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harilenn

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Hi all,

I have a beautiful american shorthair, Molly. She is an indoor cat and is overweight. We've been feeding her Hills Weight loss /Weight maintenance formula but it is not working. We spend a lot of time with her, playing etc. to no avail. She is in excellent health ( we give her a yearly physical) but needs to lose a few pounds.

HELP please!!

Thank you all

AS
 

vball91

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Do you free feed dry only? If so, switching to timed meals of meaty wet foods of the appropriate number of calories is the best way to weight loss. Here is an article written by a vet on obesity in cats and some ways to combat the problem.

http://www.catinfo.org/?link=felineobesity
 
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harilenn

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How many calories should a 7 year overweight indoor cat in good health, have? 
 

Willowy

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It depends on the individual cat, of course, but I believe 15 calories a pound is considered to be the standard "dieting" amount. Start with that and adjust accordingly.
 

vball91

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Most indoor neutered cats who are only moderately active need about 20 calories per pound of ideal body weight. However, there are risks to reducing weight too rapidly, so please read the entire article I linked above. Weight loss in overweight cats needs to be done slowly and carefully to avoid hepatic lipidosis (fatty liver disease).
 

jorjor

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I find that a lot of the healthy weight formulas do more harm them good, because they focus more on lowering fat than lowering the carb content( which is the main problem). I'd suggest looking into a grain-free food.

Also, do you free feed(leave a bowl of dry food out all day for him to graze on) or do scheduled measured out feedings?
 
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harilenn

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Hi 

Thanks for the reply. I give her scheduled measured feedings. I've started giving her around 165 calories a day with a combination of  Merricks grain- free wet food and Hills Prescription metabolic Weight Loss / Weight Maintenance. 
 
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harilenn

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The Hills Food is dry.
 
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