Could I get some suggestions for getting my cat to work a little for his food?

Question

Kitty is bored and very over-weight and desperately needs a little activity. He can't get too physical or he'll have an asthma attack, but he still needs a little bit of exercise and enrichment.

I've tried a few things already, like the ball feeder and hiding dry food around, but without success.
His hobbies are sleep, food, and getting brushed. ☺

I really need some helpful suggestions or tricks. Thanks. ♥

Answer 1

Do you feed your cat wet food? If so, take him off. Also, you should probably talk to the vet about a healthier diet. He/she is a professional and he/she will know!

Answer 2

A lot of good suggestions have been made already, however, there are several I'm going to offer. When you feed him, give him a smaller portion in a cat dish, do not leave a bowl filled with catfood out for him all day. Feed him twice a day, only put a certain amount in the bowl and then that's it, myabe one handfull, or equal to 1 1/2 cups of dry food. If he has any psecial treats he likes, there are toy where you can put the treats inside a ball which will then make the cat play around with it or get it moving to get the treats out. There are several types, if you get one make sure the cat has to work for the treat and not just roll it over and the treat pops out. Whatever you do, if you feed him wet cat food, only do it in moderation, such as one spoonful after he's done with the dry food. A lot of owners just open a can and set it down, not understanding that doing that is like handing a human a whole cheesecake and let them eat it all at once. To get him to play, Wal-Mart has a kitty wand which is only about $3, it's plastic and has an elastic string with a feather or a piece of fur hanging on the end. You can interactively play with him, or it has a sucktion cup you can attatch to the end and stick on a sliding glass door or window so the feather or fur hangs about a foot off the ground. That way, he can play on his own too when you're not home. If you do a combination of these things, he'll start slimming down and be a little healthier. Good luck!

Answer 3

The best weight control food is to get one without corn. Corn is used to fatten slaughter animals!

Eagle Pack, Natural Balance, CA Natural, Solid Gold, Felidae are all dry foods that use brown rice, millet, oats or peas as their fillers. These are much less fattening than corn. Corn is also a known allergen for animals and that may be exacerbating if not causing the asthma.

Wet foods from these manufacturers are excellent for taking off weight. I use Nature's Logic and Nature's Organic for wet food which I get from www.petfooddirect.com. Those foods are strictly high quality meat with NO fillers.

I use an infinitestimal amount of dry food - using canned and a raw meat diet I prepare for my now five cats. All are trim and well-muscled. Exercise works for humans and cats don't need that to lose weight.

Answer 4

I have a 2x4 with carpeting stapled to it, that serves as a ramp leading to the top of a bookcase that also has carpeting stapled to it. They climb up there to sleep. There are other ramps and things around the house where they climb and do the claw thing. No treats necessary. In my old apartment, I even had a wall of carpeting and they were always climbing the wall. I wouldn't associate food with any of it because I'd be too afraid my cats would yowl for food every time they see me.

As for some of the other advice here, I agree, canned food is very bad for cats. I have elderly cats who have had almost all their teeth removed, and they eat dry food only (Imes Sedentary) and still manage to be a bit overweight. They're longhaired, so they do go to a groomer in our vet's office a couple of times a year and I think she bathes them. I would never bathe a cat at home for any reason. My friend killed her cat that way because he breathed in some water.

Answer 5

I agree with the no wet food thing... however, if you figure out how to "diet" your cat let me know... I have a male 5 yr old TWENTY TWO POUND cat. He also likes sleeping, sleeping some more, begging for food, WAILING when he doesnt get food, and then going back to sleep.
You could always try a low cal cat food, too. Most cats refuse to eat it for a few days, but when they get hungry enough they will... no wet food, no treats. Have you tried getting him one of those remote control mice? You can get them at Circuit City and my lard butt cat will even chase it... good luck!!

Answer 6

Try Weight Control food. At least start there. Maybe buy a toy that might amuse the kitty.

Answer 7

I would work on his asthma. Sorry that's not what you wanted but that's the cause of why he's not exercising, right?

Maybe look into special baths for him and maybe an air cleaner or two. No perfumes, no smoking etc.

I know you can do it, sounds like you love your cat lots.

Answer 8

make sure kitty is on a no filler, mature fat cat catfood. give less, and give at two times/day, so not eating all at once.
buy figure8 harness, place on kitty with crossover in front, under chest.
get leash. hook up jkitty. take to park. tell him he is not esating until he walks. do not drag kitty. put him up into trees--just far enough so he has to walk down. find some way to make your kitty walk. he will do it, especially if you are cosistent about takng him out for torture before meals!!!!!do not feed until he walks.
no treats.
good luck. be patient--he will do something.

Answer 9

use a feather on a string for a short play period with him (this is interactive) make it only a couple of minuts long and then a rest before eating. maybe some kind of diet kitty food from your vet is in order (i know, they are yeuchhhh and expencive, but this is the well being of your feline companion here)

Answer 10

to give your cat/dog more exercise, hide pieces of food around the house and let your animals find it. it also builds thier stamina.
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