Obese Cats: Should I Warn The Owner?

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Graceful-Lily

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Thank you. I was really hoping for a better reaction. He knows about the cat wheezing and the obesity because the vet has warned him already. He said that he's very busy and not home most of the time so the cats are usually by themselves or being looked after by family members. However, lately, everyone has been busy with life so these poor kitties are being neglected. Their nails were super long, their coat needed a good brushing, and they have dandruff badly. I've hardly seen them groom themselves because of the weight. It's awful to see.
 
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lalagimp

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The dandruff alone could go away with the weight loss. My bub used to get his lower half shaved off because of it but since he's been trim awhile now, he's got no issues. 
If he's busy he can train them to go to automatic feeders with portion control. Some people just don't regard this as an issue. I didn't think it was an issue, until I did. 
I would like to have a 20+ year cat. It's an inconvenience we can live with. I would LOVE to have them free feed and not feed them five times a day but I WANT A 20 YEAR CAT. 
 
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Graceful-Lily

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I don't think he is aware. They are both 8 years old and I can tell that they'll have problems in the future. I told him that the female needs to see a vet with her wheezing and snoring but he said he works all day and can only take her if he finds a vet that's open late which many of them aren't. I don't like where this is going. He cough and abnormal breathing hasn't gotten better over the past few days and I'm feeling weird about this.
 

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Unless you volunteer to take his cats to the vet for him, otherwise, it's the same old excuse of being busy and no time to take the cats.
 

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If you are pet sitting a few more weeks, I would offer to take the cat to his vet (as long as he is paying the bill).  Then he can't use work hours as an excuse not to help the cat.  I expect you'll just get a different excuse though. 

No harm in asking.
 
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Graceful-Lily

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He was supposed to come see them yesterday but he hasn't gotten back to me. My mom is afraid that he's going to leave the cats with me since he literally has no time for them. They'll be here until about late May which is a very long time. We've already gotten really close. The male cat and I. He follows me around the house. He cries for me. He sleeps beside me on my bed every night. I'm afraid that they might think this is their new home.

The cats are so big, they can't even clean themselves after going to the litter box. They always have feces hanging off their fur or stuck onto their butts which I have to clean daily. They can't groom themselves so I have to wet my cat brush and clean their fur for them. If they were staying any longer, I'd start feeding them raw.
 
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If they can't groom themselves back there they are probably more than 15 lbs.
That sounds about right because I once had a dog that was 16lb and it took the same amount of effort to lift him as it did to lift them. I'm not sure what to do. I cringe everyday that I pour the dry food into their dish.
 

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He was supposed to come see them yesterday but he hasn't gotten back to me. My mom is afraid that he's going to leave the cats with me since he literally has no time for them. They'll be here until about late May which is a very long time. We've already gotten really close. The male cat and I. He follows me around the house. He cries for me. He sleeps beside me on my bed every night. I'm afraid that they might think this is their new home.

The cats are so big, they can't even clean themselves after going to the litter box. They always have feces hanging off their fur or stuck onto their butts which I have to clean daily. They can't groom themselves so I have to wet my cat brush and clean their fur for them. If they were staying any longer, I'd start feeding them raw.
If things are going the other direction, be prepared to adopt the kitties.
 
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Graceful-Lily

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Unfortunately, I am thinking about it. Just in case. Even though Hazel found a new home, I don't know if I can manage 4 on my own.

But anyway, is there anything I can do to take them lose weight right now? While they are here? If he sees them slim down a bit (if he ever comes), maybe it'll persuade him a little.
 

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Stop feeding them dry food. Go on to wet food.

Wet food is better for weight management and on top of that, try getting them to do some activities like chasing a ball or the cat wand.
 

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That sounds about right because I once had a dog that was 16lb and it took the same amount of effort to lift him as it did to lift them. I'm not sure what to do. I cringe everyday that I pour the dry food into their dish.
There isn't any point in feeding the cats canned or raw if the owner is just going to feed them kibble again when (if) he picks them up in May, but I would start measuring their food.   If they are eating 3 cups a day now, I'd give them 2.5 cups.  If they're eating 2 cups, then I'd give them 1.75 cups.  Measure how much they are currently eating for three days to get a baseline average, and then cut back 1/4 - 1/2 cup total per day.

If each cat lost even one pound between now and late-May, they might be able to clean themselves again.  Maybe the owner would notice that as a positive benefit.  His house must be really nasty if he isn't home to clean their britches.
 

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There are also dry foods designed to aid in weight loss. Our dog did well on these. Don't know how effective they are on cats though.

Also make sure you aren't leaving food out all day measure feed. Like 1/2 cup in am and 1/2 cup at dinner and don't refill the bowl till the next scheduled feeding.

These amounts are what I feed my Kabby who is at an ideal weight but your cats requirements are probably different. Check the bag of food and give half the recommended amount in am and the other half at night.
 

orange&white

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I would not try to change the cats' food.  The owner provided Whiska's dry and that's what I would feed them.  Diet changes can cause cats to go off their food, and fat cats are particularly susceptible to hepatic lipidodsis.  You don't need anything like that going on during the two months you are pet sitting the man's cats.  Two months of a better diet will do nothing for them, since the man is going to feed them Whiska's dry after he picks them up in May.

I would feed a little less Whiska's than they are currently eating, with a goal of taking off 6-10 oz per month of extra weight.
 

lalagimp

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There are also dry foods designed to aid in weight loss. Our dog did well on these. Don't know how effective they are on cats though.
They do. I had prescription Hills Metabolic which was byproducts and a bunch of fillers to make them more full. It worked a bit, but so did moving them to a much healthier Nature's Variety Healthy Weight formula, they just got less than the Metabolic they were used to. I only started feeding raw since Tom got a urethral obstruction AFTER the boys had already hit their goal weights. We used weight management kibble to take 21 lb Tom to 13 and 16 lb Stew to 12.
 
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Graceful-Lily

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I offered to take her to the vet and he hasn't responded. I told him that she's getting worse. The poor cat is starting to throw up every single day and is choking. Coughing up what sounds like thick phlegm. He didn't come visit and his excuse was that he got busy and wants to come see them on the weekend. I told him that he could but he hasn't responded. He also only wants to visit for a few minutes. What if something happens to his cat? I can't just sit here and watch her suffer but I can't afford to take her to the vet myself. What is wrong with this man?? It makes me so upset. Take responsibility. Please.
 
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orange&white

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He didn't come visit and his excuse was that he got busy and wants to come see them on the weekend.
It's the weekend here.  Is he coming tomorrow or Sunday?  Eeesh.   You probably don't know since he is being so vague and now not answering.

I would send him an email saying, "Your cat is sick.  Either give me permission in writing, AND call your vet to let them know I'm bringing the cat in for you, or I will need you to pick up your cat before Sunday night.  I cannot pet-sit a sick cat unless you give permission to me and your vet to have her treated."

Do you know which vet he uses?  Can you call his vet's office and tell them what is going on and that you cannot afford to pay for the man's vet bills?  They might treat the cat and try to bill him for fees.

It's awful the man has left you in this position.
 

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I offered to take her to the vet and he hasn't responded. I told him that she's getting worse. The poor cat is starting to throw up every single day and is choking. Coughing up what sounds like thick phlegm. He didn't come visit and his excuse was that he got busy and wants to come see them on the weekend. I told him that he could but he hasn't responded. He also only wants to visit for a few minutes. What if something happens to his cat? I can't just sit here and watch her suffer but I can't afford to take her to the vet myself. What is wrong with this man?? It makes me so upset. Take responsibility. Please.
I am beginning to wonder if you have two new cats.  It will be interesting to see if the owner actually shows up.    Meanwhile, the cat does need to go to the vet.  I'm wondering if you offered to keep them longer, would he pay for the vet?   It just seems he might be more interested in getting away from them than their well being.   If he won't pay, the poor kitty still needs to go to the vet.  We can give you suggestions for free/low cost vet care if that happens.
 
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