How to Prevent and Treat Cat Obesity

Cat, or feline obesity is a growing problem, but there are steps you can take to prevent or treat it. Obesity, or the excessive accumulation of body fat, is the most common nutrition-related condition in cats in our society today.

Obesity in cats us usually caused by too much food and too little exercise and is more common in older, less active felines and in spayed females whose weight is not well managed. Health problems related to obesity include heart disease, a reduced life span, labored or difficulty in breathing, greater risk of heat stroke, greater risk of liver disease, diabetes, and osteoarthritis.

Do You Have a Fat Cat?

Here are some at-home tests to tell if your cat is overweight:

Rib check – You should be able to feel your pet’s ribs under a thin layer of skin. Also, if you stand above your cat, looking down at his back, you should be able to detect his waistline as a slight indention just behind the ribs.

Tummy test – A swinging pouch between your cat’s hind legs is a sign that he is overweight. Cats with a healthy weight will have a tummy that is tight and tucked upward, rather than hanging down.

Grooming test – If the area of your cat’s midline lower back looks matted or ungroomed, or if his anal area looks unclean, this may be an indication that he is obese and unable to reach those spots to groom himself.

Treatment

The most effective weight-loss programs are based on feeding fewer calories and increasing activity.

It is always a good idea to discuss your cat’s health issue with obesity with your veterinarian so that healthy, effective weight loss program and goal can be established. Ask your veterinarian to recommend the proper daily calories your cat should have based on his age, gender, medical conditions, and lifestyle.

Feeding

Regarding feeding, veterinarians may suggest one of more of the following:

Feeding your cat the same amount of food divided in smaller meals throughout the day. This may help burn calories more efficiently

Cutting back on the amount of your cat’s daily feeding.  This may be effective if paired with increased activity.

Gradually changing your cat’s food to a low-calorie type can help, again, with increased activity.  Don’t change all at once, but gradually, as this may cause stomach upset.

When feeding treats to your cat, be sure to count those calories in with his daily caloric intake number.

Rather than leaving out food bowls 24/7, pick up the food for parts of the day.  Try leaving it out for 4-5 hours twice daily, then cut back to 2-3 hours a day twice daily, etc. The goal is to put down 2-3 measured amounts of food per day and to have them eat that portion completely.

*Feeding table scraps, unless recommended by your veterinarian, is not wise.

Exercising Your Cat

Make playtime with your cat count as exercise time. Playing with your cat serves as excellent bonding time, and it’s fun and stimulating for your cat.

Offer a variety of toys. Change up and alternate your cat’s toys so that he doesn’t get bored. Don’t leave all of his toys out all the time.

Use food as a toy.  You can use a treat ball and fill it with kibble/dry food and throw it across the room, down a long hall, etc. You can use a portion of his meals each day and play with it by tossing a few pieces in different directions, or up in the air so that they will run and pounce on it, or even jump for it.  Throw it down a hallway or down steps so that they will run after it.

By getting your cat to move more, they will eventually become healthier and they will also look forward to their regular playtime with you.    

Award beggars with attention – not food. Shift the attention of feeding time to attentive time with you by playing with them, brushing or combing them, or other things they enjoy doing with you.  By shifting the focus of food to active attention with you, your cat will have stimulating highlights to his day and will be healthier.  He will enjoy a long, happy, and active life for years to come.