How do you get an agoraphobia, arthritic cat to exercise?

Question

She is 15 years old and is becoming extremely overweight. She used to like going outside but for the past year she is extremly scared of going outside. She is having problems walking now because of her weight.
Help!

Answer 1

Hi there...generally, it's first recommended to discuss an appropriate weight loss guideline with your vet. Sudden changes in dietary requirements can be distressing to a cat and could contribute to other health problems especially for a senior cat. Cats who have dramatic caloric intake can suffer from something called fatty liver disease (hepatic lipidosis) which shuts the liver down and is fatal. Therefore, before beginning any weight loss plan, please be sure to get approval from the vet to make sure this will not cause any other un-necessary health problems for your cat. Senior cats are prone to diabetes if they are overweight and need special considerations for weight loss and management. Some cats can be overweight as a result of thyroid problems so this should be checked as well.

In the wild, animals will naturally eat what they need and no more. The task of searching for food and other basic necessities involves lots of exercise and so wild animals remain naturally fit and healthy.

The food available to them in their natural habitat is perfectly designed to meet their needs in an environment that has not been tampered with.

Domestic animals are provided with food which they do not have to hunt for and which is not always suited for their bodies. Cats who are free fed as well as given table scraps are more noted to have obesity problems because they eat out of boredom. In addition, they are often exposed to a lifestyle which contributes to sluggish metabolism, underactive thyroids and livers which are not able to remove toxins or eliminate unwanted fat from their bodies.

Most commercial grade cat foods contain corn, corn meal which are fillers (carbohydrates) that bind the dry food together as a way of keeping foods lasting longer. Try finding cat food products which are devoid of these ingedients. The first ingredients should show chicken, chicken meal, etc. Most show the first ingredients as corn on the ingredient labels. IAMs, Science Diet, Purina, Whiskas, Friskies ...all have corn listed as the main ingredient. Cats who eat these tend to always feel hungry because the carbs don't metabolize fast enough and cats are obligate carnivores so they need a diet devoid of these types of carbs. Products such as Innova EVO, Nature's Variety Prairie, James Wellbeloved (UK), are premium brands. Most cats who eat these find that they do not eat to eat as much because their appetite is better satiated.

Additionally, it's important to schedule feed a cat so you can monitor servings taken in during the day. Each product lists the recommended servings based on a age and weight. For an overweight cat you would be reducing the intake gradually by 10% each week that the vet recommends is an appropriate caloric intake. Cats who are switched from a free-fed diet shoudl be fed multiple times a day (if permittable) such as once in the morning, mid-day, and then evening before your bedtime.

When switching to a new brand of cat food it is also important to note that sudden changes can cause sever bowel distress. Cats have very sensitive digestive systems so the quick change will cause bouts of diarrhoea and vomiting. Any vet can confirm this fact. Cat food should be changed gradually by mixing the current brand with the new brand over the course of several weeks. For example you would take 3/4 servings of the old cat food to 1/4 servings with the new for one week...then the next week 1/2 to 1/2...then following 1/4 of the old to 3/4 of the new in the third week before completing the switch in the final week.

Furthermore, some cats can take off the weight faster by feeding a canned food diet. For some reason the hydration in the canned products helps metabolize food better and are also completely devoid of carbohydrates, which is more optimal for the feline's body. When cats eat raw meat in the wild they get hydration from the fresh meat juices as well as some roughage from the animals who are natural herbivores. A mixture of canned and dry are always best for cats in the long-term, which many people are unaware of. We are have been exposed to so many commercial ads regarding dry food for cats, but in reality it's the manufacturer's who benefit rather than the cats. Cats are not naturally designed to eat dry--the products were designed for convenience for the owner.

Here's an article about commercial cat food; dry vs. canned, proper nutritional needs, etc: http://www.consumersearch.com/www/family/cat-food/review.html

Finally, most cats become bored with toys quickly. It's important to rotate them by hiding them and then bringing them back out again so the appear to be like new toys. Interactive toys are the best ones to use to get a cat moving such as a laser light. Most cats love chasing the light. The goal is to get the cat to move back and forth at least for 5 minutes to begin as some tire more easily than others especially if they are overweight. You can increase play time more if they enjoy it. Some cats love chasing feather teasers tied on a string too. Experiment to what gets your cat moving. Just please remember most overweight cats tire easily so keep the sessions short and fun. Interactive toys are the best ways to get your cat to exercise rather than leaving toys for them to play with. They only bat at those and really don't move enough. Not only does the interactive toys work better, but it's a bonding experience for both of you as well.

Answer 2

I have cats 13, 14, and 17 who show no signs of arthritis so i don't think you can just make that assumption based on her age. My old cat (22 and 1/2) years old was severely arthritic. She received shots from her vet regularly for a few years. Then I felt it wasn't really helping her that much. The vet approved my using the homeopathic remedy Rhus toxicodendron at a 6C dosage and I did see that she became more fluid in her movements. She was extremely hard to "pill" however and I discontinued it as she was nearing her end and there were a lot of other health issues to be dealt with. Two months ago I got some Rhus toxiocodenron from a homeopath for myself. I take three 200C pills twice a day and the pain relief is amazing. I no longer take aspirin or other prescribed NSAIDS which were doing a number of my stomach. The beauty of the homeopathic remedies is they are not toxic at the low levels available in health food stores and can be of great help for some common ailments. You would be putting your cat in no jeopardy by trying a 6C or even a 30C pill once or twice a day. Start with one for a few days and see if you notice a change. I would certainly give it a try and watch to see if it improves her mobility. If it doesn't you discontinue it and look to another reason she seems "achy". I would not go to a higher dosage than 30C or more than twice a day without consulting a homeopathic veterinarian or a veterinarian homeopath (and there is a difference). Aspirin and NSAIDS that humans use can destroy your cat's liver in a heartbeat and should never be used with cats.

Answer 3

Talk to your vet about how to put your cat on a diet. Don't just restrict her food or get a weight loss formula food because overweight cats who stop eating or eat far less than normal are highly prone to something called fatty liver disease. Fatty liver disease is almost always fatel. Your vet will know how to restrict your cat's calories without making her sick. As she loses weight, her arthitis will probably improve some since her joints won't bear as much weight.

Once she starts losing weight, there are very simple ways to encourage her to move. Measure out how much food she should eat in a day and split it into small portions placed throughout your home. This gets her up and moving and encourages natural "hunting" behavior. If she can still make jumps, put some of her meals up on things. A cat tree with several levels and things to bat at will also encourage her to move about. Any toys she used to enjoy plaing with are good to tempt her with (try scenting these with catnip to perk her interest). Actually, scenting anything with catnip will probably give her a boost and make her think about moving again.

Answer 4

You need to take steps to improve her diet and get her to lose weight with better, less fattening food.

A fifteen year old cat is about 74 in human years. I seriously doubt that more than 10% of the adults that age in the US "exercise". And your cat certainly won't be motivated to do so to lose weight and improve her health. That's up to you - have a good vet exam with a blood panel to determine the status of her health and maybe the vet will have some suggestions about diet for her.

If you want to let me know what she has been eating I can probably suggest a better, less fattening cat food for her. Feel free to email me if you wish.

Answer 5

she won't go outside now perhaps because she knows she cannot fend for herself if a threat appears (like a dog or racoon or another cat). Allow her to stay indoors if that is what she wants.

Feed her a little less than her usual serving. Give wet food only now becuase dry kibble has a lot of carbohdrates which your cat is unable to burn because of her relative inactivity.

To get her moving, make her "earn" her food. When she is hungry, get her bowl and put her wet food in it. But instead of giving it to her right away, walk around the house a bit calling for her to take her food. If she is a normal cat, she'll follow the bowl of food. Set the bowl down once she has made a complete circuit around the living room or house (you have to assess her strngth and capability yourself). Also see if you can interest her in some low-impact play (feather teaser, balls, catch the mousy, etc.). The point is to get her MOVING.

Answer 6

Diabetes is usually treated through a combination of diet (low sugar), exercise and medications/insulin. Milder cases can be controlled with just diet an/or exercise while more severe cases require meds or insulin as well.
Learn more https://tr.im/vJIKD

Answer 7

its your fault for feeding her to the point of fatcat status. leave her alone

Answer 8

well u cud have him at least try n den reward him