Overweight cats are a common problem with about 40% of cats considered obese. Overweight cats are regularly seen by veterinarians especially to address the side effects of the excessive weight. Medical consequences of an overweight cat include diabetes, hepatic lipidosis, arthritis, impaired immune system, urinary tract infections, and a shortened life span.
How do we end up with overweight cats? Simply our cats are taking in more calories then they expend. With domestication, indoor cats no longer need to expend energy to hunt for their food. Neutering can decrease activity levels in cats so a neutered cat will need a little less food or more exercise. We decide what to provide our cats to meet their nutritional needs. All they have to do is eat. It is imperative that we choose to feed our cats a quality cat food. Being carnivores, animal protein and fat are the essential ingredients to any quality cat food, not carbohydrates.
How can you decide if your cat is overweight? The ideal body weight is dependent on the breed of cat and age. In some breed standards, a cat should appear sleek and long where as other breeds are more compact in appearance. An obese or overweight cat will have ribs that are hard to feel, there is little or no waist when viewed from above and from the side and many have a bulge or skin folds under the abdomen.
How much does a cat need to eat? Typically, the average cat should eat about a few ounces of food per day split between 2 or 3 meals. Cat nutritional requirements vary according to a cat's age, body weight, and amount of activity. Free feeding, which is food available all the time, can lead to overfeeding. Also it is generally dry food that is free fed. Make sure that the dry food is quality since these foods typically have more carbohydrates in the form of flour and sugar to hold
the food together. A normal serving of dry food will be smaller and less filling than a normal serving of canned food because of the moisture content.
Prior to starting an overweight cat on a diet, a physical examination by a veterinarian is a must. If the physical exam is normal, then you can begin a gradual weight loss program. A weight loss program for an obese cat should include a reduction in food, switching to a better cat food with fewer carbohydrates, stopping free feeding and an increase in the amount of exercise. If you do switch to a new brand of food with less carbohydrates, mix the new food with the old and slowly decrease the old food.
It might seem hard to increase physical activity in a cat since they generally do not walk on a lead like a dog, but you can provide stimulating toys that will activate the cat’s natural instinct to hunt. Climbing and perching posts and hiding food will also increase activity. Playing with a wand-type toy or games of chase with your cat will be helpful to both getting your overweight cat some exercise and forming a bond with your cat. The addition of another cat may stimulate them to play together.
An overweight cat on a diet should be weighed every 3 to 4 weeks to document progress and make sure that your cat is not loosing weight too fast which in itself can be a medical problem. If an overweight cat stops eating, a trip to the vet is needed as well. As a responsible cat owner, it is up to us to provide a nutritional diet without overfeeding to prevent an unhealthy, overweight cat.
