Tips for Helping My Cat Lose Weight

Your cat needs you to help keep them be happy and healthy; if your cat is overweight, it will affect them negatively. There are a few different approaches to help your cat lose weight.

You can decrease your cat’s food daily to help them cut calories. You may also want to change to a portion of healthier cat food that contains more healthy protein. You can also exercise them by playing with them a few times daily.

By helping your cat lose weight, you are helping them to live a longer, healthier life. If you want to find out tips for helping your cat lose weight, check out this informative article.

The Skinny on Why Slow Weight Loss is the Key

Cats need to take it slow when losing weight. If a cat loses too much weight quickly, they can develop fatty liver disease. Fatty liver disease can result when the body is forced to break down too much fat quickly. When the liver cannot process the fat quickly enough, it triggers the illness.

With fatty liver disease, the fat is deposited in and around the liver, which causes the liver not to work correctly. It can even lead to liver failure. Slow weight loss is better for your cat and will allow them to acquire the benefits of losing weight without risking their health. Cats should adhere to a carefully constructed weight loss plan.

If your cat is overweight, they can safely lose 0.5 to 2% of their body weight per week. It is fine to lose less than that, and it will take a little longer to get them to their goal weight, which is okay. The point is to be safe but effective. Depending on the amount of weight your cat needs to lose, it may take them six to eight months to succeed.

You should consult your veterinarian about how much weight your cat needs to lose before starting them on any diet. They may have recommendations on what type of food would be best for your individual cat.

Tips To Help Your Cat Lose Weight

There needs to be a good plan in place if you are to get your feline companion to shed the pounds they need to in order to be healthy. Your cat is counting on you to help them because if your cat remains overweight, it could shorten their lifespan. Every pet parent would like their fur baby to be around for a long time. The following include tips on how to help your cat lose weight:

Cut Some Calories

The best and most efficient way for anyone to lose weight is to count calories. You do not need to be completely restrictive, but you do need to know how much your cat should be eating. Roughly, cats should consume between 24 to 35 calories a day per pound. For example, if your cat weighs ten pounds, they should eat about 250 calories daily.

If your cat is obese, start by cutting their food down. If your cat eats one cup of dry food per day and a can of wet food, start by only giving them half a cup of dry food per day and see how it goes. You should also give them fewer treats. Your cat is most likely eating more calories in a day than is good for them, and you need to find some way to cut it down.

Feed Them Quality Food

It is not enough for you to cut back on your cat’s caloric intake. You also want to supply them with a high-quality diet as well. There are some fantastic cat foods for weight loss, but the best cat food for weight loss has a few key main features:

• Complete and balanced nutrition
• Plentiful in high-quality protein (about 30 percent)
• Low to moderate fat content (about 10 to 12 percent)
• Assimilable carbohydrates and healthy fiber

Cats are obligate carnivores, meaning most of their diet should consist of high-quality protein. Cats who consume a diet high in protein are likely to feel fuller and more satisfied. Wet food is also the key to your cat losing weight, as it is fewer calories per ounce compared to dry food. The moisture that wet food contains is also very satisfying to your cat.

Make Losing Weight Fun

Believe it or not, you can make losing weight fun for your feisty feline. There are many different ways you can accomplish this:

• Puzzle feeders
• Slow feeder cat bowl

A puzzle feeder can be fun for your cat. Cats are not shy about working for treats; if you turn their treat time ritual into exercise, they will have a good time without even realizing you are helping them lose weight. Veterinarians recommend these puzzles and games to help your cat slow their treat intake and get some exercise.

A slow feeder cat bowl is similar to a puzzle feeder, except it is a bowl to put your cat’s food in, and it purposefully slows down their eating. Most decent size bowls will hold up to three-quarters of a cup of wet or dry food. Slow feeders are great to help your cat become acclimated to eating less, and it also assists with proper digestion.

Make Exercising a Bonding Experience

You can make exercise enjoyable for you and your cat. There are so many cool cat toys these days, and there is no excuse not to play with your cat. Some toys you can incorporate into their exercise routine:

• Various teaser wands
• Balls they can chase after
• Mystery motion cat toy
• Laser toys to make them dart back and forth

There are so many teaser wands you can purchase; cats love to chase after these wands and try to catch whatever is on the other end! Cats also like to chase after balls. You can play a rousing game of kitty soccer with a lightweight ball, and they will surely love it!

Mystery motion cat toys will get your cat moving because cats love to jump and play with these toys! Laser toys are fantastic for cats, as they will dart back and forth to get to the flashing light! You can buy a cat tree to encourage your cat to jump and climb.

Cats are like people in the sense that they can get bored with the same old routine, so try to mix things up when you play with your cat. For example, rotate their toys to make them interesting. When it comes to exercise, cats may be quick, but they are not made for endurance. Several short bursts of play for about ten to fifteen minutes throughout the day are appropriate for them to help them lose weight.

Why Your Overweight Cat Should Lose Weight

Cats that are overweight are more predisposed to having health issues such as:

• Feline Diabetes
• Heart disease
• Hypertension
• Urinary bladder stones

Overweight cats may also develop osteoarthritis and faster degeneration of the affected joints. These cats are more at risk of having a shorter lifespan. It is essential to find your cat’s ideal weight from your veterinarian and help your cat achieve this goal.

Conclusion

When it comes to your cat’s health, their weight has a big influence on how healthy they are. Luckily, there are various ways you can help your cat lose weight. Remember, you should always consult your veterinarian to help your cat’s weight loss and overall health.

For cat parents in the Atlanta, GA area, The Village Vets is available for you and your cat at one of our many locations.