How To Get Your Cat To Lose Weight
These days, the word “dog” is more commonly used to describe a person’s best friend than it is an animal. Cats have also evolved into highly social, lovable creatures that humans can’t help but love—especially when they’re fat! But while your cat may look adorable with their chubby cheeks and rounded midsection, obesity can be just as harmful to them as it would be for us.
Does your cat really need to slim down?
It’s important to be honest with yourself, and your cat. In fact, it’s probably best to ask the veterinarian if your cat needs to lose weight before taking action. If you do decide it’s time for your cat to lose weight, there are two ways that can happen: by eating less food or exercising more.
- Eating less: This method is usually recommended for overweight cats who need to drop a few pounds quickly (for example if they’ve been diagnosed with diabetes). If you choose this option, be sure that your veterinarian is monitoring their blood work closely so that they can ensure healthy changes in liver enzymes and other indicators of health as their metabolism shifts from burning fats toward burning carbohydrates instead (which won’t occur overnight).
- Exercising more: This method might be better suited for those who just want their kitty friend to look a little less jiggly but aren’t necessarily concerned about the potential repercussions of rapid weight loss on an animal’s body chemistry. It also tends not to require as much vigilance from owners; when we’re talking about activity levels here rather than daily caloric intake, most cats will naturally gravitate toward how much playtime they’re getting each day—and when given enough space indoors or outdoors (wherever appropriate), many will simply find ways on their own without instruction from us humans!
Have you checked that your cat is actually overweight?
When it comes to weight loss, it’s important that you know whether or not your cat actually needs to lose weight. It’s also a good idea to check that you’re not just making assumptions about their condition based on your own perception of them. Your cat may be perfectly healthy and happy with their current size, so don’t assume they need to drop pounds unless you have reason to believe this is so.
When checking if your cat is overweight or obese, there are several factors you should consider:
- Body condition score (BCS): This measure looks at how well built and muscled an animal is by assigning a score between 1-5 for each body part (e.g., head, neck/chest area). An ideal BCS will be between 2 and 4 for most adult cats. If your veterinarian has never performed this assessment before, they’ll likely recommend having one done first before starting any diet plans in order to ensure optimal health going forward.* Waistline measurement: This involves measuring the circumference around the waist area but must be done carefully as too much pressure can cause bruising or worse injury! Generally speaking though—and depending on breed type—a waistline measurement under 10cm (4″) indicates that something could be amiss.* Body fat percentage: Measuring body fat content requires specialized equipment such as DEXA scans which are expensive but worth considering if really want accurate results! Otherwise, using hand held calipers such as those used by trainers at dog shows works well enough when combined with other methods listed above like measuring BCS scores..
Is there another medical reason for your cat’s weight gain?
If your cat is overweight, there are several other health conditions that can be caused or exacerbated by their weight gain.
In many cases, being overweight can lead to diabetes. Some cats who are already diabetic may not have been diagnosed yet and need medication to help control their blood sugar levels. Other cats will be at risk of developing diabetes due to their weight gain and might need medication before they get the disease. If your cat is obese, talk to your vet about the possibility of getting him on insulin or another type of diabetic medication.
The same goes for heart disease and arthritis: both could be brought on by too much body fat in a cat’s body and both can be treated with dieting alone (but if your vet recommends it, also ask about adding some medications). Cats who are overweight are also more likely to develop kidney problems and high blood pressure than thinner cats; these conditions will require either dieting alone or dieting combined with medication depending on how severe they’ve become.
Measure their food out very accurately.
To make sure your cat is getting the right amount of food, do the math. Use a measuring cup to measure out the correct volume of food for your cat’s body weight and age. Then divide it into four to six meals per day.
Measure out all their meals and store them in individual portions in air-tight containers. If you have multiple cats, separate each meal into smaller portions so that you can give them different foods at different times. This will help prevent overfeeding or underfeeding any one cat in particular!
Remove all-day grazing bowls.
Cats are often fed several small meals each day. This will help them to lose weight. If you are feeding your cat multiple times daily, remove any all-day grazing bowls. Your cat should not be fed when they are not hungry or full.
Cut down on treats and table scraps.
Try to limit your cat’s access to treats and table scraps.
Make sure the food you feed your cat is high quality, nutritionally balanced and healthy. Don’t give your cat too many treats or table scraps as this can lead them to become overweight or obese.
Don’t give your cat too many human foods that are high in fat, especially not if they have been diagnosed with diabetes.
Encourage more exercise.
Encourage more exercise.
- A playmate can help your cat burn calories and get his or her heart rate up with some healthy roughhousing. A kitten around the same age is ideal, but if you don’t have one available, consider getting a second cat.
- A scratching post is a good way to give your feline friend an outlet for their natural instinct to scratch, which gives them something to do while they shed their winter coat in the springtime!
- A cat tree gives them something to climb on top of while they get rid of any pent-up energy from being trapped indoors all day long during freezing temperatures (or from not having been outside recently). Just make sure that there aren’t any sharp corners or places where he could get stuck under there! There are many different styles out there so check them out before purchasing anything so that you know what kind works best with what style home decorating theme might work best in yours too!
A little more love and attention is always welcome!
You may not think of your cat as a social creature, but they are. When you give your cat attention, it makes them feel loved and less stressed out. Cats love to be petted and cuddled, so make sure you spend extra time playing with your furball at least once a day—those extra calories burned will help him lose weight faster! If you’re feeling ambitious one evening, try giving him or her some toys to play with. You can also throw out any old food left in the house instead of giving it to your pet; this helps prevent overeating and weight gain!
Your cat will be happier and healthier if they lose weight, but don’t overdo things!
While your cat’s weight may be unhealthy, it’s not always a bad thing. If your cat is overweight, it may just mean that they are enjoying their food too much. Try introducing more exercise into the equation to help them lose weight and keep it off. This can be achieved through playing fetch with a lightweight ball or toy, taking walks outside together (on-leash), and providing lots of toys for them to play with in order to burn energy. If you notice that your cat is constantly hungry even after eating, try feeding them smaller portions throughout the day rather than one large meal at night.
Conclusion
You can do a lot to help your cat lose weight, but remember that it’s not just about what you feed them. Your cat will be happier and healthier if they lose weight, but don’t overdo things! A little extra love and attention will go a long way toward helping them slim down.
