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Helping your overweight cat

Posted Fri, Apr 11, 2008, 7:59 am PDT

If your cat is on a diet, there are some additional things you can do to help her.

Weight reduction programs should be done through your veterinarian. Drastic diets are dangerous for cats. Your veterinarian will weigh your cat and determine the daily amount she should be fed. A prescription diet may be recommended.

Divide your cat's daily portion and feed small, frequent meals. She'll complain less if her tummy isn't empty for hours. Feeding small meals tricks her into thinking she's getting more food.

Use puzzle feeders such as the Play-n-Treat ball so your cat can engage in reward-based activity. Cats are hunters so they enjoy working for food. Fill the ball halfway with dry food and as the cat rolls the ball around, food periodically drops out. You can even make homemade puzzle feeders or hide food around your cat's play area. Puzzle feeders encourage cats to eat slowly so they're beneficial for kitties who gobble too quickly.

Playtime is valuable for weight management. Cats were made to move but when Tabby got tubby, she probably started playing less and eating more. No matter how overweight she is, your kitty will benefit from physical activity. Use a fishing pole-type toy to engage her in an interactive play session. If she's very overweight, don't expect her to do back flips and record-breaking leaps, but even small movement is beneficial.

An obese cat may not be able to reach all body parts for grooming. If she's unable to fully engage in regular hygiene, help her by gently wiping her backside. Regular brushing will also improve circulation, remove waste products, and make her feel better.

For more behavior help, order the book, Starting From Scratch.

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9 Comments

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1. KayKay - 9:27AM on 04/11/08

my cats are slightly overweight by three or four pounds which isn't bad but my vet has said that i should still watch their weight since there could be medical problems if they get too overweight. i am playing more with the cats. my cats get a total of one cup of food a day, a half of cup for each. i feed them a half of cup in the morning and then another half of cup in the evening. my cats have never liked treats so i don't give them treats. i am going to try to move the cats food bowl to different places every so often so they have to "hunt" for their food instead of knowing exactly where the bowl is. the vet said this could help them so they would have to be more active by having to look for their food.
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2. horphan - 5:05PM on 04/11/08

my cat was about 2 lbs overweight then stopped eating altogether. Diagnosed with diabetes. Long story short, it is THE DRY FOOD that made him diabetic, not from being overweight. He gets 8 oz of WET food every day - no dry. he has since gone into remission and is acting like a kitten again (he's 13 yrs old). If your cat is diabetic, go to www.yourdiabeticcat.com and save his life.
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3. Evangeline - 2:18AM on 04/12/08

Wet food is not always the best, fish flavors can cause problems too. Do your research. My cats get both.
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4. Katl - 8:55AM on 04/13/08

my fat cat is a large persian with a very big head and bones. Is there a weight chart for frame sizes for cats?, to refer to, as everyone knows dogs come in all sizes but so do cats!!!! we're are not fat, but fluffy, or so we tell ourselves...
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5. Barbara W - 11:08AM on 04/13/08

My cat is always hungry. The vet said cut back, but he is very active and doesn't seem to be gaining weight. I feel God gave me this creature to take care of, and if he's hungry, he gets fed. Not a lot, just enough to ease the hunger pangs. My last cat lived to the ripe old age of 23, and he ate cat food, spaghetti, crackers and bread. Go figure........
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6. folksingin_proud_tobe_American - 11:20AM on 04/13/08

My cat's a bit overweight also by about 2 or 2 1/2 pounds. She seems healthy and takes her exercise in fits and spurts. She sees her vet for her shots and a checkup and has not really gotten a bad report. The vet made suggestions of feeding and I try to use them as guidelines. I suppose she only eats about a half cup of food a day, no people food since she doesn't like it, and once in a while a beneficial treat such as hairball remedy treats.
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7. Gabby - 8:32PM on 05/09/08

My cat is 4 years old (in June) and weighs 24 pounds....too fat?
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8. Julie F - 11:10AM on 05/15/08

My cat //// Her name is STAR. she is a year and9months old. she weighs alot////////// we should call her porky (ha ha)
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9. tiamelissa75 - 6:19PM on 05/27/08

My cat is really overweight. His name is morris, and he looks like the morris cat. I dont give him canned food, or even cat treats. He use to eat the left over milk from my kids cereal, but we stopped that. He does not do ANYTHING all day. He is almost 10 yrs old. He is my best friend. Any food suggestions??
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