Obesity in Cats

Our vet provided us with a weigh in chart and journal that she updated at each visit. The journal served as a sort of confessional on which we had to confess when we overfed him or didn’t have time to play with him and we used it to journal when he was just being lazy and wouldn’t play or ripped open a bag of something and fed himself. This helped us see the weight gain triggers to know where to target his diet and exercise.

• Feed multiple cats in separate rooms. If you have one cat that does not take well to changes in foods, feed that cat in a separate room from the others until you find a food suitable for all of them.
• Establish a new routine by feeding your cats when you eat. Because, as we all know, a starving cat can be very persuasive in getting some food or, in some cases just take it from your plate or the kitchen counter when you are not looking. Feeding your cats while you are eating will also help to regulate meal times.
• Feeding several smaller meals throughout the day will keep your cats more satisfied and less likely to beg. It will also help to monitor the amount of food they get and are actually eating. Offering a smaller amount of food more frequently may allow your cat to finish the meal all at once rather than grazing all day. Raising the food dish may also help to stop cats from gorging on food. It can aid in helping your cat to know when she is full and over time, may help her to stop eating so much food at one time.
• Scheduling feeding times can be a challenge, but with a little careful planning, you can find the right routine for you, your family and most importantly, your cat. Since my family was home at differing times during the day, we found that by putting his treats into a daily pill dispenser helped us to know when he had been given all his treats for the day. We measured his daily food allowance into containers so we could make sure he did not overeat.
• Set aside two separate 20-30 minute sessions each day for play/exercise and reward your cat for participating. You can work the calories and fat intake of a few treats into your cat’s daily allowance of food and use treats in play or as an incentive to play.
• Make sure to discuss Exercise/Play time with your vet, particularly if your cat is very obese, as the over-exertion caused by extensive play can harm your cat. Calorie intake will need to be adjusted depending on the activity level of your cat.
• There are many types of ‘exercises’ to strengthen different muscles:
• Invest in a good laser toy. Laser games may help your cat to run around and play as well as stretch up the wall to tone the abdomen, and wand or fishing pole-type toys can hold interest long enough to allow her to stretch, jump, run and pounce.
• Try placing a few pieces of his dry food on separate steps on the staircase or on different levels of the cat tree. This can help to slow down eating and force your cat to work off a few calories.
• Tie a trailing piece of string or other interesting toy that drags along behind you to your clothing. As you move around the house, this may interest your cat enough to follow you around – and help to keep her moving.v
• Catnip and honeysuckle toys can give your cat something to play with alone. You may find that after a few months of diet and exercise, the weight loss brings on an increased level of energy in your cat and may make her feel as playful as a kitten!
• Ensure that all of your cats get playtime together as a group. One of the best forms of exercise is when cats chase each other around the house. As an added benefit, it is good for the other cats too.
• Simple things can make great cat toys; a cheap bottle of bubbles can keep a cat amused for ages, and we all know how they like to play with normal household items – use that to your advantage before buying expensive toys they may not like. It also helps to regularly change the toys they play with, so they do not get bored with them.

Eithne Whaley is a long-standing team member in TheCatSite.com's forums. She was assisted by TCS moderator Gaye Flagg in the writing of this article.
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