Overweight or just plain big?

A few people have called my Simba fat. I can't convince my step-dad not to fill up their (there's also a Nala) food bowls at night and in the morning, but I really don't think Simba is overweight. He's always been thick and well-muscled with a large skull and big paws. His fur is slightly fluffy, with some of the fur being of a kinked, waved texture. He is about 15 months old right now and weighs in at 14.4 lbs. He was fixed right before we got him when he was a vet-estimated 17 weeks old, so he's started to develop that pouch of sagging skin on his lower belly. He also has loose skin that spreads out when he lies down, so I think that's why people think he's fat. I toss pieces of his food across the kitchen floor for him to chase. He gets a work out and food because I don;t want him getting fat.

Here are some recent photos. Pardon my silly pajamas. :3

Nala, who is about a month older than Simba, was between 8.5 and 9.0 lbs last time I weighed her. She is terrified of the scale, so I don't weigh her that often. Simba always dwarfs Nala when they are near each other.

If you were to feel that bulge on his right side (fourth photo,) you would feel his ribs covered in muscle, not fat. He's a very thick-boned cat. The top right photo was taken many months ago and, even then, Simba was much larger than Nala.




See, Nala is pretty tiny. Even with no object for reference, you can see she's small.

He is one big boy!! I ADORE big kittys!

While he is a big dude, he looks healthy and great.

I wouldn't call him slim, and he may even be a pound or 2 over what he should be as an ideal weight, I think he looks just fine

Thanks! I try really hard to care for him as best I can. He has feline herpes and I have chronic pain in many of my joints, but I still make sure to inspect him for symptoms and keep him happy and healthy and interact with him. It bothers me when people think I would let him overeat and get obese. I know one pound on a cat is far more than one pound on a person, but that doesn't mean carrying a little extra weight is always a bad thing.

Exactly!

No, I think he looks great, you're doing a good job

He has his annual check-up toward the end of the month, as does Nala, so I'll find out then if his weight needs to me adjusted.

Try not free feeding, measure it out, leave down for 30 minutes. Also cat will lose more weight on canned than dry. These things will help if you choose to put him on a diet.

My Atticus is almost 4 years old and has gained a few pounds since we got him neutered two years ago (he was 11lbs then and is probably closer to 13 now). He is just a BIG kitty and I think that is the same for your Simba. Don't fret! He looks very healthy and well loved so just keep doing what you're doing! (If you're concerned though, little extra play time wouldn't hurt