Obesity in cats

The average adult cat weighs in at 9 to 11 pounds, but this may vary with breed and body type. Excess weight can cause health problems, including arthritis, diabetes, and liver and heart disease. Overweight felines face increased risk during surgery and may have a hard time grooming certain areas of their bodies, which can lead to skin problems. Extremely obese cats, such as those who weigh 20 pounds when they should be 10, can get a form of diabetes, just like overweight people.

Tips to fight cat obesity

What's the best way to tip the scales in your cat's favor? Most cats in America are fed entirely too much food.  Suggested daily intake can be found on the back of the food bag - if you find that you are overfeeding your cat, gradually decrease his food intake while increasing his activity level.  First, you'll need to determine the exact amount of food she's eating. Could other household members be unknowingly doubling or tripling his treats, or giving him extra meals? 

If you find that your feline companion is overweight, consider trying a new diet from your veterinarian or local pet supply store.  In the wild, cats eat a diet that is both high in protein and fat and there are several diets that mimic this.  These high protein and high fat diets are available in both dry and wet varieties, although many think that wet food is the best choice and is most like the cat's natural diet.  The traditional low calorie diets are not as ideal for cats as they are for dogs because of their low protein level.  These diets are known to encourage muscle wasting rather than fat elimination.  However, many cats are finicky and are often addicted to the high levels of carbohydrates in many cat foods and refuse to eat the low carbohydrate diets.  These diets are also significantly higher in calories and a much smaller amount of food is required every day, which can initially be problematic for a cat that is used to eating 3x that amount of food a day.  Since some cats are super-finicky, it may be easier to simply reduce the portion size of his regular food (especially if you find you have been over feeding) or to mix the high protein diet in with a small amount of his normal diet. Obese cats should be enouraged to lose weight at a slow pace of no more than 5% of their body weight per month.  Any greater reduction can place a strain on the liver and make your friend very sick.

Depending on your cat's individual preferences, it may help to divide his daily allowance into multiple portions. Even if you're not home during the day, you can easily offer your cat four separate meals.

Some of the feline obesity issues stem from the fact that most cats live in a multi-cat household.  Well meaning owners attempt to put down enough food to feed all the cats, however, one or two of the members may hog a majority of the food.  To get around this issue, try placing food in an area of your house that the overweight cats cannot reach, like a bookshelf or mantle.  You can also cut a hole in the top of a covered plastic storage bin and feed the smaller cats inside.  Feed the obese cats in their usual location but only offer them their daily ration.  This will usually solve the problem until the obese cats lose weight and are able to get into the other cat's food again. 

If your cat is given unrestricted access to food, meaning you put down a large amount of food in a bowl and refill it only when it's empty, you should gradually switch your cat into a new style of eating.  Meal feeding may be necessary for these types of situations because they encourage portion control and will likely help your cat's expanding waistline. 

Feline obesity can be decreased with exercise

You'll also need to make time for some interactive play.  Most cats in the United States are kept indoors and live a very sedentary lifestyle.  Overweight cats tend to be less active, and exercise encourages an increase in muscle mass and burns calories.  Incresing exercise may be as easy as encouraging play with wand toys, fetching, or any other interative cat toy.  Some cats go crazy to chase the light from a laser pointer and will run until you turn the light off.  However, iIf your cat is extremely overweight, it's best to consult your veterinarian before starting any weight loss regimen and to introduce exercise gradually.