is based on what you are feeding now and then reduced by only 15% each week until the proper serving is met for the weight of your cat which is on the back of most cat food product labels. Usually it's 3/4 - 1 cup per day in total for a healthy weight maintenance. Fed on a shedule it would be divided in half.

Exercise is also a benefit...chasing a laser light for 5 minutes a couple times a day will burn more of the calories with a healthier diet.

Here's the websites for both products I've mentioned:
Nature's Variety Chicken & Brown Rice: http://www.naturesvariety.com/content.lasso?page=1363&-session=naturesvariety:43B7DCEA18ce600648sWTP754291

Ingredients:
Chicken Meal, Brown Rice, Oatmeal, Chicken Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols and Citric Acid), Menhaden Fish Meal, Flaxseed Meal, Montmorillonite Clay, Natural Chicken Flavor, Alfalfa Meal, Chicken Liver, Potassium Chloride, Sea Salt, DL-Methionine, Vitamins (Choline Chloride, Vitamin E Supplement, Ascorbic Acid, Niacin Supplement, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin A Acetate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Biotin, Riboflavin Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Beta Carotene, Ethylenediamine Dihydriodide, Folic Acid), Minerals (Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Sodium Selenite), Taurine, Dried Enterococcus Faecium Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus Acidophilus Fermentation Product, Inulin, Flaxseed Oil, Apples, Cottage Cheese, Chicken Eggs, Cranberries, Freeze Dried Chicken, Freeze Dried Turkey, Freeze Dried Turkey Liver, Freeze Dried Turkey Hearts, Pumpkinseeds, Ground Chicken Bone, Carrots, Butternut Squash, Broccoli, Lettuce, Spinach, Kelp, Salmon Oil, Apple Cider Vinegar, Parsley, Honey, Blueberries, Alfalfa Sprouts, Grapefruit Seed Extract, Persimmons, Olive Oil, Duck Eggs, Pheasant Eggs, Quail Eggs, Rosemary Extract, Sage, Clove

Guaranteed Analysis
Crude Protein (min) 34.0%
Crude Fat (min) 20.0%
Crude Fiber (max) 2.5%
Moisture (max) 10.0%

Calories
450 per cup


Innova Senior: http://www.naturapet.com/display.php?d=product-detail&pxsl=%2F%2Fproduct%5B%40id%3D%271416%27%5D

Moisture10.0 %
Protein38.0 %
Fat12.0 %
Fiber8.0 %
Calories1616 Kcal/lb
Calories3555 Kcal/Kg
Calories396 KCals/Cup

Other premium brands:
California Natural
Wellness
Chicken Soup for the Cat Lover's Soul
Life Abundance
and so many more...

Please keep in mind anytime a cat has to change foods it's best done very gradually over a course of several weeks so to not disrupt the bowels which is sensitive in all animals. Usually 3/4 of old food mixed with 1/4 new for one week...1/2 to 1/2 the next week and then 3/4 new to 1/4 old in the final week before competely switching.

Answer 2

I had this problem with my cat. My vet made me put her on half a can of Science Diet W/D food. You could use a different food other than W/D though bc my cat has diabeties and had to lose weight or I was going to be giving her shots everyday. Iams and Science Diet are good foods. Try not leaving the food out all day too bc they can gain weight by constantly eating a little bit at a time. You are going to have to use a good brand of food though or it will be pointless.

Answer 3

Both Science Diet and Iams make really good diet foods for cats. Be sure to maintain portion control according to the product recommendations. Then make sure your cat is getting plenty of exercise, both to help him or her lose weight, and to be healthy overall.
Remember, a fat cat may be cute, but he/she won't live as long, or feel as good. And for all that they give us, they desrve the best that we can give them.

Answer 4

My vet told me my cat could "afford to lose a pound". Can you believe it? The nerve! ;)
Anyway, I've just given her diet food and she's stayed the same weight for a while.
You can get any kind of weight control food and it should be okay.
Fat cats are cuter anyway!

Answer 5

Good answers. :) First, get a vet recommended food for weight control. My vet suggested Iams weight control. Your vet could also suggest a portion for her daily eating.

Feed your cat small portions all day long. (heh...sounds familiar...) Do play sessions with her with fishing line type toys. Get some small nerf balls for her to chase. Or, get an old pair of panty hose and cut them and put cat nip inside.

It will take awhile for the cat to lose weight. 1 lb of cat isnt the same as 1 lb of human. :)

Answer 6

Get your cat to exercise more, and eat one meal a day instead of 2 or three. You could make an outdoor run for her so she won't just lie down and sleep.

Answer 7

60 minute cycling session

Answer 8

eat 5 6 small meals a day instead of 3

Answer 9

feed her less food, she may get annoying and beg for food but trust me you are not starving her. I feed my cats about 1/2-3/4 cup a day and that's it.

Answer 10

dont feed her soft food, only dry food..most cats will stop eatting on there own if you leave dry food out all the time, but appartently your cat is not one of them.you need to feed her certain times a day instead of leaving it down all the time..

also, make sure she gets exercise, play with her with cat toys.