My cat is 19lbs

adrianna25 · Dec 15, 2012

If anyone can help me I would really appreciate it. My cat is 16 yrs old and about 19lbs. I feel badly because I think his hips hurt him and I want him to lose weight but don't know how to do it. Obviously he isn't very active but he can jump pretty high up onto my bed and on the couch.
I feed him a pretty good wet food and leave some dry out for him too. He had a brother who is a normal weight at about 12lbs and I feed them about the same. He gets 2 tablespoons of wet food 3x a day and there is always the dry food that he usually leaves out.
How can I help him lose weight without starving him?
Any suggestions would be great.

Thanks so much.

otto · Dec 15, 2012

First a vet check up with blood work and a urinalysis to make sure he is in good health.

Second, remember that it is extremely important that a cat lose weight very slowly. (I recommend getting a baby scale and weighing weekly) In my opinion an ounce a week is the most a cat should lose. That is 1/4 pound a month. Some feel that half a pound a month (2 ounces a week) is okay. I think 1/4 pound is better.

Third..eliminate free feeding of dry food, in fact, take out the dry all together and schedule feed canned meals.

Keep a cat journal to record the amounts you are feeding. If no weight-loss, cut back a tiny bit more on the canned food. If too much weight loss feed a little more.

A food scale is very useful for this, too.

Do some research on the canned foods you are feeding. You want foods that are high in protein and low in carbohydrates. Fat is okay in moderation, cats need fat, but again, going for the higher protein, lower carbs will take care of the fat percentages.

Here is a list of protein/fat/carbs with many canned foods

http://catinfo.org/docs/Food Chart Public 9-22-12.pdf

Here is the main page of that website:

www.catifno.org

It's wonderful you want to help your senior boy get to a healthy weight. Welcome to TCS. Let us know how it's going!

just mike · Dec 15, 2012

Weight reduction should be a slow methodical process. Consult your veterinarian first for any type of concerns and/or bloodwork or physical issues. Supplements may be needed for the hips and joints.

Try to eliminate, or reduce, the kibble. Kibble is calorie and carb dense which contributes to obesity.

Be precise as possible with food measurements. I can't stress this enough.

Patience and consistency will hopefully get you where you want your kitty to be. Best of luck to you!

adrianna25 · Dec 16, 2012

Thank you nutomike. See I had no idea that kibble did this to cats. I was told that wet food was not good for them. I always fed them dry food until about 2 yrs ago and I'm happy that I did. They are both doing better on wet food.

I will do my best to get my cat back down to a normal weight and work with the vet too.
Thanks again.

smitten4kittens · Dec 16, 2012

I agree with the other posters. Eliminate or reduce the kibble for weight loss. It's loaded with uneccesary carbs that cause weight gain.

ldg · Dec 16, 2012

Here is another weight loss journey that may help you: http://www.thecatsite.com/t/245236/mickey-my-27-lbs-foster-and-his-journey-back-to-a-healthy-weight

He needs the moisture from the canned foods. I don't know what your budget is, but high protein, low carb foods with limited ingredient lists will help. These tend to be more expensive: Nature's Variety Instinct Cans, Before Grain, and By Nature 95% are probably the best canned foods for weight loss.

finnlacey · Dec 16, 2012

Yes, make sure it's grain free! Grains turn to sugar and bad carbohydrates. The ones that LDG recommended are good! The reason you must do it slowly with this kitty is because if they lose weight too fast, they risk getting fatty liver disease (hepatic lipidosis) which can be extremely dangerous and even fatal. Doing it slowly is the healthy and safer way to do it. Kibble definitely can be a culprit and wet food is better for them anyway due to moisture content. So glad you're here and wanting to help your kitty.

adrianna25 · Dec 17, 2012

Thanks so much for the suggestions. I was feeding him really good high protein food but was told it could be hard on his kidneys after awhile or if too high. What do you think about that? I can change his food to a better food this week if it will help him slowly lose weight.

Out here in Toronto at pet valu, there is a food called Go! Which is high in protein. It is expensive but I know he loves it.

Thanks again. Adrianna.

finnlacey · Dec 17, 2012

Protein is what cats rely on and unless he has kidney disease (and even then it's debatable as to whether it does any harm), I'd stick with the grain free food. Go is a good food, I'd go back to it if he loves it. if you can find any others like Nature's Variety, Merrick, Weruva, etc. I'd think about rotating them.

adrianna25 · Dec 17, 2012

Oh okay, thank you. I did try different wet foods incl the ones u have mentioned and he does like Go the best. I will try that with him now. I will keep my other cat (who is skinny and needs to gain weight) on his same food.

finnlacey · Dec 17, 2012

To be honest, the grain free is still the best for your skinny cat if you can. Protein builds lean muscle so he will gain muscle mass and the proper types of fat from the grain free food. Instead of bad carbohydrates, he'll be getting the good carbs that they rely on for energy.

adrianna25 · Dec 17, 2012

Really? Okay. I just don't like to change his food too often as it makes him sick. I will change him back slowly to the other food as well. I have to get him to the vets this week. He has an eye problem and potentially something else. His third eyelid is showing and his eye is constantly running. I have read that it could be a respiratory issue or kidney issue. He need to get bloodwork done as well. I can always ask the get about his food too.
Thanks alot

finnlacey · Dec 17, 2012

Don't count on the vet being agreeable on this issue. Vets usually only want you to buy the food they sell which is full of grains and by products. Unless you see a holistic vet, they most likely won't agree. It's up to you if you want to bring it up but what they'll probably want to do is put your other kitty on diet food which really isn't necessary.

white shadow · Dec 17, 2012

Adrianna25, you'll be well prepared for a stance on your food decisions if you read through what a well-respected Veterinarian says about overweight cats and crappy Vet "prescription" foods right here: http://catinfo.org/?link=felineobesity

Pay particular attention to the sections about a safe weight loss program - the heavier the cat, the greater the danger of damage to the liver.

adrianna25 · Dec 17, 2012

Oh I totally agree about Vet food and my cats hate it. Hahaha. I tried with them before and returned their food. My cats aren't very picky although they prefer chicken or turkey but they wouldn't go near the vet food.
Thank you for those links. I will check them out and take notes. My goal is to make both kitties more healthy so they can live a happy life for as long as they can go. I would like to have them around forever but that's not realistic.

finnlacey · Dec 17, 2012

Definitely read those links and I'm glad your kitties don't even like vet food,

I'm glad you're doing this, you'll see, they'll both be much healthier.

mewlittle · Dec 18, 2012

Adrianna25 said:
If anyone can help me I would really appreciate it. My cat is 16 yrs old and about 19lbs. I feel badly because I think his hips hurt him and I want him to lose weight but don't know how to do it. Obviously he isn't very active but he can jump pretty high up onto my bed and on the couch.
I feed him a pretty good wet food and leave some dry out for him too. He had a brother who is a normal weight at about 12lbs and I feed them about the same. He gets 2 tablespoons of wet food 3x a day and there is always the dry food that he usually leaves out.
How can I help him lose weight without starving him?
Any suggestions would be great.
Thanks so much.

If you ain't feeding a good senior dry and wet food switch them to that it might help them out and talk to a vet

ldg · Dec 19, 2012

Mewlittle said:
If you ain't feeding a good senior dry and wet food switch them to that it might help them out and talk to a vet

Sorry, I have to disagree with this advice. "Senior" food is often formulated to be lower protein, and that's just the opposite of what a senior kitty (any kitty!) needs. As obligate carnivores, cats have unique protein requirements to begin with, and they need the higher protein diet to help prevent muscle wasting. The "Senior" food is a dangerous myth, IMO, and many vets don't know better, having been sold on the logic by Hill's Pet or Royal Canin.

mewlittle · Dec 19, 2012

LDG said:
Sorry, I have to disagree with this advice. "Senior" food is often formulated to be lower protein, and that's just the opposite of what a senior kitty (any kitty!) needs. As obligate carnivores, cats have unique protein requirements to begin with, and they need the higher protein diet to help prevent muscle wasting. The "Senior" food is a dangerous myth, IMO, and many vets don't know better, having been sold on the logic by Hill's Pet or Royal Canin.

If I didn't put my 14yr now 15yr old cat on senior she would be dead now I tried all kinds of food and she was getting worse and she is active and healthier now on her 11+ cat food and my 7yr now 8yr cat gets senior 7+food its 75% of his diet if I didn't do that he would be dead also.

just mike · Dec 19, 2012

White Shadow said:
Adrianna25, you'll be well prepared for a stance on your food decisions if you read through what a well-respected Veterinarian says about overweight cats and crappy Vet "prescription" foods right here: http://catinfo.org/?link=felineobesity

Pay particular attention to the sections about a safe weight loss program - the heavier the cat, the greater the danger of damage to the liver.

My cat is 19lbs

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