is 22 lbs too heavy for a cat?

Question

is it?

ok yea shes a long haired domesticated thats like white with random black spots and a black tail with a whtie tip i know too much info but yeah now is she?

Answer 1

Even if she is a Maine Coon (these are big cats), that is still way too heavy. I am guessing by your description that your kitty is a fixed female Long Hair-Domestic. If so, 22 pounds on her is roughly equivalent to you weighing 250 pounds! That is obese and obesity is a health hazard to cats (causes heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, etc.). Your kitty needs to lose weight, but it has to be done GRADUALLY. Again I am guessing, but I think you should try to get your kitty down to at least 15 lbs (my male cat is 15 pounds ans is presently on a diet to lose 2 pounds).

NEVER put a cat on a crash diet or allow her to miss a meal. This will cause a potentially fatal condition called lipidosis. If you cannot go to a vet to have a porper weight loss program drawn up for your kitty, you can certainly start by:

1. DO not "free feed" (leaving food in her bowl so that she can eat at all times of the day)

2. If you have been feeding her dry cat food, you need to switch her to wet canned cat food or at least make her primary food wet canned food and give a little kibble. Dry cat food containes more calaroies than wet canned food.

3. Feed your cat a weight management cat food like Iams canned. Followl label directions. Usually, for an adut cat 1 can (6oz) is enough. This is divided into several small meals mixed with water. But since your kitty is 22 lbs. she may require 1 1/2 cans per day for a few months at least.

4. Monitor weeigh loss. If you are feeding right, the cat should lose 1/2 pound per month.

So you see, getting a fat cat to lose weight will take months of dedication on your part.

Answer 2

Yes, way too heavy. The heaviest healthy cat I ever saw was 17 pounds and that was an extra large male cat that was a lot of muscle. Your cat is about ready to have a heart attack if you don't put it on a diet, NOW. Most cats should weight around 12 or maybe 14 pounds if they are big. My cat weighs 9 pounds and is at a good weight for a female cat. That tell you something. If you want to have the cat around for more than a few months do something fast. Remember that you are talking about a small animal and each pound is more weight to the cat than it would be to us.

Answer 3

Most likely. Some cat breeds are naturally large, but 22 lbs is very big. I am working on getting some weight off the 17 lb cat I adopted. He's a big boy, but 14-15 lbs is probably more appropriate for him.

Reduce the amount he eats and measure it at each feeding using the feeding instructions on the package. Don't free-feed your cat (leave food available all the time). Use a reduced calorie food if your cat tolerates it (mone doesn't - it makes him throw up). Try and get him to play and exercise. Vets recommend that cats lose weight fairly slowly for their health.

Answer 4

If you can't feel the ribs with a light touch, then it's overweight. Consult with you vet to see if it's overweight indeed and they will recommend a proper weight loss diet if needed. There are some breeds of cats that are large in weight naturally, Maine Coons for one. We have a brother and sister that are both heavy, but I can still feel their ribs with light pressure. They are 18 pounds - female and 24 pounds - male. They are both gray and white. They are just 4 1/2 years old. Their mom is a dainty 6 pounds and dad is average size for a male, about 12 pounds.

Answer 5

For almost any cat that is far to big. The exception is a Maine Coon Cat. For Coons this is about average for a male and a little heavy for females.

Answer 6

yes-- and more at risk for health problems. you must have him loose weight VERY SLOWLY and gradually because if it is done too fast their liver is at risk of going into shock.
the best way is to slowly introduce a ALL WET FOOD diet.
DRY food is HIGHLY caloric-- and mostly all carbohydrates.
cats are carnivores (eat other animals)-- they can not digest and use excess carbs-- so they gain weight.
wet food has less calories than dry, has more meat, and more water content (70% water)-- and water is necessary to flush the liver and helps the liver and kidneys function properly.
My cat went from 20 pounds to 14 pounds on the wet food diet-- it took him about 6 months to a year.
you cant have food out all the time. i feed my cat 2x a day sceduled feedings and lock him in the bathrom to control his intake so he cant eat other cats food.
Also got him a kitten to play with so he gets more exercise running around.
being overweight will be at risk for diabetes, joint and spine problems, heart problems and more.

Answer 7

What kind of cat is it? 22 pounds is not heavy for a maine coon. Also, what does your vet say about your cat?

Answer 8

its over weight but I've found that once a cat is fixed it gains massive amounts of weight. Try to control the diet...not being crazy abou it though.... and play with your cat...make sure it gets excerize every day.

Answer 9

Depends on the type of cat. The Jaguar they just killed in Denver was 140 lbs. ;-)

Answer 10

Uhm yea