my kitten is getting chubby already?

Question

My kitten is about 7 months old and she is developing a lot of fat on her belly. She is still on dry kitten food. I always leave a bowl of kitten food out for my cats so they can help themselves. My older cats also get servings of wet food. None of my older cats have as much fat as her. I adoted her mother and she has no stomach fat so it isn't just the type of cat that she is. I am really concerned for her. I can't feed her separately from all my other cats, i have 6 and that would be near impossible. What can be causing her to gain wieght? Could it be because she was spayed at such a young age? I don't know i need advice on what should be done and what could be causing it. I mean the fat is noticable when she walks. I have no expierence with overwieght cats. Should i take her to the vet or am i just over reacting?

I've had all my cats since kittens except for two and none of them developed fat like this and they were fed the same way as her.

this is her at 3 months with her shaved belly from her spaynig.
http://kittenwar.com/c_images/2007/02/13/115230.1.jpg

It deffinately isn't worms her stomach isn't bloaded or hard it is jiggly and fatty cellulite feeling. :(

Answer 1

Kitten food tends to be fattening.

I think you have two choices - either cut back on her intake or switch to another food.

Free feeding isn't a good idea although it seems to be working out for you at least with the others. My last cat was like that and I assumed my new kitten would be self-regulated as well. Not!

So it could be that your kitty is grazing throughout the day. You might want to stop the free feeding if there's any chance that Fatty is helping herself. Or leave that out, but cut back on the amount that you give specifically to her so that the grazing she does later doesn't mean she's eating too much.

Or better yet, take her off the dry kitten food and switch to a good canned food. Honestly, I don't know that it would be a big deal to switch to an adult food at this point....the better quality ones will give her what she needs anyway.

But if you don't feel comfy with that, get her a canned kitten food. Good canned food has less carbs than dry and so that should help.

The list below recommends several varieties of canned foods. None are for kittens, but I would imagine that some of them do make kitten food as well.

You're right to nip this in the bud! I didn't and ended up with a 25 pound cat.

Answer 2

Some cats are a lot more prone to being overweight than others, so the fact that your other cats aren't overweight doesn't mean anything, even if they all eat the same food.

What food are you feeding them on? Certain types are not helpful to cats who are prone to weight gain - anything like Felix, Whiskas, Fancy Feast, or most things available in supermarkets really are not going to be helpful.

I would suggest a change of diet - I recommend Hills Science Plan, or Iams. Both good for weight control. You'll need to introduce the new diet slowly, adding a bit at a time to the old diet and increasing it until the cat is completely weaned on to the new food.

As for the neutering early, it was the correct thing to do. Neutering can indeed make an animal more prone to weight gain, but it doesn't make a difference if you do it early or late.

Certainly give the vet a ring if you want some advice, but I really think a diet change would help matters. It also isn't a good idea to leave food down at all times, it's better to feed cats twice a day in set meals - this is better for weight control and better reflects their natural feeding routines.

Lastly, it's best to worm cats regularly as a preventative measure.

Chalice

Answer 3

She eats too much! If you have to, put her in the laundry room at night without her food dish. Transition her off the kitten food....it's too fattening. She may be stealing som eof the wet food from the older guys dishes.....irrisistable! You have to get tough with this young one!

Answer 4

i think it's from spaying her early, it tends to make them gain a lot of weight because they're not as frisky and playful, i wouldn't worry too much, if it gets really bad just try to exercise her and take some food away, you may have to put her in a seperate room and make time to eat.

Answer 5

you might want to have her checked for worms, if her belly is round and hard it could mean worms and if she does have them you will need to treat all your cats.

Answer 6

hmm i dunno what to say..maybe take her bowl away at night(that is also how you potty train) or go to the vet!