how likely would I be able to help a cat lose weight?

I'm considering adopting a very nice 5 year old cat from the local shelter. His personality is great and he's really sweet, but he's significantly overweight. I don't know his actual weight---he's not a record-breaker or anything---but he's visibly heavy, with hanging extra underneath, big hips, etc. He can jump up and down and what not but his weight is not in the normal range by any means.

I'm worried about the weight for health and activity reasons. No question his activity level has been very low, having lived in the shelter for a couple months already, though they do have him on a restricted diet.

I've read several pages out there that talk about weight loss in cats. My partner and I would be committed to purchasing and managing the appropriate food and feedings, enacting frequent playtimes, etc.  He would be a solo cat in our house (no other animals).

But my question is how successful have people been at helping cats lose weight? I know from my own experience how hard it is as a human. And I have friends with overweight cats who often seem to be engaged in some weight-loss tactic (restricted food, for example), but I've never seen someone successfully help their cat get back to a normal weight.

Has anyone out there had success with helping a cat get down to a normal weight? If so, what was your process?

Welcome to TCS!  So happy you're thinking of adopting this big guy and working to get him to a healthier weight.  You can be VERY successful if you are committed!  I did it with one of my kitties, but it requires a lot of discipline on your part (& your partner's) to be diligent with feeding only a set amount of food, preferably a high quality, grain-free food.  You don't want the kitty to lose weight too quickly as that creates other health problems, but a gradual, slow and steady weight loss is possible.  Here's a good thread about one foster's weight loss journey:  http://www.thecatsite.com/t/245236/mickey-my-27-lbs-foster-and-his-journey-back-to-a-healthy-weight
 

Hi forgetcolor and welcome to TCS !

forgetcolor said:

I'm considering adopting a very nice 5 year old cat from the local shelter.

...he's significantly overweight. I don't know his actual weight---he's not a record-breaker or anything---but he's visibly heavy, with hanging extra underneath, big hips, etc.

I'm worried about the weight for health and activity reasons...they do have him on a restricted diet.

I've read several pages out there that talk about weight loss in cats.

Has anyone out there had success with helping a cat get down to a normal weight? If so, what was your process?

Click to expand...

I'm sort of on the run, but wanted to give you the very best online guide to weight reduction, par excellence!

There is a lot of info on the 'Net....discerning reliable information from the uninformed, false, misleading, marketing spin - and, get this: Veterinarians 'schooled' in "nutrition" by the petfood industry.....is not easy. And, all of those 'e-how's are to be interpreted as e-how-NOT to treat a cat!

OK, here's your reference material - written by a Veterinarian who knows more than a thing or two about Feline Nutrition:  Feline Obesity: An Epidemic of Fat Cats - Lisa A Pierson, DVM

oh, btw, that "restricted diet" you mentioned.......if that is one of the so-called "prescription diets", Dr. Pierson addresses those in her article.......they're prescriptions for disaster!

And, experience here?  Oooooooodles of it!

Thanks for the encouragement!  I'm still worried about existing weight-related health problems this cat might have (e.g. diabetes), but we may be willing to take a chance on him.  He's a real sweetie.

I'll ask this at the shelter tomorrow, but is there any chance that the shelter vets would have already tested him for something like diabetes as part of his regular checkup?

I read through mschauer's path w/ Mickey and it was definitely encouraging.  The cat we're looking at is nothing like that in terms of severity.  I hope to get a weight measurement on him tomorrow, but I'd guess he's around 15 lbs.  One thing I haven't been able to find is some kind of normal weight chart.  It may be it's too hard to create a standard because cats are so variable in size.  I did see Pierson's guide about the 'waist' when looking top-down.

The information from Pierson about wet vs. dry is definitely interesting.  We have a local university vet school and I'm thinking if we adopt this cat we'll try and find a nutrition specialist there.

Anyway, I really appreciate the feedback and am happy to find this place!

I wouldn't worry about any weight related issues at this point in time.  I seriously doubt the shelter did any testing beyond the normal stuff (FIV, FeLV, worms). I think if he stayed overweight for most of his life, you would cause to worry, but if you adopt him and get him down to an ideal weight, he will have a better chance of fighting off those things like diabetes and renal problems, but there's no guarantee to that either.  I think you just have to love them, give them a good life, and deal with health issues when they arise.

For nutrition help, we have many knowledgeable folks here on the board.  I would encourage you to visit the Nutrition forum and post your questions there. 

I just wanted to say that 4 years ago my mother adopted an overweight cat - he had been overfed by the child in his previous home.  He was nearly 7kgs when he came to use and he is now down to a healthy weight of around 4.5kg.  My mother didn't feed him a special food - she just gave him less of his normal food (amount decided under the vets recommendation I believe).  Teddy wasn't happy with his reduced food intake and used to complain that he was hungry but he was ignored as it was for his own good.  I can't remember how long it took him to get to the weight that he is now but he has never put weight back on and is now eating the recommended amount of food for his weight.  He was 14 when he was adopted and we think he wouldn't have made it to 18 if he had remained at his previous weight.

I hope you do adopt this guy.  Very overweight cats usually don't get a home.  This cat was probably free fed and no one paid any attention to him other than to keep his food bowl topped off.  I think free feeding kibble is the number one reason that so many cats are overweight.  Putting him on a measured amount of food spread over 2 or 3 meals a day will work wonders.