Rat T is Fat

My cat, Rat-T, is really fat. She weighs a lot. She even has the nickname "Fat-t, Rat-t". Most people are amazed at her size. She's been heavy for a while, but she has always been so playful and energetic that it hasn't been much of a worry - cause it's always been a muscular sort of fat. She's always been very healthy - still is. But the older she gets the less she is being active. And I'm already starting to see some of this "fit fat" become "flob" in a couple places. And that worries me. She really loves her food. She always knows when we are eating - no matter how quiet we are. She even knows if we are opening a pouch for another cat - now those things make absolutely no sound at all. I mean, she even knows if she is outside or at the other end of the house in a completely different room. I actually call her the "food psychic". Does anyone have any advice for me? Should I be concerned? What weight is a healthy weight?

Originally Posted by georgiagirl8

My cat, Rat-T, is really fat. She weighs a lot. She even has the nickname "Fat-t, Rat-t". Most people are amazed at her size. She's been heavy for a while, but she has always been so playful and energetic that it hasn't been much of a worry - cause it's always been a muscular sort of fat. She's always been very healthy - still is. But the older she gets the less she is being active. And I'm already starting to see some of this "fit fat" become "flob" in a couple places. And that worries me. She really loves her food. She always knows when we are eating - no matter how quiet we are. She even knows if we are opening a pouch for another cat - now those things make absolutely no sound at all. I mean, she even knows if she is outside or at the other end of the house in a completely different room. I actually call her the "food psychic". Does anyone have any advice for me? Should I be concerned? What weight is a healthy weight?

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If my memory is correct, I believe a healthy weight is somewhere around 8lbs, but I could be wrong, so, anyone else, feel free to jump in. Billy is less than one year old, and already, right off, we noticed him getting "flabby," so we bought him Purina Cat Chow Indoor Formula, which really maintains his weight, however, it doesn't really lower his weight, unless he's active. If it's very serious, I would consider consulting with his vet, and asking him/her. Good luck!

You should never consider putting your cat on a diet without a vet's intervention. Doing so could prove dangerous to your cat's health. I would take you cat in, talk to your vet and have the cat go on a supervised diet and go from there. Unlike humans, cats can't handle weight coming off quickly which is why the vet is necessary to guide you.

Originally Posted by CJandBilly

If my memory is correct, I believe a healthy weight is somewhere around 8lbs,

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I'm sorry, I've never understood where those super low figures come from. My skinny cat is 12lbs, but most of mine weigh over 15lbs, which is overweight, but cats are near impossible to put on diets especially with multiple cats.

Good luck trying to get her to lose weight. My only suggestion is trying to keep her active by playing with her, and keep her excited with the world, although if she's an outdoor cat I'm sure she's not bored to tears like my indoor cats can get.

Actually my vet seems to think it's kind of funny. He's obviously no help. She's just so wide and belly is starting to hang a little bit. She's not like really hugely obese or anything like that, just overweight. This is her...

Speak frankly with your vet. Let them know you are CONCERNED and have a good reason to be. A fat obese cat is just as unhealthy as a fat obese person and you love you cant. You do not want it to have diabeties or other health problems. Ask the vet, "How can I safely put my cat on a diet and monitor his food intake without causing him harm? I understand to much weight loss to fast is unhealthy." Let the vet know that YOU KNOW your cat is not the weight it should be and you want to make a "health conscious change" for the CAT'S benifit. If that means your vet sells you less cat food per month, so be it.

By looking at her picture that I posted above, would y'all think that it's necessary to do something? In other words what I'm really trying to say is...do y'all think my cat looks fat?

Can you get a scale and weigh her? I use a human scale to weigh myself, then I step on holding the cat, and subtract the difference. Mine are rather large - I have two 18 pounders who need to lose about 4 or 5 pounds, and a 13 pounder who is so tiny he should only weigh around 9 or 10. (I also have a scale that measures to the nearest .2 pound, which is really nice because it's more accurate.) She does look like she could stand to be a little lighter.

My vet wasn't much help either. He told me they needed to lose the weight. When I asked how I could go about doing that, he told me just to feed what the bag said is right, and if it doesn't work than keep cutting back until I see results. Didn't give me a time scale, didn't tell me how much a month was healthy. He's a great vet, but refuses to comment on food and weight loss for some reason. You really need to ask your vet what he thinks a healthy wieght is for her. There is no "perfect" weight for a cat, because some are taller and longer than others, and therefore should wiegh more.

Personally, I saw Hans and Merlin loose a pound in about two months just by not leaving a full dish out all the time. They're allowed to eat as much as they want, four times a day. I have four cats, and they'll sit and eat for a few minutes, and then walk away. I take the dishes up, and wait for 6 hours. I really think indoor cats are emotional eaters, just like us humans. "Well, I'm bored, guess I'll get a snack and watch some TV." I've noticed my boys were doing the same thing - eating when they got bored.

Originally Posted by georgiagirl8

By looking at her picture that I posted above, would y'all think that it's necessary to do something? In other words what I'm really trying to say is...do y'all think my cat looks fat?

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Yes...she's got a lot of padding over those ribs! (she's cute, but she is plump).

I think Cirque said it best, get your vet to advise you. Things to consider doing - put her food bowl up or down a set of stairs so she has to get a bit of exercise to get to it. Only give her a few treats, and put them in a treat ball that she has to manipulate to get any treats out of. Have an interactive play session with her daily...use a wand toy with tempting cloth or feathers on the end to get her chasing. Give her ball toys that she can roll and chase (ping pong balls work well, plus there are soft catnip scented balls that roll well).
With your vet's permission, if you are free-feeding your cats, stop. Set up a feeding schedule of two to three times a day (or as your vet advises) - and split the recommended amount of whatever food you end up using, between those three feedings.

hth!

Originally Posted by cinderellie

I'm sorry, I've never understood where those super low figures come from. My skinny cat is 12lbs, but most of mine weigh over 15lbs, which is overweight, but cats are near impossible to put on diets especially with multiple cats.

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Both my cats have been told they should weigh approx 8lb because it goes on the size of the cats frame.

I also have a weight loss thread floating around in the forums.

I respect the intentions of people who say talk to a vet, but some vets don't want to discuss such things or refuse to get specific. Most vets are competent in certain areas and not so knowledgable in others. People will say "well, get a better vet" but that is not so easy in certain locations. I come to the internet to talk to other cat owners to get extra help or exchange information I can't find in my normal life.

georgiagirl8: If it matters, your cat looks significantly fleshier than Nano. How old is she? Maybe it is time to move her to "Senior" of whatever brand she normally eats. Good luck!

Originally Posted by Nano

I respect the intentions of people who say talk to a vet, but some vets don't want to discuss such things or refuse to get specific. Most vets are competent in certain areas and not so knowledgable in others. People will say "well, get a better vet" but that is not so easy in certain locations. I come to the internet to talk to other cat owners to get extra help or exchange information I can't find in my normal life.

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Hi,
Please keep in mind that because we are not vets, we would be irresponsible (imo) to give advice as if we were. That is why you will see me temper my opinions, and even my quotes from various articles, with deference towards consulting a trained person who in the flesh, can examine your cat.

I agree that some vets are woeful when it comes to nutritional guidance (just my opinion more than my experience, I've had great vets), and I highly value the sharing of "this is what has worked for me". However, it's like buying something off ebay..let the buyer beware, I've seen some incredible claims made and advice given that sets all my alarm bells off...confidence does not make an opinion right, nor is it a substitute for a trained practioner with the experience of many years of patients.

So...please understand that when I or others here refer folks to their vet, it's not a brush-off, it's because we feel it is appropriate to do so, and the responsible thing for us to advise.

Here is a weight chart for cats.

Some vets have special clinics for animals who need to diet, you might find one if you can shop around. That'd be good, because you wouldn't be the only owner with a podgy pet.

Sue

Originally Posted by stormy

Here is a weight chart for cats.

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Nice chart! Nano would be almost a 6.