Female cat weight gain post neutering - "fixable" ?

Hi,

We're considering adopting a 3 year old female. She seems to have a bit of a pot belly, and from the little we know of her history it could be related to her having been neutered after having had at least one litter (maybe more). I know there can be issues with the hormonal balance that explain that, but is it possible to get a cat in that situation back to a healthy weight in the short or mid term?

I guess what I'm asking is: is that kind of weight gain possible to address the "usual" way, by getting her to exercise more and eat a bit less, or is the metabolism change so radical that it's just how she'll be?

Is there any kind of medication or specific treatment that can help?

(Just to clarify, I'm asking in case we do adopt her, but it's not a decision factor, so don't see us as completely shallow !)

Some lady cats do get a saggy belly after kittens or in old age, that doesn't necessarily mean they're overweight. If she is overweight it can be fixed. Have your vet weigh her and discuss how many calories a day she'll need. You need to be careful with restricting a cat's food because they can become very ill if they don't get enough calories. Then get some toys and play with her.

The 'saggy belly' could simply be her primordial pouch - a flap of skin that serves several purpose in evolutionary terms: allowing the cat to extend fully to give maximum stride length when running is the biggest factor, but it is also thought to help protect internal organs in a fight.

This isn't to say that the primordial pouch can't also contain excess fat - in fact, it's one of the first places extra weight will be stored. The presence of a prominent pouch doesn't necessarily indicate that the cat is overweight. You have to look at the whole cat to make that judgement.

Hekitty has that primordial pouch, but not an ounce of extra weight.  As Cinqchats said, consult your vet about her caloric needs.  DO NOT go by the "suggested feeding amounts" on the cat food containers.  They are based on un-neutered animals, who have higher caloric requirements.  Also, every cat, like every human, has an individual metabolism.  If your kitty is, indeed, a little overweight, your vet will be able to recommend the proper amount of food, and probably has a weight-control diet available if the problem is severe.

I don't have personal (well as in my resident cats personal) experience of this, but have seen this happen with a friend's cats.   Well, to be more accurate with Mouse's breeder's cats including my chubby boy's mother.

Mouse is sadly a fine example of a rather too well rounded male neuter cat who also has a primordial pouch thanks to being neutered.  He likes his food too much though, and as he has settled down over the last couple of years and slept more than played he has put on too much weight around the middle.   It is a work in progress for me getting him back to his more slender (if not quite sleek) figure.   I can safely say his love of food came from his cat mom and grand mom though, and one thing that happened with both of them when they were neutered was a massive gain in weight.

Mouse's grandmother was only neutered recently and her hormones are still settling.  I couldn't believe she was the same cat when I saw her after the surgery as she had always been a rather petite cat and didn't carry any excess weight. I swear she is about 4 times the size she was when she was a breeding queen.  

What I am reassured by, and can pass on to you, is that Mouse's mom was neutered a couple of years ago after developing pyometra.  She was not as petite as most of the other queens at the cattery and has always loved her food, but it was quite shocking to hear how much weight she gained after the surgery.  In July I caught up with the person whose home is now taken over by Mouse's delightful fur mom and was amazed and happy to hear that she has now transformed herself in to an active and healthy weight cat once more.   She has not had any special treatment or restrictions, merely been given access to her new home environment and play with the resident hound.  She has lost all the weight she had put on and is probably fitter than she has ever been!   The breeder is now feeling happier and more confident that her other cat will also go through this phase and see her weight settle too.  I wish it was going to be that easy with Mouse!     

Obviously I am no expert and this is not scientific knowledge, but certainly there is one cat in Mouse's family who has gone through this and come out a nice slim, healthy cat at the other end, and another hopefully in the process of doing so.  

Good luck with the adoption if you decide to go ahead.

My adopted kitty, Frannie, has the pouch and she is a bit overweight and am trying to get her to loose the weight.  In her foster home, she did get human food, but have been trying to not give her to much of it now.  Sometimes it's more than others, but we try to limit what is given to her and just feed her moist food (half can Fancy Feast morning and night and will fill up kibble of 4Health Grain Free as needed during that time as well.).  We can't afford the best kind of wet food, but am hoping to be able to at some point in time when getting some bills paid off and can get some stocked up, but try to find some kinds she likes to know of what she will like before that time comes.  She was fixed before we got her, but has had a rough start before I had adopted her.  But she does weigh a bit more than the cat I had previously and that kitty didn't have the pouch and wasn't overweight.