Felix is a BIGGEST LOSER

Felix has been on a diet and exercise plan (HA!) for 3 weeks now and has transitioned nicely to a combo of a tiny bit of kibble and a mixture of wet/raw food. He was looking a little slimmer this morning so we did a weight on him.

He began at 17.0. This morning he's 16.4!

For him, it was a matter of finding the RIGHT wet food. He absolutely LOVES Blue Spa Select where he'd never eaten a speck of any other brand (I've tried!)

Only about 4-4.5 pounds to go. I think he's so satisfied nutritionally, he doesn't even know he's on a diet!!

I'm very excited!

Cally

Very Good Felix....

That's awesome, CatMom2Wires! How exciting for you.

I haven't had a cat with an overweight issue, but one of my three-year-olds has been thin since birth. I worried about her all the time and tried all kinds of tricks, but it wasn't until I put everyone on raw that she finally began gaining. They just had a physical and the vet was happy with the results, so I know just how tickled you are.

Originally Posted by CatMom2Wires

For him, it was a matter of finding the RIGHT wet food. He absolutely LOVES Blue Spa Select where he'd never eaten a speck of any other brand (I've tried!)

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Sometimes all it takes is some persistence. I have fed a few cans of that to Sho and Tomas in the past - I remember it smelled very nice, like real meat.

Keep posting his progress. And maybe some before and after pictures? But tell him he has to suck his gut in like the people do for the icky diet pill commercials.

Are you doing this with a vet? Cats have to lose weight very slowly to remain healthy and losing weight really quickly can put a strain on their bodies and stop vital organs from functioning properly.

Even when eating, cats can suffer from Hepatic Lipadosis

For a 20lb cat its fairly small like 4oz a week

Yes, I went to the vet for a full workup prior to beginning the diet. He is not losing the weight too fast. I am aware that he must not be on any sort of "crash diet."

Thanks for your concern.

Cally

Originally Posted by icklemiss21

Are you doing this with a vet? Cats have to lose weight very slowly to remain healthy and losing weight really quickly can put a strain on their bodies and stop vital organs from functioning properly.

Even when eating, cats can suffer from Hepatic Lipadosis

For a 20lb cat its fairly small like 4oz a week

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The kitty lost 12 oz in three week or about 4 oz a week

Originally Posted by sharky

The kitty lost 12 oz in three week or about 4 oz a week

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I know, but weight loss can vary week by week so it was just a warning that it can cause issues if too fast.

Originally Posted by icklemiss21

I know, but weight loss can vary week by week so it was just a warning that it can cause issues if too fast.

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I figured ... Warnings are good ...

Now Question for all who have /had a overweight kitty , did or do you weigh them weekly or monthly? Here the vets do either monthly or bi weekly weigh ins

Scully went to the chubby cat clinic every two weeks for a proper weigh in when he was at his heaviest, but once his weight was manageable, I weighed him at home biweekly and at the vet monthly.

The number of people who went overboard on the diet and lost their cats was disheartening, hence the warning - but this was for very obese cats

We're weighing every 2 weeks. I am very careful about watching Felix's intake. Occasionally he won't eat the wet food (after all, he's only been eating it for 3 weeks!) and when that happens, I just give him his kibble and try again the next feeding. I think I've figured out which flavors are "keepers" and which ones my other 2 cats have to finish (they are not at all picky!)

My vet said that it may take nearly a year to reach our goal. Slow and steady. I'm so excited, tho, to see the weight melting away. He's looking so much more handsome already, with a little waistline peeking out.

Here's a "before" photo:


Stay tuned for the "after" (in several more months!)

C

Wow, that's a whole lotta cat, CatMom2Wires!

When he refuses the wet, rather than give him dry (there's just nothing in kibble that's going to do any good for a cat), maybe you could pick up some freeze-dried meat treats and sprinkle them over the wet foods as an enticement?

Cats seem to go crazy for them and sprinkling Whole Life's Freeze-dried chicken over their dinner has never (yet) failed to encourage any of my cats to eat. If you can't find Whole Life, Stella and Chewies' makes some, as do several other companies.

Slow but sure wins the race!!

Keep up the good work on Felix. Getting started on the weight loss program is the hardest part. Once you start getting things figured out, it gets easier.

Originally Posted by sharky

I figured ... Warnings are good

...

Now Question for all who have /had a overweight kitty , did or do you weigh them weekly or monthly? Here the vets do either monthly or bi weekly weigh ins

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Daily. My cats actually like getting on the scale (I give them a treat for standing still so that I can weigh them) so it has become a daily ritual.