Overweight cat, what to do?
Discussion
Chaps,
This is Lady Millicent. She's around 10 years old (maybe a little older), and is a rescue cat who has been with us for 6 years or so.
She is affectionate, nervous, lazy and extremely fat. It's not helped by the fact that she has a fairly long coat, but she tops the scales at a little over a stone (around 6.5kg.) She has been fat for as long as we can remember, so a good few years. She is otherwise in good health, doesn't seem to have any problems that trouble her and is (we think) a fairly happy cat. She had a couple of teeth out a couple of years ago as she had gum problems, and that's about it.
But we are concerned about her weight. She's not that young, and she has recently taken to 'bunnyhopping' her back legs when she goes down stairs - moving both back legs at once rather than walking down one leg at a time. (Having said that, she can still walk down normally - and does so when in a rush - so this could just be laziness.) However this obesity can't be a good thing, and we are wondering what to do about it.
She is fed Hills Scientific domestic shorthair food, and gets around 50g once a day. The recommended amount (according to the side of the sack of cat food) is 65g for a 6kg cat, so she is getting a reasonable amount less than recommended. We have tried feeding her less, but this makes her bad-tempered and doesn't seem to reduce her weight by any noticable amount. I suspect that her biggest problem is lack of exercise - she has access to a very small garden, but only goes out when she needs so, and doesn't exercise anything other than her bladder and bum when she is out.
Soooo .... what should we do about it? How can you persuade a cat to get more exercise?
All (sensible) suggestions welcome - thanks.
Oli.
This is Lady Millicent. She's around 10 years old (maybe a little older), and is a rescue cat who has been with us for 6 years or so.
She is affectionate, nervous, lazy and extremely fat. It's not helped by the fact that she has a fairly long coat, but she tops the scales at a little over a stone (around 6.5kg.) She has been fat for as long as we can remember, so a good few years. She is otherwise in good health, doesn't seem to have any problems that trouble her and is (we think) a fairly happy cat. She had a couple of teeth out a couple of years ago as she had gum problems, and that's about it.
But we are concerned about her weight. She's not that young, and she has recently taken to 'bunnyhopping' her back legs when she goes down stairs - moving both back legs at once rather than walking down one leg at a time. (Having said that, she can still walk down normally - and does so when in a rush - so this could just be laziness.) However this obesity can't be a good thing, and we are wondering what to do about it.
She is fed Hills Scientific domestic shorthair food, and gets around 50g once a day. The recommended amount (according to the side of the sack of cat food) is 65g for a 6kg cat, so she is getting a reasonable amount less than recommended. We have tried feeding her less, but this makes her bad-tempered and doesn't seem to reduce her weight by any noticable amount. I suspect that her biggest problem is lack of exercise - she has access to a very small garden, but only goes out when she needs so, and doesn't exercise anything other than her bladder and bum when she is out.
Soooo .... what should we do about it? How can you persuade a cat to get more exercise?
All (sensible) suggestions welcome - thanks.
Oli.
Have you spoken to your vet?
Firstly she may have arthritis so medication to relieve this discomfort may help her want to be more active. Obviously only a vet can diagnose this and px treatment if needed.
Hills do a mature light or indoor cat food that may suit her more. Most vets have vet nurses that monitor patients on weight loss diets and can provide support and advice (I am that nurse at my practice!) Laser lights are great for cats to chase. balls that you can put her food into so she has to role it around to get the food can be good.
Does she get anything else at all apart from her 50g dry food and water? every little extra morsel can make a difference!
Good luck, the important thing is you recognise she needs to lose weight, that's a big help
NB - I have currently got one cat on my books that weighed almost 12kg (should be nearer 6.5kg!) 2yrs of battling and he has lost 2.5kg still a long way to go. He has been a battle of wills and my belief is if he can lose weight any cat can....so I know if you find the right diet and exercise plan for your cat you can do it
Firstly she may have arthritis so medication to relieve this discomfort may help her want to be more active. Obviously only a vet can diagnose this and px treatment if needed.
Hills do a mature light or indoor cat food that may suit her more. Most vets have vet nurses that monitor patients on weight loss diets and can provide support and advice (I am that nurse at my practice!) Laser lights are great for cats to chase. balls that you can put her food into so she has to role it around to get the food can be good.
Does she get anything else at all apart from her 50g dry food and water? every little extra morsel can make a difference!
Good luck, the important thing is you recognise she needs to lose weight, that's a big help
NB - I have currently got one cat on my books that weighed almost 12kg (should be nearer 6.5kg!) 2yrs of battling and he has lost 2.5kg still a long way to go. He has been a battle of wills and my belief is if he can lose weight any cat can....so I know if you find the right diet and exercise plan for your cat you can do it
Edited by bexVN on Monday 20th February 11:54
The best exercise I can think of is a kitten.
Once they get to know each other they'll almost certainly chase each other all over the place.
mind you the hopping down the stairs thing you mention could be a symptom of something more serious.
We had a cat that started doing that as he had Diabetes
.
If your cat has started drinking more water recently I'd get down the Vets ASAP.
All the best.
Once they get to know each other they'll almost certainly chase each other all over the place.
mind you the hopping down the stairs thing you mention could be a symptom of something more serious.
We had a cat that started doing that as he had Diabetes
.If your cat has started drinking more water recently I'd get down the Vets ASAP.
All the best.
Chaps,
Thanks for the replies.
No, haven't talked to the vet yet. I guess we possibly ought to.
The bunnyhopping down stairs thing - Arthritis? Diabetes? Something else? I'm sure the vet will tell us.
bexVN, we've tried the different foods but she is a slightly picky eater and didn't like them. (I'm not that surprised - the dried bits themselves were quite different to the stuff she is used to and she notices changes in her diet fairly readily.) Does she get more than her 50g a day? No. She gets three whiskas nibble-treat things (this sort of thing:
) as part of her feeding routine, but just about nothing other than that. I fed her a prawn on valentines day (a week ago today) but that's the last time she had anything other than her allotted ration. I doubt she would chase a ball to get her food out of it - not her style. We did once try to make her chase a laser pointer but it didn't impress her one bit (she look of disgust she gave us was enough to make us give up!)
It's hard NOT to recognise she needs help; everyone who meets her (and we have a fair few house visitors) takes one look at her and says "That's a big cat!"
Thanks for your suggestions.
Oli.
Thanks for the replies.
No, haven't talked to the vet yet. I guess we possibly ought to.
The bunnyhopping down stairs thing - Arthritis? Diabetes? Something else? I'm sure the vet will tell us.
bexVN, we've tried the different foods but she is a slightly picky eater and didn't like them. (I'm not that surprised - the dried bits themselves were quite different to the stuff she is used to and she notices changes in her diet fairly readily.) Does she get more than her 50g a day? No. She gets three whiskas nibble-treat things (this sort of thing:
) as part of her feeding routine, but just about nothing other than that. I fed her a prawn on valentines day (a week ago today) but that's the last time she had anything other than her allotted ration. I doubt she would chase a ball to get her food out of it - not her style. We did once try to make her chase a laser pointer but it didn't impress her one bit (she look of disgust she gave us was enough to make us give up!) It's hard NOT to recognise she needs help; everyone who meets her (and we have a fair few house visitors) takes one look at her and says "That's a big cat!"
Thanks for your suggestions.
Oli.
The laser light is a good idea - but if your cat is smart they soon work out it can't be caught.
The ball feeders are another thing that only work with daft cats - bright one's (like Casper) just knock them from side to side and eat the contents (Casper worked this out within 30 seconds of first seeing the feeder ball)
The ball feeders are another thing that only work with daft cats - bright one's (like Casper) just knock them from side to side and eat the contents (Casper worked this out within 30 seconds of first seeing the feeder ball)
zcacogp said:
bexVN, we've tried the different foods but she is a slightly picky eater and didn't like them. (I'm not that surprised - the dried bits themselves were quite different to the stuff she is used to and she notices changes in her diet fairly readily.)
maybe harsh, but shell eat when hungry enough, so persevere with a diet food reccomended by the vet/vn. a picky eater = a slimmer cat maybe?Also check on the treat packaging as to how many calories they are /how many per day, as you will need to reduce the feed in accordance. Also you are feeding the amt for the current cats weight. to loose weight they need less calories and more activity. Fatness can often lead to diabetes and musculoskeletal probs due to excess strain on the joints, so weight loss is important.
A special diet food can help make the cat feel full but with less calories, so see what they say at your practice.
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