Overweight Cat??

Question

What can I do about a 5 year old overweight cat? We have tried the laser light and she only chased it for one day and now she just watches it. All she does is lay around and does not play much. Please help me!!!

THANK YOU EVERYBODY FOR ALL THE GREAT ANSWERS!! I WILL SOON CHOOSE A BEST ANSWER!! GOOD LUCK!!

Answer 1

Hi, I'm a veterinary nurse who does weight clinics for cats and dogs so you could say this area is my speciality.

Food is often the cause for overweight in cats and dogs. You can get your pet to exercise but at the end of the day if the type of food you're feeding her does not suit her rate of metabolism she is not going to lose any weight. I would certainly advise a change of food. Cutting back on what you're currently feeding will only result in a hungry kitty. If you use a diet food she should be able to eat a decent amount but still lose weight.

May I suggest Hills r/d as this is the food I've had great success with for my weight clinic patients. Here's a link to the Hills website which will tell you about r/d and help you find a vet near you that can supply it:
http://www.hillspet.com/zSkin_2/products/product_details_eu.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441760507&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=1408474395183417&bmUID=1178399243857&bmLocale=en_GB

R/d comes in dry and wet forms. The idea is that you feed the cat the amount of food recommended for the weight you want him to be (7.7-8.8lb for an average cat). You need to measure out the daily amount (can be fed as one, two or even three separate meals) and feed the diet to the exclusion of other foods.

Please feel free to email me with any other questions, I'm happy to help. It's always advisable to formulate a dietary regime with your vets advice, because weight loss in animals is actually quite a complicated thing! It's important the animal does not lose weight too quickly - about 1% of their bodyweight a week is good. I'll also give you this link to a great diagram on body condition scoring in cats - you can decide what shape your cat most looks like, as it's shape that overweight is judged on more than weight
http://www.hillspetslimmer.co.uk/overweight/diagnosis_bodycondition.html

Like I said, feel free to email me!

Chalice

Answer 2

Cats very rarely over eat. If they are overweight it is because the food they are eating is to fatty or has to many calories just like humans. Try a dry cat for just for indoor cats and leave and big bowl full so that they can help themselves. Small a frequent meals can also help.

Answer 3

Buy a low calorie diet for your cat. Give her 20% LESS than the label says, because food companies encourage more feeding than neccessary. Only feed her half her daily requirement twice daily, and then pick up the dish after 10 minutes, whether or not she finishes. Do NOT feed her any more than her meals, even treats. Get her weight down to normal, fat cats are at severe risk of developing diabetes and pancreatitis.

Also the suggestion to toss the kibbles for her to chase at meal time is a good idea, just make sure to let her eat restfully for the second half of the meal.

Also, the statement that cats rarely over eat is a myth. Cats are predators who eat when they have the opportunity, it is a hard-wired instinct. If your cat has food available 24-7, they will over eat. The difference between a fat cat and a thin cat who is offered food constantly is their individual dispositions regarding activity level, and how much they eat each feeding.

Answer 4

I strongly disagree with the statement that it is rare for cats to be overweight. It is indeed quite common. I work at a vet clinic and would say that at LEAST 50% of the cats we see are overweight, possibly 25% of those cats are morbidly obese. Feed her measured amounts at mealtimes (once or twice daily) the average cat eats about 1/2 cup of food per day (be sure to use a measuring cup to measure her food). You can offer her "light" or "low calorie" foods. Take her to the vet regularly to be weighed to measure your progress. It is very important for cats to loose weight slowly, or they can develop something called "fatty liver syndrome" which can kill your cat. If progress is not seen with these improvements, there are blood tests that can be done to rule out health issues that can cause a cat to hold on to extra poundage.

Answer 5

Sounds like a food issue to me. Get her on a low grain/nograin and make sure she is getting alot of water. Many cat foods load their cat forumals with tons of grains and carbs. Cats are not obese in the wild.. the eat meat... thats it.. I have never seen a large cat or even feral cat chewing on some corn or rice.
Just stay from weightloss formulas like Science Diet etc.. they just TONS of corn and grains and basically make your cat poop so much.
Look for good quality food.. that means not going to a huge petstore chain but an animal health food store. Tons are popping up everywhere.

Answer 6

most animals that are overwieght eat to much. I would feed my cat a little less, like once fill up the bowl every 2 days, depending on the size of the bowl. You should get some toys, like the flexable sticks with feathers on the top. For some reason my cat likes to play with the plastic things that you peel off from the cap of the milk carton. (don't ask why) also when shes laying down pet her stomach and then she'll try to attack you, but thats only if you don't mind getting scratched. : )

Answer 7

The BEST way, just like with people, is to decrease food intake and increase exercise. If you have trouble getting her to exercise, the best option you've got is to decrease amount of food, and use a reduced fat food. Innova is a wonderful brand of food, and they have a "lite" recipe (it's what I'm feeding my overweight cat, and he loves it!). Feed her slightly less than what it recommends for weight loss on the bag, because they generally give a generous serving size estimate, and if you can, feed her half in the morning, and half in the evening. Hopefully, once she starts to lose a bit of weight after decreasing her food intake, she'll want to play and exercise more!

One way to get her to exercise (again, what I do with my cat) is to throw pieces of her kibble for her to chase, if she enjoys chasing her food. It will be like a game, and she gets rewarded with food! Plus, you're not feeding her any more than she normally would be getting, so you won't feel guilty about giving her treats.

Answer 8

Hello...it is rare for cats to be overweight - unless your feeding her treats & such...many times cats who are fixed also seem fat but aren't..especially fixed females ..ours had a cist condition, tho not deadly, just something that happens @ times...cats are nibblers & just rarely overeat unless someone is helping them eat more then they should..like with treats & such..which is why they are best on dry foods ..not canned or pouches, unless you follow instructions ... so if you're not over feeding or giving too many treats, she needs lookin at by a VET..Take Care :)

Answer 9

make like a fish and swim at a leisurely pace for 17 minutes

Answer 10

cool down with 20 minutes of white water rafting in the nearby tongariro river