Diet help for your overweight cat
Cats can live more than 20 years, provided they have good nutrition and exercise. But obesity can shorten your cat's life, as well as cause health complications such as skin problems, lameness, urinary tract diseases, respiratory problems, immune system problems, heat intolerance, and problems with anesthesia if surgery is ever needed.
Most cats self-regulate their food ingestion, automatically maintaining an ideal weight. But cats can become overweight for a variety of reasons: medication, old age, lack of exercise, spaying/neutering, too many treats, over-feeding, and being allowed to graze all day long. Did you know that just 6 extra pieces of kibble per meal can cause your cat to gain weight?
A cat's ideal weight depends on breed, gender and body type. A good gauge is your cat's weight at 1 year old when they become an adult. If you adopted your cat later in his or her life, your veterinarian should be able to give you an ideal weight range based upon the cat's build.
If your cat is slightly overweight, cutting back on treats and food will probably be all that is needed. However, if your cat is obese, just cutting back on their food could cause malnutrition which leads to serious health problems. For specific tips on safe methods to help your cat lose weight, CLICK HERE.
It's also beneficial to help your over-weight cat increase their activity level. Try making him or her climb up their favorite cat tree or pole in order to reach their food. Playing with interactive toys such as Da Bird, Cat Dancer, or laser pointers can help get your cat moving and boost their metabolism. Just a few minutes a day can make a big difference.
It becomes more tricky if you have an overweight cat in a multiple cat household. I will cover this topic in a separate post next week.
Most cats self-regulate their food ingestion, automatically maintaining an ideal weight. But cats can become overweight for a variety of reasons: medication, old age, lack of exercise, spaying/neutering, too many treats, over-feeding, and being allowed to graze all day long. Did you know that just 6 extra pieces of kibble per meal can cause your cat to gain weight?
A cat's ideal weight depends on breed, gender and body type. A good gauge is your cat's weight at 1 year old when they become an adult. If you adopted your cat later in his or her life, your veterinarian should be able to give you an ideal weight range based upon the cat's build.
If your cat is slightly overweight, cutting back on treats and food will probably be all that is needed. However, if your cat is obese, just cutting back on their food could cause malnutrition which leads to serious health problems. For specific tips on safe methods to help your cat lose weight, CLICK HERE.
It's also beneficial to help your over-weight cat increase their activity level. Try making him or her climb up their favorite cat tree or pole in order to reach their food. Playing with interactive toys such as Da Bird, Cat Dancer, or laser pointers can help get your cat moving and boost their metabolism. Just a few minutes a day can make a big difference.
It becomes more tricky if you have an overweight cat in a multiple cat household. I will cover this topic in a separate post next week.
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