How do you get an adult cat to lose weight?

Question

I have 2 cats and can't feed them separately. I try playing with the older one (4 1/2 yrs.)but she's not all that interested. The young cat (3 yrs.) is very active and her weight is fine. Do you have any ideas on how to get her interested in moving around? She doesn't eat a lot. Please help.

Answer 1

Forget about exercise. It's great but the key here is to feed species appropriate food.

For the average cat owner, that means purchasing a good quality canned food.

Dry food is crap that only benefits cat owners.

When feeding a good canned food in a multi-cat household, the overweight cat can lose weight eating the same food as the others. The others may or may not lose weight themselves, but they will benefit from the better quality of the food as well.

Answer 2

First, if you can afford it, take the older cat to the vet and make sure she's not diabetic or has some other malody. Then put out no food until the young one acts hungry. Take the other cat in the bathroom and spend a few minutes. Put away any food that's left. Cats lose weight very slowly in my experience so be patient. Talk to your vet.

Oh yeah. Buy a cheap laser pointer and flash it on the walls and floor. I've yet to meet a cat that didn't go a little nuts chasing the light. Do NOT shine it in your eyes or the cats'.

Answer 3

From my own experience I've learned that the basics to keeping a cat in healthy shape is to regulate meal times and find a quality cat food.

I have a very large cat myself, five cats in total, and we've gotten him to lose a couple pounds by feeding him on a regular schedule and taking away the food after twenty minutes so he doesn't keep eating all day or eating the other cat's food in addition to his. So we just put all the bowls out twice a day, morning @ 7 and 6 @ night, and then take them away after a half hour. They will get used to eating on a schedule and waiting until the next meal. We also don't put too much in the bowl. You'll see how much they eat in that amount of time and looking up eating charts on the net is good too.

The other thing you can do is buy better quality food for your cats. Dry food is generally healthier for cats and keeps their teeth in better shape. Just learn about "fillers" and buy foods that don't use them. Fillers are cheap ways of manufacturing more food for less money to lure people into a "good deal" and they tend to be very unhealthy for the animals. So learn to read the ingredients or find a great little shop with people that are willing to give you lots of information on all the different foods.

Also if your cat isn't very active it can be a sign of your cat being in pain. There are many stories of cats having conditions that are painful and so they become withdrawn and sluggish and when taken to the vet and made better they return to a more kitty-like playfulness and stamina. You might consider taking your kitty to the ver. It's too young to be acting like that. Your vet can also advise you on how to get this specific kitty to lose weight.

Answer 4

I had 2 cats that were overweight too. First, feed them on a schedule, don't just leave the food out for them. 2nd, exercise. If you find the right toy or toys you can usually entice a cat to play. Sometimes just a plain ol' paper bag is all you need -- or a nice catnip toy. Maybe you could try taking her for walks on a leash. Most cats don't like it, but some do and it's lots of fun. That's the trick - make it fun.

Answer 5

As a cat proprietor who's had a "obese" cat .... fat cats carry approximately extreme well-being situations down the line. huge type one element is .... to be certain that your cat does no longer have any underlying well-being issues....a visit to the vet is very stated. as quickly as scientific issues are ruled out, your veterinarian will probably advise a definite weight-help plan. this would incorporate a metamorphosis of nutrients, even however no longer likely. (in case you do would desire to alter your kitty's nutrients, do no longer replace as we communicate - that'll reason scientific issues; do it over a era of a week or 2, gradually mixing in further and further of the recent nutrients with the previous nutrients till it quite is all new nutrients.) the quantity of nutrients given in the time of an afternoon, in spite of the incontrovertible fact that, is a distinctive rely. fairly of filling the bowl and purely letting him consume every time he appears like it (whether it does take 2 days), you have gotten to alter the quantity via purely putting interior the right volume of nutrients for his weight in the time of meal cases. it will sense such as you're starving him in the commencing up, yet he would be far greater advantageous off.

Answer 6

Try using a special brand or cat food, it helped my cat lose a lot of wait, also try plaing with your cat , it might seem funny, but if you runn around your house with a piece of string , the cat will chase you and want to play!

Answer 7

a couple of cat food companies offer Multi-cat Cat food. it's formulated so lean cats can build muscle and overweight cats can lose weight. I think IAM"S makes one.

Answer 8

hello,
Sounds like you will have to feed them seperatly, put the older cat in another room when she has to eat. there is always diet food for cats ( less fat) there must be something the older cat likes to do (maybe a laser pen? they chase around? A string? a toy with catnip in it? have you tried these?
Good Luck ;-)

Answer 9

Since cats may not be as active as dogs, eliminating extra pounds might be a little difficult. Try taking these steps...

*It may sound weird, but you can buy a cat leash and take them out once in a while to walk around a bit.

*Your cat might be interested in catnip, so try to get a catnip toy, walk a fair distance from your cat (forcing him/her to actually walk around to get the toy.

Answer 10

there are some foods that u can get that make fat cats average and skinny cats average in one food, so u can feed multipal cats at the same time! also playing with your cat and though it ounds crazy taking your cat on a walk ( with a special kitty harness) will help your kitty loose some pounds!