CATS Weight

Hi I am new here.
I have an 8 year old maine coon (Abraham), he weights almost 17 pounds.
He is an indoor cat. He gained some weight through the years, cause he doesnt jump and run as much as he used to.
My question is, is his weight something to worry about or is among the normal weight for his age?

Thanks
Daniel

The weight gain is typical but not healthy. Too much weight can be hard on a cat's joints, especially as they get older. Maine Coons, however, tend to be a larger breed, so I don't know for sure that 17 pounds is too heavy for your cat's frame. If you are not able to easily feel his ribs, he may be overweight. I would strongly recommend talking to a vet before starting your cat on a diet. The vet can determine whether your cat needs to lose weight and can help you figure out how to get the weight off slowly. Rapid weight loss is very dangerous for cats.

Welcome, Daniel and Abraham! Abraham's ideal weight would depend on his overall body frame. Yes, weight gain is an issue of concern with our kitties, as they can suffer from similar ailments as humans such as diabetes. I recommend that you speak to Abraham's Vet to learn the best weight for him. If his Vet feels he would do well to lose a bit, you can then work together to plan a healthy lifestyle change for your little boy including diet and increased activity. As mentioned, rapid weightloss is very dangerous for cats, so this would need to be a gradual process.

Actually, I took it to the vet and he said to put him on a wet food diet, half can at noon and another can at night. I dont doubt of his expertise, as a matter of fact he was great with Abe, the only thing is that I would prefer some sort of diet that is not based on only wet food given that I sometimes travel for a 24 or 48 hours and he stays by himself. Up until now, he had the bowl full of dry food his entire life and he goes and eat when he feels like it.

Is getting a second cat ( kitten ) also a good thing for him given that he ll probably play more with the new friend and burn more calories and stuff like that?

Gracias
Abe and Daniel

Originally Posted by Gauchobass

Actually, I took it to the vet and he said to put him on a wet food diet, half can at noon and another can at night. I dont doubt of his expertise, as a matter of fact he was great with Abe, the only thing is that I would prefer some sort of diet that is not based on only wet food given that I sometimes travel for a 24 or 48 hours and he stays by himself. Up until now, he had the bowl full of dry food his entire life and he goes and eat when he feels like it.

Is getting a second cat ( kitten ) also a good thing for him given that he ll probably play more with the new friend and burn more calories and stuff like that?

Gracias
Abe and Daniel

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Dry food is fattening and could be one of your problems. My thoughts would be try to feed more wet food and if you have to be away for a day or two either get someone (a friend/family) to pop in and feed him or leave him the dry for the time you are away and back to wet food when you get back.

Is it fat or muscle? I'd keep an eye on the weight - MC's are prone to some hip dysplasia problems in the lines. I know I've seen solid muscle 15-20 lb MC's at shows, but you don't want a lot of extra weight on an older cat.

I go by the feel of the body and the height/length. NOT by the vet's opinion on weight. Case in point: rex cats are not built like domestics - they are finer boned and only weigh 5-7 or 8 lbs max - and should be solid muscle. The vet used to tell me that my adult male rexes should be weighing 10-12 lbs! NO way - they would be very much overweight by that standard.

For a MC the average male would be about 15-17 lbs, so your boy is probably ok - just keep an eye on the weight.

Before you make any food changes, it would be good to verify if he's really becoming over weight, or just has become slightly less active.

Cats who have access to food 24/7 are more prone to becoming over weight, a dry kibble diet has a higher chance of making them over weight.

Personally I would switch to a good quality canned or raw, and while your away you can try one of those automatic pet feeders, or have a friend/relative/pet sitter come over to feed him.