what can I do about my over weight cat?

Question

I have two cats. Brother and sister. born may 19 2000. the male is very over weight and his sister is small. they are very finicky eaters and share the food dish. I am worried about the males weight. I also have a problem with shedding. They only eat dry food.

Answer 1

They only eat dry food
Sigh
Well, there's your problem. Carbs, lack of water in the food and vegetable based proteinn versus animal for a carnivore

Nutrition since there are so many bad things out there is very important to your cat’s health
Contrary to what you may have heard, dry foods are not a great thing to feed a cat.
Dry foods are the number 1 cause of diabetes in cats as well as being a huge contributing factor to kidney disease, obesity, crystals, u.t.i’s and a host of other problems. The problems with it are that they are loaded with carbohydrates which many cats (carnivores) cannot process. Most of the moisture a cat needs is gotten
out of the food and 95% of it is zapped out of dry foods in the processing. Also, most use horrible ingredients and don't use a muscle meat as the primary ingredient and use vegetable based protein versus animal. Not good for an animal that has to eat meat to survive.
You want to pick a canned food w/o gravy (gravy=carbs) that uses a muscle meat as the first ingredient and doesn't have corn at least in the first 3 ingredients if at all. Fancy feast is a middle grade food with 9lives, friskies whiskas lower grade canned and wellness and merrick upper grade human quality foods.Also, dry food is not proven to be better for teeth. Please read about cat nutrition.

http://www.newdestiny.us/nutritionbasics.html

Answer 2

In a nutshell, most cats are fat because they've been fed too much (free-feeding or indulging them) and because they're fed dry food which is NOT appropriate food for them due to the grain/carb/sugar content. Cats are obligate carnivores who need to eat a high meat-based protein diet, which is also high in fats and low in carbs.

Many vets, who are sadly ignorant on the topic of proper cat nutrition, will recommend prescription diet foods (usually dry). Cats are expected to lose weight on a starvation diet of 1/4 or 1/3 cup of food per day. Everyone is miserable in these situations.

The solution is to switch the fat cat (and any others in the household as well) to a good quality canned food. Because these foods are species appropriate, the cat will lose weight at a safe, slow pace (no more than 1 pound per month). Switching foods needs to occur slowly, and if you're trying to get a kibble junkie to eat canned food, that will happen naturally.

That's it. Easy as pie. Not only will fat cats lose weight, but it and any others in the home will reap many benefits of eating a speciies appropriate diet.

See the links below for detailed information on this topic.

Answer 3

If your cats have been spaded/neutered then there is not much you can do. After spaying and neutering an animal loses it's drive for sex and as such begins to eat more as a replacement drive. You can try switching to a healthier cat food with less fillers and by products. I would recommend Nutro Indoor Cat Formula. I have 4 cats and several of my cats are losing weight. Also, give your cats more opportunities for exercise by purchasing a kitty condo and/or tunnel and other cat toys. Good luck.

Answer 4

Liek twistedblackvines stated, you will ought to chop up them. The obese cat a minimum of won't be able to be allowed to loose feed anymore. in case you genuinely could loose feed something of your cats (regardless of the shown fact that undergo in techniques that it ought to bring about weight issues in them too), you are able to ought to maintain him in an enclosed area, like a closed off room on your place, so he won't be able to get on the different cats' nutrition. this would look severe and specific recommend, yet 8 pounds obese (assuming he started at a healthy weight) is a good sized deal for a cat and ought to heavily impact his wellness. additionally, attempt to do issues to get him moving. evaluate getting him a ball which will dispense his dry nutrition so he has to artwork to get it. Play with him with toys that motivate him to pass around. Even putting his nutrition on a raised platform so he has to bounce as much as get it could help. i might additionally look for advice out of your vet. If he's eating lots that he vomits, this may well be a medical subject. See what your vet says approximately whether he desires medical treatment and how lots recommendations would help get his weight down.

Answer 5

Hi!

I just read where it's recommended to give cats the canned foods now.

Maybe you could ask your vet what to do?

meanwhile, check into the canned foods.. the directions on how to feed are on the cans... maybe you'd have to feed them twice a day?

i'd get a lower calorie food for the overweight cat... and he will likely lose weight over time if fed according to directions.

take care.

Answer 6

You need professional help go to these sites:


www.catanddoghelp.com

www.purina.ca

www.purina.co.uk

www.catchow.com/products_1.aspx

www.purina.ie/pp1.asp?linkid=0