Please help me please?

Question

I got my cat last year from the pound i adopted him and when i got him he had a saggy belly i knew he was gonna be a big cat well i have had him for about a year now and he has gotten really big and he has no intersest in excerising so i was reading a a report on the internet saying to get another cat to have as a playmate to get him to exercise but athat didnt work how can i make him lose weight and to become playful again i have had the other cat for about 6 months and she hasnt gotten fat and she is very active please help me

Answer 1

Hi Brad...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. Cats who have dramatic caloric intake can suffer from something called fatty liver disease (hepatic lipidosis) http://www.peteducation.com:80/article.cfm?cls=1&cat=1327&articleid=217 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. 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. http://www.peteducation.com:80/article.cfm?cls=1&cat=1399&articleid=1155

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 two cats I found as kittens in the ditch near my house two years ago. One is a normal sized cat who loves to run and play and only eats what he needs. His sister, however, is a different matter. She is severely overweight even though I have them on low calorie food and only feed the 1/2 cup of food a day. So I can understand your frustration. First, make sure you cat doesn't have any health problem by having the vet check him thoroughly. Assuming the cat is healthy, ask the vet the best way to get this cat's weight down. My vet told me that 1/2 cup of food a day is the least amount I should feed my cat since they can get sick and die if they loose weight too quickly. I bought a cat toy that is a wand with a string and feathers tied to the end and my fat cat will chase it and jump after it a little, but she gets tired easily, so I try to do this with her several times a day for a short while. She's getting a little more active so her weight loss is very slow, but it's working.

Answer 3

i dont know how old your cat is but most cats activity level drops with age usually around a year or two. some cats are more indepented than others and playmate cats will have little intrest with them. if your worried about his weight try a weight control food or senior cat food if hes an older cat. also measuring the amount of food he gets can help. if hes eating only moist food then that will cause him to gain weight as it is high in fat. plus its not good for his teeth to eat only moist. dry food is lower in fat and is good for his teeth. i have a cat thats about 15 pounds and hes happy as can be i have another cat who eats like its going out of style yet never gains weight. if u want him to be more playful try new thing. my cats love string or shoelaces. some like feather toys or cat nip mce. the little balls that jinggle seem to be a big hit with lots of cats. it could be hes just not intrest with his toys. some cats also love a nice role in catnip and that makes them a little bit more active. its like a cat drug but has no side effects other than a few minutes of crazy rolling or running. reaction to catnip depends on the cat.

Answer 4

You'll want to get your cat checked out by the vet to make sure he's healthy - if his lack of activity is due to illness, he'll need to have that treated. If his lack of playfullness is simply due to his being so overweight, the information on the links below should help a lot.

Also, please read this link: http://www.catinfo.org and this link: http://www.catnutrition.org/obesity.html
They explain the importance of high-quality canned food in a cat's diet. Dry cat food is very high in carbohydrates, which is unnatural for cats and can contribute to weight gain. You'll want to gradually start substituting a high-quality canned food for a portion of his dry each day until he's eating mostly canned food. Be sure to make any changes to his diet gradually to avoid stomach upset, and watch to make sure he doesn't suddenly stop eating (overweight cats can become very sick if they suddenly quit eating).

Over time, he should start losing weight and becoming more playful again.

Answer 5

Was your cat playful when you first got him? Cuz if he was and something changed you may want to have him checked out by a vet. I've had things change with one of my pets, so I made sure to pet and put pressure all over their body, making sure there was no hidden injury, and check their claws for infection. That's how I found out one of mine was sick. It makes it easier for the vet if you have an idea where they are uncomfortable.

Or you may just have a lazy cat. I have four. Three are active and one is a regular couch potato and consequently very fat. There is no shortage of toys or catnip, she just likes to observe the world, not play in it.

Answer 6

First check with the vet to see if he's got any medical problems. If he checks out healthy, perhaps you need to regulate his food. Twice a day at the same time everyday. Playmates do help (I did that and it worked!), so try that if all else fails. Good luck!

Answer 7

I would strongly advise taking him to a vet. The weight loss food formula is a great suggestion, too.

Beyond that, make sure you spend plenty of quality time playing with him, and see that he has toys that he can play with alone, too. (Those fluffy ones on a spring are BIG hits with mine, as is the tube that has a ball in it... who knew?)

Answer 8

i would recommend either building or buying a cat fort/gym/tree for her to play on. cats love climbing these things. i built mine out of cardboard boxes for free, and my cat never stops climbing all over it and jumping in and out.

maybe that will help her lose weight.

Answer 9

Try some catnip. works for my lazy kitty. or take him for a walk. yes cats can walk on leashes too. Might take some time getting used to it.. but it works

Answer 10

Try feeding it low fat or weight loss food. If that doesn't work, than see a vet and ask.