My cat is getting heavy

Originally Posted by ~*Regina*~

Thanks so much! I am so happy they came out with a weight management EVO for cats. Now lets just hope they start selling it in the store. Also I will try again to incorporate some wet food in her diet. Wish me luck!

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Ask them to get it in for you. Most places want to please their customers, especially now when so many opt to shop online.

Originally Posted by sharky

shockingly MOST cats do not need that at all... if you find the Right texture and flavor of course this can be tough

.. ie in many decades I have NEVER done that to get a cat to eat wet or raw ...

There are currently 8 companys readily avail in most markets of freeze dried .. I love freeze dried LOW to NO bacterial risk , easy to feed and versitle... ie at my house two like it the way it comes out of bag , one likes it rehydrated and two eat it however it is served

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freeze dried what? I never heard of this, you guys are talking about it alot but I have no idea what it is. Can you link me to some info please?

Originally Posted by otto

freeze dried what? I never heard of this, you guys are talking about it alot but I have no idea what it is. Can you link me to some info please?

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Freeze dried meats... some are plain meats others are freeze dried raw meals that can be made into a treat..

www.catniptoys.com has some of them.. some of mine love the mouse treat

Originally Posted by otto

I have a lot of tips on how to get a kitty moving, if you would like me to post them, I will be happy to.

It can take time to get a sedentary cat moving, but it can be done!

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Would you please do so?

I, personally, wouldn't feed freeze-dried products as a regular meal, for several reasons, but that's just me.

Here's a link to Stella and Chewy's Freeze Dried Treats, but as mentioned before, there are many varieties. Check the ingredients of whatever you want to buy, though, and look for 100% beef, chicken, etc. - there shouldn't be any non-animal products on the ingredients list.

http://webpages.charter.net/katkarma/canned.htm

There is a list of calories in canned.

http://webpages.charter.net/katkarma/dry.htm

and that is a list of calories in dry.
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Anything you can do to get a cat onto canned is worth while.

Sprinkling some freeze dried treats on top isn't harmful. Much much healthier than keeping on dry. Also cats have amazing digestive systems.

Originally Posted by esrandall2000

Would you please do so?

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Sometimes a cat that is not used to a lot of vigorous play will be slow to get motivated. Don't give up though, because as he loses, he'll feel more energetic and want to move more.

The more a cat plays, the more he'll want to play.

I advise getting down on the floor with him every night at about the same time. He may not seem interested at first, but after a week or two he'll come to realize that this is a very special time for him and you, and he'll look forward to Game Time with you.

Offer a variety of games, don't become discouraged if he isn't lively right away. For instance, try to play Chase the Crumpled Paper for two or thee days in a row. If he's still not interested, the next night try a wand toy Game. (aka String On A Stick). A few days later bring out the Crumpled Paper again. And so on.

As he becomes more lively, watch him carefully because his behavior and postures will give you clues as to what kind of Game he wants to play. (examples to follow)

I know you are trying to get him to eat canned food, but you can use some of his daily quota of kibble for Games, too. Play Chase the Kibble Game. Toss a kibble for him and let him chase it down. Repeat. This is a very popular Game in my house!

You can also sneak more exercise in by feeding him on something that involves a jump or two, to get to the dish, and a jump or two to get back down. Don't make the jumps difficult of course, but a low table for meals, or a higher table, with a box (for two jumps).

Some examples of my cats Games to follow

These are only a few examples. Each cat has their own favorites that they play alone with, and different things they like to play with during interactive Game time every night.

And often they invent new Games or variations on old Games.

I use the envelopes with cellophane windows for Crumpled Paper Balls, they are wonderfully crinkly, and there is an endless supply from junk mail.

We also have several different versions of string on a stick, from homemade ones to the hartz "gone fishin" (has an elastic string, never leave it out when you are not using it, keep it put away, elastic string is very dangerous) to these ones with long wands and even longer strings, with special things tied to the end.

Cardboard Box Forts and Paper Bag Forts and Newspaper Tents can help stimulate his imagination, too. Cats love boxes, give him a tall sided one he has to jump to get in and out of. A Box Fort is a box turned on it's side with the flap acting as a door. A Newspaper Tent is just what it sounds like, a newspaper on the floor set up like a tent.

Tolly loves Newspaper Tents as they are Portable Forts. he can go all over the living room and never come out from under it!

How they tell me what they want to play: if Mazy wants to play String on a Stick (or Red Dot) on the stairs, when I get the toy out, she will go sit by the top of the stairs. I stand midway down the stairs and drag the string on a stick toy up and down the stairs while she chases it. I use the extra long wand toy for this. Again, by body language I can tell how she wants me to do it. This works with the laser pen, Red Dot, also.

If she wants to play a game involving the Box Fort, she will get in the Box Fort. Then I toss a crumpled paper in there and there is much crackling of paper and banging about, and then the paper ball comes flying out the other side, or she chases it out, then she goes back into the Fort for another round.

Jennie prefers to play on my bed. It took me a while to understand her though, and for a while I thought I was never going to get her motivated. But now that I've discovered what she likes, she gets a good 15 minutes of aerobic exercise every night. During these bed Games, she has varied how things go, and as long as I am paying attention I can figure out what she wants me to do.

One night she will want to chase the string making big leaps, and slide across the duvet. (she learned early on that if she keeps her claws in she can slide really well!)

If she wants to stalk and pounce she refuses to chase until I figure that out. Then drag the string around the edges of the bed-bed (a box bed that stays on my bed) so she can stalk it around the corners and pounce on it.

Then she might drop off the side of the bed and wait for me to dangle the string over the edge of the bed. I pull it slowly back and she waits until the tip is just about to disappear over the edge of the bed, then she leaps and grabs it!

Tolly also will tell me with body language what Game he wants to play. If he wants me to toss his mouse up on the Play House for him to leap up and catch it he will go sit by the Play House during Game time.

If he wants me to drag the String on a Stick under something for him to pounce on he will ignore my efforts to get him to play, and instead stare at the rug or newspaper lying on the floor. If he wants the Red Dot he will jump up to my desk where I keep it, and knock it to the floor.

If he wants to play Hide and Peek he will go sit behind the Play House and wait for me to notice and start the Hide and Peek Game.

One more thing. Cats can get lazy fast, which is why I say don't give up if he doesn't get interested right away. If I've been sick and don't play for a few nights, it sometimes takes them a couple days to get lively again, once I start playing nightly Games again.

Have Fun!

Originally Posted by Auntie Crazy

I, personally, wouldn't feed freeze-dried products as a regular meal, for several reasons, but that's just me.

Here's a link to Stella and Chewy's Freeze Dried Treats, but as mentioned before, there are many varieties. Check the ingredients of whatever you want to buy, though, and look for 100% beef, chicken, etc. - there shouldn't be any non-animal products on the ingredients list.

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Non animal ingredients ARE FINE and actually more balanced than some raw diets commonly out there .. I would also assume MOST would read a label and make sure a food was for a "complete diet' before giving it for a meal on a regular basis ... Obviously avoid the ones with grains in them , yes some brands have freeze dried raw meat with grains .... I avoid ones that are not primarily meat , ie non meat should be vitamins and minerals .. I avoid veggie laden ones ... If using a MEAT only , ensure it is a true treat making up no more than 10% of calories

Otto LOADS of great suggestions for getting kitty to move...

My cat is also overweight. Our vet put him on Science Diet C/D for UTIs. It's costly and dry. I just noticed he doesn't jump on our counter anymore or try to lay on our barstools either. It never dawned on me that it was his weight. I feel like an abusive mother. Help! I'm getting my car keys and running to petsmart to buy every contraption I can cause I'm feeling guilty and worried.

Originally Posted by bornabigboy

My cat is also overweight. Our vet put him on Science Diet C/D for UTIs. It's costly and dry. I just noticed he doesn't jump on our counter anymore or try to lay on our barstools either. It never dawned on me that it was his weight. I feel like an abusive mother. Help! I'm getting my car keys and running to petsmart to buy every contraption I can cause I'm feeling guilty and worried.

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It is very important that you keep your male cat on the Hill's Prescription c/d. (It's not Science Diet, it's prescription) YOur vet prescribed this food because your cat is forming crystals in his urine. the c/d is formulated to prevent crystal formation, no other food or treats should ever be given. Hill's Prescription c/d does come in a canned formula also, ask your vet.

It is not uncommon for cats to gain weight on the prescription food. His quantity may need to be adjusted slightly (I do not recommend free feeding) while you engage him in an exercise program.

Cats should not lose weight too quickly it is very dangerous, so don't cut him back too much.

<in edit> it is good you are concerned about his weight because cats who have Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease need to keep their weight down.

Welcome to the forum!

Originally Posted by otto

It is very important that you keep your male cat on the Hill's Prescription c/d. (It's not Science Diet, it's prescription) YOur vet prescribed this food because your cat is forming crystals in his urine. the c/d is formulated to prevent crystal formation, no other food or treats should ever be given. Hill's Prescription c/d does come in a canned formula also, ask your vet.

It is not uncommon for cats to gain weight on the prescription food. His quantity may need to be adjusted slightly (I do not recommend free feeding) while you engage him in an exercise program.

Cats should not lose weight too quickly it is very dangerous, so don't cut him back too much.

<in edit> it is good you are concerned about his weight because cats who have Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease need to keep their weight down.

Welcome to the forum!

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and Please discuss this with your vet

I know you had posted this somewhere else but for the life of me cant find it... How my calories should a cat have a day?
Thanks!

Originally Posted by ~*Regina*~

I know you had posted this somewhere else but for the life of me cant find it... How my calories should a cat have a day?
Thanks!

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I cant remember where but the ave cat needs something like 280 day .. off to research

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_many_c...oes_a_cat_need

page 5 has some basics
http://dels.nas.edu/dels/rpt_briefs/...tion_final.pdf

Hmmmm.

Originally Posted by sharky

If using a MEAT only , ensure it is a true treat making up no more than 10% of calories

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As I said, I only use and recommend freeze-dried products as treats, which is precisely why I suggested they be meat-only.

Originally Posted by sharky

Non animal ingredients ARE FINE and actually more balanced than some raw diets commonly out there .. I would also assume MOST would read a label and make sure a food was for a "complete diet' before giving it for a meal on a regular basis

... Obviously avoid the ones with grains in them , yes some brands have freeze dried raw meat with grains

.... I avoid ones that are not primarily meat , ie non meat should be vitamins and minerals .. I avoid veggie laden ones ... If using a MEAT only , ensure it is a true treat making up no more than 10% of calories

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The rest of your post doesn’t make any sense to me, especially feeding non-animal products in a raw diet (since prey animals are all that cats eat in the wild, with the addition of insects and lizards). But, truth be told, it doesn’t need to. There is a wide range of “recipes” out there and it’s impossible to keep up with them, even if I were so inclined. My cats eat only whole prey and pieces of whole prey (called frankenprey for those unfamiliar with the practice), plus live crickets for variety and mental stimulation and sardines for Omega-3s. Their diet is simple, straightforward and exactly what they've evolved to eat, which works for me.

I’m sure my unfamiliarity with both homemade recipes and commercially-prepared products explains why I find your post confusing, Sharky. And I’m just as sure your cats are as well loved and cared for as my own on whatever it is you’re feeding them. *shrug*

Otto - Wow, lots of great suggestions, and you have a hysterical way of describing your cats' antics. Thanks for sharing! (I laughed out loud at Tolly and his Newspaper Tents. *still chuckling*).

Not to hijack Regina's thread, but do you have any suggestions for multiple participation games? I have five cats and throwing only a single treat out is likely to result in mayhem, likewise, a single dot causes collisions, etc. - boy, they love that thing, or da-bird - who's feathers never last more than a couple of sessions. Locking various members away causes serious distress and crying, distracting even those who are trying to play (and making me feel guilty as all get out *sigh*). I do occasionally whirl two da-birds, one in each hand, but *whew* that'll wear a body out. *grin* Any thoughts?

Regina - That's great you're going to increase the wet portion of your cat's diet. A calorie, for a cat (well, really, for obligate carnivores in general), isn't simply a calorie - those from protein are fully utilized, while those from other sources (grains, etc.) are not - they're turned into fat. Here's a dryly amusing article you might like, about a Winn study conducted on this topic: Is a calorie really always a calorie? Apparently not in cats.

Let us know how it goes!

Auntie NOT ALL things are directed at you or about you , even when I quote something you wrote ...

You feed how you think is best the rest of us will do what works for us

do evo or core dry food.