What should I do about my over weight cat?

meowitsathena

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My cats pretty big now, its been 2 years now since she's been spayed, and she's gained ALOT of weight, her stomach weighs down, and she's much more affectionate. I love her so much... and I love her being big because theres so much more to love. But I am concerned if it is going to be a health problem.

could a cat be too over weight? and what could I do about it?
 

lilin

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My cats pretty big now, its been 2 years now since she's been spayed, and she's gained ALOT of weight, her stomach weighs down, and she's much more affectionate. I love her so much... and I love her being big because theres so much more to love. But I am concerned if it is going to be a health problem.

could a cat be too over weight? and what could I do about it?
A cat being overweight is DEFINITELY a health problem. They are prone to diabetes, joint deterioration, heart disease, and a host of other serious medical problems, just like overweight humans. It isn't cute for a cat to be big. And eventually, it will be very painful for her. I know that to some people there's something cuddly about a fat cat, but it's very bad for the cat. Use your love to help her get healthy again, rather than encouraging her to be fat.

She needs to have her portion sizes gradually brought down to the recommended amount for her ideal weight. If she is free feeding on dry kibble all day, that needs to stop. No grazing. Meal times at set times, and no food in between. Kibble, which is starchy, should be traded out for high protein, low fat, no grain wet food.

And play time. Kitties need exercise just like humans. Get her moving every single day.

Take her to the vet to find out what her ideal weight should be, and get some guidelines for a safe speed of weight loss.

It is important cats not lose weight too fast, because this can cause liver problems. Make sure she isn't losing dramatic amounts of weight quickly.
 
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fluffybeard

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If she eats dry kibble, have her eat canned food. That would help her lose weight. My mom's chihuahua was really overweight and she switched him to a high protein canned food diet and he has been steadily losing weight and he's much happier and healthier and running around and playing more. I think it's cause kibble is very dense in calories and carbs.
 

fleabags mom

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I agree with the above posters 100%. Also, you are mum have to get a little tougher! No more giving in to any cute meows asking for food or treats, grins.  Personally I wouldn't cut the food overnight, but gradually, cutting a little bit more off feeding times every few days. Nobody likes feeling really hungry, and hopefully she won't notice the slow decline in food. Good luck :-)
 

mrsgreenjeens

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I agree wholeheartedly with the above posts!  Can  in answer to your question "can a cat be too overweight?", check out this thread...look at the first picture, and you tell us


http://www.thecatsite.com/t/245236/mickey-my-27-lbs-foster-and-his-journey-back-to-a-healthy-weight

Oh!  and I also want to add that just because a canned food says it is grain free, doesn't necessarily mean it is low carb.  You really  need a food that is high in protein and low in carbs, kind of like the Atkins Diet.  This would be a Catkins diet
, only this is actually what every cat should be eating.  You also want one that is lowish in fats and calories too.  Here is a food chart that may help you out.  It shows protein, fats, carbs, and even calories per can.   http://www.catinfo.org/docs/FoodChartPublic9-22-12.pdf     And if she is currently eating kibble, we can even help you with the transition to canned, which really is helpful to get her to lose.  If nothing else, you must get her on timed meals and limit the amount of calories she is consuming.  (just like people
)
 
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meowitsathena

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Once seeing that picture of that cat, all my worries faded. I really thought my cat was chubby because her stomach hangs down abit but now i do think she is normal weight
 

silviar

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Agreed with the posters above, and thought I'd add a little on top of what everyone else has said.

It's REALLY important to cut her down slowly, and to swap her food slowly over to canned. Canned is good because it helps with hydration (a critical issue for cats), and because it's already parcelled into a specific size.

 In fact, if you wanted to swap her to canned and try eventually giving her some raw meat (cut into pinky sized strips), you'll find that the extra chewyness will keep her occupied longer and help her feel fuller. There is a certain amount of mental trickery that's important to cutting back a cat's food, and a lot of tough love on your part.

The reason you don't want to cut back your cat's food too quickly is because cats can become very sick and even die if they don't eat anything within a certain time period. It's called hepatic lipidosis, and it is serious for cats who don't eat for over 48 hours.

For a little more indepth about cat nutrition, and something that's  a good introductory read, check this out: http://www.catnutrition.org/obesity.html

I'm not saying you should feed your kitty raw, but understanding the obligate carnivore nature of felines and why each level of food can bring different nutritional results to your feline is something that can be very beneficial to the quantity and quality of life for your kitty.
 

silviar

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If she's been desexed, most female kitties have a small pouch on their stomach. There's no need to worry if that's what it is. :) From this angle your kitty looks pretty good, but if you have any concerns, just have your vet check out her weight. It never hurts to ask.
 

lilin

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Oh! That's definitely not a sausage roll cat.
The pooch thingie you describe is normal. Many cats have that, regardless of their weight. As long as it's just skin (kinda floppy and loose) it's nothing to worry about. I have read one theory about it, that says it's extra skin to help them extend their legs better while running.

An easy way to tell how close your cat is to her ideal is to look at her from above, while she's standing. You should be able to see a bit of a waist. Not as dramatic as a dog, but there.
 
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