The feline cliche is a fat cat, but cats who are overweight are no laughing matter. A cat who is obese can face all sorts of health issues, from joint problems to diabetes. Getting your cat to a healthy weight will help both of you to feel great.
What You Can Do When Your Cat Is Overweight
As an owner, you have to take the lead and come up with a plan to help your cat lose weight and keep it off. The best thing you can do to get your cat to lose weight is to not leave food out 24 hours a day. A bottomless bowl of dry food is the worst contributor to obesity in our dogs and cats. It is all so easy for bacteria to grow on the food that has been left out for over an hour, leading to gastrointestinal issues in some cases.
If it isn’t possible to measure out the dry food every day. Feeding guides on food bags are not right about how much to give. Most felines only need about half a cup of dry food every 24 hours.
Consulting with your vet to create an individual plan to help your cat lose weight. Vets help you figure out which kind of cat food is best for your feline and how much you should feed them. But also help owners with their calorie calculation and to assist with weight loss, but also helps satisfy your cat’s hunger.
Work With Your Veterinarian
Owners should not want a quick drop in weight. Cats should only lose half a pound to 1 pound per month. Any faster than that and they become ill with fatty liver disease.
It’s important to figure out how much you’re currently feeding your cat and work with your veterinarian to determine the safe amount that you need to reduce that food intake. You may also consider changing foods to either weight management food or a metabolic diet. A metabolic diet is essentially one that is higher in fiber and protein, but you also need to remember the necessary nutrients to help your cat feel full.
Get The Right Amount of Nutrition and Exercise For Your Cat
Next, you need to make sure your cat still gets all the nutrition while they safely lose weight. Owners need to remember that exercise and nutrition are both important for achieving the initial weight loss along with the maintenance of healthy cat weight. Each cat is different and some are predisposed to gaining weight. Cat parents should have just not just the amounts or types of food but also the way the food is delivered and the schedule. Barrel or semi-feral cats eat many small prey throughout their days.
Ideally, cats should be fed many small meals throughout the day. Prey-like eating devices for food toys before the meal is a great form of environmental enrichment. This makes them feel like they have caught their food. PetSafe FUNKitty Egg Cersizer Interactive Toy and Food Dispenser
Just changing the kind of food that is in your cat’s bowl does not result in successful weight loss. Many cats gain weight when they are put on a low-calorie diet.
Weight Loss Goals For Senior Cats
In older cats, it’s important to pair weight loss goals with routine blood work. There are a few diseases that older cats are susceptible to that cause weight loss such as hyperthyroidism and kidney disease. Monitor senior cat’s weight loss very closely. If they are losing too much weight or losing weight too quickly, they will need to be taken to the vet for medical evaluation.
Specially formulated food for senior cats is also a good option for older cats because their metabolism slows as they age. It is slightly lower in calories but still maintains a nutritionally balanced diet. It may also include supplements that help with joint health or probiotics that help the digestive system.
Make Time To Play With Your Cat
Make time to play with your cat. Provide your feline with physical activity throughout the day.
When your cat hits their target healthy weight, you’ll both need to work on maintaining it. Talk with a veterinarian to figure out the best way to help your cat maintain their healthy weight. Once you reach your cat’s target weight, maintain the current food portion size. Sometimes you have to increase it a little to make sure your cat does not continue to lose weight.
Keep up the Habit you established to help your feline in the first place, such as scheduled playtime and healthy meals. This helps your cat stay lean but also stimulates the joints and mind and strengthens the bond you have with your pet.
Let 2 Paws Up Inc Pet Care and Dog Training provide your cat9s) with loving care while you’re away. Did you know we have a dog trainer on staff who also can train cats? Reach out to us for pet care or private on to one dog training by contacting us at 770-695-3096 or complete our Contact Us Form. We typically respond within 24 hours or sooner.
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