How to help fat indoor cats lose weight
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Fat cats may be cute. We all love Garfied the fat cat.
However, if a cat is too overweight, it may result in health problems such as diabetes. Oftentimes a cat may be so fat that it won't participate in the usual fun activities for cats.
There are many reasons an indoor cat may be overweight. Keeping a cat strictly indoors often does not help with this issue, as there is less room to run and play around and fewer things to stimulate and interest a cat as there are outdoors.
You also may be feeding your cat inappropriate foods that are not nutritious. There are also medical conditions that may contribute to obesity, but these are rare and are usually not the problem.
The first thing to do would be to go to your vet and have your cat checked out and make sure he or she doesn't have any serious blood problems or other issues related to or caused by obesity.
Here is a list of things you can consider to help your cat, based on what my mother says (she has been an assistant in a veterinarian's office for years):
- Please don't starve your cat. What you should do is stop free-feeding your cat, which means you shouldn't fill the dish every time your cat eats. Average cats should eat 20 to 30 calories per pound per day, but if your cat is overweight, feed him or her 20 to 30 calories times the number of pounds you want your cat to weigh. If your cat weighs 25 pounds but you want your cat to weigh 15 pounds, you can start feeding him or her 300 to 450 calories a day, preferably 300 or so. Try to plan out how you will divide the calories and how often to feed your cat.
- Make sure your cat is getting enough water. Never leave the water dish empty, and clean it and refill it regularly. Cats are finicky and don't like drinking out of dirty water dishes.
- Stop feeding your cat dry food. It seldom provides the balanced nutrition cats need, and is full of carbs and sugar. The grains serve as allergens and can upset a cat's stomach. Cats are carnivores and need meat proteins. Also, cats are biologically designed to get water from their food, and there is obviously little in dry food. And don't worry about vegetables; cats don't need them.
- Start feeding your cat diet food. Ask your vet which kind to get, as it depends on the breed and how much weight your cat should lose. Try to stick with natural brands, like Nature's Variety.
- You can try supplements, although weight loss should be able to occur without them. L-Carnitine is an example.
- Play with your cat more. Stimulate some activity and movement. They love laser pointers, but try a variety of toys; each cat has different preferences.
Don't be discouraged ifthe weight is not going down right away. Cats usually lose less than a pound a month or else health problems may occur.
Additional resources
- Commercial Canned Foods
More about the nutrition cats need - PetFit - Tips and E-Tools
The resources you need to check your cat's weight - Cat Food FAQs: Weight Control
- Nature's Variety
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Just a silly thought ... wonder if a cat will become discourage at only losing one pound a month? I said it was silly.
Good tips - thanks.
Good advice. My cats eat both dry and wet food. I thought the dry was good for their teeth, is that not correct?
Honestly, I've heard from both sides: dry food will keep their teeth cleaner, but wet food can help give them the water they need... I think dry food is best, personally :) Thanks for dropping by!
Ok, that's what I thought. There was a time I only fed them dry food but then felt like I was depriving them, so I started using both. My one cat is twice the size of the other, and they both have the same diet, so I guess it's her metabolism that keeps her heavy. I guess what I am guilty of is not making time to get them to play. I'll have to make it a point to do that and see if it makes a difference.
About not starving your cat to get it to lose weight, this is very good advice. Cats don't have the resilience we do about going without food. Especially with a male cat, urinary tract disorders may quickly follow a lack of food. Then you have a fat cat needing expensive vet treatments to keep him from kidney failure.
I've had many cats, and I've never had a fat one. My adult cats got a small portion of wet (1/4 of a 6-ounce can) and a small portion of dry (1/8 of a cup), twice a day. They ate what they were given, and then they waited for the next meal. There was never food sitting around in a dish all day. Sometimes they got tuna juice for a treat. They were all healthy until they died of ailments that had nothing to do with food, ailments like cancer, heart failure, and fatal reaction to thyroid medication.
Hope these thoughts help your readers.
Thumbs up!
Thanks for adding the point about a cat's urinary tract... they are so sensitive and problems are not uncommon :( I think it depends on the cat whether you give wet or dry, but I prefer to give my cat wet food for her teeth :)
there is this one cat that i love!his name is pirate because he has one eye! i still love him because he strokes next to me all the time and purrrrrs!
Cute!
Hi GV,
I need some advice.
I had two fat cats and last spring one of them, Simba, had to have an operation to have a huge clump of years old Christmas ribbon removed from his tummy. He had lost half his weight so now I have a thin cat and a fat cat. I was told to leave hard food out for the thinny so he can beef up. How do I keep that away from the fatty? PS Simba is not allowed to wrap presents anymore.
Hi Violet,
I'm so sorry about your kitty! My mom, who works at a vet, always yells about keeping the kitties away from the ribbon because she sees what happened to you all the time.
When my kitties were eating different foods, I had to keep them separated! It was terrible, but it had to be done. Maybe if your fat cat is too fat to jump or go into a certain space, you can put your thin cat's food somewhere he can't reach... though that might be difficult.
We have one fat cat and one normal sized cat. Both are indoors. Sally's Trove has given me an idea of how to handle the amount we should offer them. We started picking up the dry food at night, but have been leaving it down during the day. Guess I will try offering the amount she suggests and then pick it up so neither one can eat any more than what is offered twice daily.
If you have any other ideas......besides playing more with the fat cat........please let me know. And thanks for bringing up this subject.
I never heard this before. May be making a weightloss video training for fat cat is a good idea :)
Great article...its something that many owners and cats could benefit from.
How to Make Your Cat Lose Weight
First, check with your vet to see if your cat should be put on a special food, if not you may just want to monitor better what your cat eats. Make sure that all members of the household are on board about the cats diet so they are not feeding Little Fluffy table scraps. Treats should not make up more than 10% of your cat's total calories.
Second, after 3 to 4 weeks take you cat back to the vet for a checkup. They then may recommend a switch in food. Many vets prefer wet food to dry as it contains vitamin-rich fish oils, low fat, reduced calories high fiber content and a high ratio of protein to calories. Many vets also prefer the wet food because dry food dehydrates your cat and contributes to bladder ad kidney problems. Since your cat is eating less your vet may recommend vitamins so they are getting the proper nutrients. Most important work closely with your vet when you decide to change you cats feeding routine.nutrients
Lastly, Cats are like people they gain weight when they do not exercise. It is essential that your cat has space and things that he can exercise on. Yo9u want your cat to leap stretch and run. If your home has stairs this is great exercise for your cat. If your cat doesn't get this exercise on their own I suggest you play with your cat using toy and items that will entice them to be active. Proper diet and exercise is essential in keeping your cat healthy and reducing their weight gain.
Thanks everyone, and thanks for all of those tips, loseweightfast. Many of them seem basic, but really, a lot of people may not see the similarities between kitty diets and people diets
Love that picture! Thanks for the info, I have indoor cats, and weight is always an issue.
Do fat cats live better lives?
wow so nice cat can i use the photo plz
Thanks for the comments! I know, that photo is great! Mike, you bring up a funny point... My mom would argue that they live better lives because she overfeeds her pets like crazy :)
where u found this cat haha.....veryveryvery cute....but i think is time for "him" to buck up and losing some weight...if not i dont think he can walk anymore haha...
How did you get a picture of my cat? He is the spitting image of the one in the photo. I have tried everything to get his weight down, I am just hoping Winter will help as he will be more active.
Your cat looks like one of my "boys". I got 4 of them.
My cats aren't fat but I loved the photo. Reminds me of the "Built for Comfort, not speed" poster.
Good info, thanks. I hadn't thought that dry food could be the problem with one of my cats who is a hefty boy.
You can get cat diet food! Cool! If there's a nasty comment on this hub, it's probably from my 'fat' cat!!!
You should be able to feel your cat's ribcage--if it's too covered in fat to feel, it's likely overweight. Also, the "dandruff" often seen on cat fur is an indication of obesity.
Simply by slightly reducing the amount of food you put out each day will help.
Also, scheduling a half-hour of active playtime (a feather wand, little rubber balls to chase and other fun activities) helps to burn the calories faster, and they'll love the attention.
Thanks for the additional tips, everyone! My mom's cat gets the dandruff you're talking about, CDiMartino... I know it's because he's too fat to reach and groom himself!
It is so cute! but it is also true that no matter it is humans or animals.. obesity is a curse for all ..
Wow, that is fat cat. Really... fat cat. Cute! :D
Nice post! Very cute fat cat... lol
LOL! What a cute cat! On another note, have you tried the Emery Cat claw trimmer? It helps your cat stay active (and drop pounds too). I wrote a review at http://nomorekittyclaws.com if anyone is interested.
docrehab, thanks!
Meyer, I always see the commercials for Emery Cat, and it looks like it works so well! Thanks for the review!
When I had a cat with an ex of mine we had this long pole with a little toy on the end that we would have our cat chase and she could do it forever!
My cat is obessed as well, I'll definately try some of these advices. Thanks!
I thought my cat CIA was fat, but after seeing this photo I am not so sure. :) Very informative article. I have two cats who eat the same thing, and one is large and the other small. They are getting older and I am starting to phase out the dry food because of their teeth.
You offer some excellent advice.
This is a great hub, I have a cat who is a little on the pudgy side who needs to lose a couple of pounds. Thanks for the info
I really needed this information. I just took my cat to the vet today. She is 16 and I asked her what I needed to do to help her lose weight. You gave me some information the vet did not give me! Thanks
I need all the help I can get. Loved your hub
Nice hub the cat is so cute.
Just what I was looking for. Thanks so much and good luck with your Hubpage.
Great hub! I have posted a link to your hub on my cat blog, 'A cat's Tail' on blogspot.com (along with a teaser paragraph.)
i dont have any fat cat .. but i will try on someone else cat.... lol
This is a great article on how to get rid of those extra fat on your cats lol. I just got 2 kittens that are 3 and half months. Right now they jump and run wild but once they get old they gonna get fat and lazy =) Thanks for tips
Nice hub. I like how you emphasized the need for real, carb-free food. My cats are both raw-fed, but I tend to feed them a bit too much and they're both kind of porky. Great picture!
i have a fat cat that sleeps on his back just like the one in the picture. i think he cant breath very well on his stomach as he sleeps, its kind of sad. he did catch a bird a few weeks ago somehow...
My God. That picture at the top is very cute, and quite chubby! I often call my cat a fat cat, but I feel I owe him an apology now, hehe.
This fat cat looks very cute. Sorry to hear that fat cat can suffer from diabetes.
Excellent information. thank you! We have had several fat cats over the years and it is difficult, but possible, to help them lose weight. Our cat, Trouble, ate so much when we first rescued him that he was bullimic....but with lots of love and less food, he turned out to be a normal, healthy cat. Your hub is very good. Thank you!!
OMgosh that poor kitty, but very cute :) My cats have both wet and dry and run around a lot, but are starting to put on weight! I think I really need to look at size of portions.They are both rescues and I think they think about food far too often. Thanks so much for the really helpful info.
Some nice info here.
Our cat is getting way too big - not as bad as the pic at the top, but getting there,
She always seems hungry and we always feel bad saying no, but it's not good for her. We'll put her on set mealtimes, get rid of the biscuits and chase her around the house for a bit. :-)
I like it very much. Nice hub I ever visit.
That is one fat cat!
Interesting hub - the title caught me! I don't have a cat, but I like the laser pointer idea. I wonder if it will work with people - to get them stimulated for exercise :)
My kitty started getting fat and I was alarmed. Actually, I was very worried about her getting feline diabetes, so I was proactive. She loves playing with a laser, in fact, she's pretty much addicted to the thing. She will chase it up and down the stairs, too. She's lost quite a bit of weight just from her laser exercise. Nicely done hub.
Great job encouraging your cat to exercise!
My cat is an indoor cat and he is very active right now. As he gets older, his activity level will probably decrease.
One pattern I've noticed in pet owners with overweight kitties. When owners try to not bother with feeding them constantly and just keeping huge stockpiles of cat food available in large bowls or containers. The same pet owners also seem to do little to stimulate a lot of interest for the kitties as well.
We're guilty of that. But the cats grow up just fine even fairly overweight. But I admit, none were nearly as fat as the grey blob lazily napping at the top of the hub.
fat cats are super cute, but agree that it is unhealthy :D
These are some great tips. It's difficult keeping one of my cats weight down because she always eats the others food!
I'm happy to have found this hub. My cat is too fat and he doesn't care to play anymore. I will try taking him off dry foot. He's going to be really mad at me if I control his meal times!!!
reminds me of my cat. She isn't quite this big, but she likes her food.
Thanks...great hub.
In answer to one response "do fat cats live happier lives"
the answer is they live shorter lives...just like obese humans.
I've heard that dry food is good because it keeps a cats teeth from rotting. Is that really true?
hope it works for my "garfield"
Thank you all for yor comments.
Amymarie, I have heard that cats should not have too much wet food because it can indeed be bad for their teeth. I give my cats mostly dry food with some wet food on top for a treat.
Exercise and diet cat food definitely help. I also agree that drinking more water is very helpful but some cats do not like to drink that much. Stagnant water is a real turn off. So look into buting one of those water fountains that circulates the water through a filter. cats are facinated by anything that movs including water. it's why they always jump up to the sink. Also add icecubes to keep it cold.
one of my cats was overweight. we started feeding her grain-free, gluten-free dry food and it made all the difference in the world. it's definitely worth the investment.
I went to the vets with my 2 cats and they told me they were 'slightly over weight' (they were being polite). One of the Cats refuses to go outside whilst the other loves to roam.
The vet suggested that we put dry food into bags that have been measured out and only use that. That way we avoid over feeding them. Also be warned that cats will try to fool you. Many times I have been fooled into feed the cats twice as my partner had already feed them. Your cats will not starve as long as you stick to a routine. It is worse for them to be uncomfortably overweight.
My cats do the same thing and try to get fed twice! :)
My little kitty was turning into a little chubby cat. My sister suggested buying a cat tree. She said she bought her cat one and she loves it. Not only can they jump, run and scratch on these Cat trees (also called Cat Towers or Condos. My chubby is starting to get her girlie figure back. Good luck
My sister got her pet tree at petsareagift.com
Thanks for this information. Trying to find some sort of diet for my cats is always a pain and they never like it! I will have to try this information and see if I can get results. For anyone out there, cat trees are another great way for cats to keep in shape. To check some out visit: http://squidoo.com/cattreesthatlooklikereatrees -- That could help as well!
Very informative! I had no idea dry food is not sufficient for hydration. Could it be that cats overeat the dry stuff because they feel unsatisfied? I will start feeding my indoor cat some wet food as well.
Great information which is well shared.
wow this picture is so shocking. it amazes me how anyone could let there cat get this big. His quality of life must be affected.
I advise visitors to my site that one of the best ways to help over weight cats is to establish a feeding routine and also a exercise plan. this can consist of just getting your cat to run around for a few minutes every day at first chasing balls etc. Often excess weight is due to lack of exercise and too many treats.
Thank you all for your comments and for reading this Hub! I am also shocked sometimes by how large cats can get! Kate, thanks for the tips. Sometimes people think that cats are so independent that they forget that they may need prodding to get some exercise and that they may need to be played with.
Fat cats are adorable but we want them to be healthy. Thanks for the information. I am an animal lover and I have always wanted a cat but my family is allergic so we have grown up with dogs. My dog is a little overweight. I think that some of these tips can help him out. Thanks for the Hub.
Indoor cats that are fixed can really gain some weight. Our vet has a cat that looks like it could whip our boxer lol.
Thank you for good ideas!
My niece has a fat cat and he neighbor told her to invest in a cat tree, also referred to condo, furniture, etc. She said once the cat got use to the tree, she runs, jumps, pounces all over it. She is seeing a definite difference in the cats weight.
petsareagift.com
We have had a lot of success in moving the cat's food, litter box and cushion to 3 parts of the house. From being a 13 lb cat, she's now a relatively svelte 11 lbs :) Thanks for this Hub. I'll try to get her on diet cat food as well.
Pia, thank you for sharing your experience!
My gorgeous guy gained weight within the last year. I feel terrible! I'm still confused on how much to feed him. My vet said 3/4 of a cup a day but that resulted in weight gain. I reduced him to 1/4 a cup 2x a day (Science Diet dry)and am now trying 1/2 of a 3 oz can of wet in the morning and 1/4 cup dry at night. Anyway...
We also have a slim jim cat named Chomsky who has never had a weight problem. Cicero (fat cat) always tries to eat Chomsky's food when Chomsky walks away. So...
We have begun feeding them in separate rooms which seems to be working well. Here's our method:
I feed the slim one in the bathroom with the door closed, and then go feed fat cat in the kitchen. As soon as fat cat is done I let the slim one out of the bathroom and put his leftovers in a bathroom cupboard and will let him snack on it later out of sight from Cicero the fatty. Fatty rarely has leftovers from a meal, but if he does, I put his up and away too and later give him the remainder as a snack as well.
They love to tackle each other and play, but I should be playing with them more. Cicero used to love the laser pointer so I think I'll invest in another one.
Buffalobirdie, thanks for commenting. We used to do the separate-room thing too and it worked well. Chomsky is such a great name, by the way :)
Fantastic hub, looking forward to come back and be fascinted by your posts. Thank you.
Ron from http://www.intervalstraining.net
We never realized our xan was overweight because of how fluffy he is and he is fairly bigboned but we noticed matting and dander so we took him to the vet for his vaccines and asked about it. The vet showed great concern of his weight (a hefty 23 lbs) so we switched him off science diet because of the corn in it. Just watching him eat twice a day (wet and dry)and picking up his food right after has helped. We now have him on Blue Menu and it seems to fill him up faster (which helps with the price of the food because it lasts longer) :) he still can't jump to the top level of the cat tree but at least he climbs stairs now and can play for longer than ten minutes!
I should mention that by saying "we never realized" I mean we never realized he was as overweight as the vet made him seem. He always could climb stairs but chose not to but now he will come down the basement with me :) it's amazing what a change in diet and eating habits can do!! Then the instincts start to take over and they begin to exercise more.
Thank you all for your comments! Giz and Xan, thanks for sharing!
My cat has diabetes because he is overweight.
I used to live in the middle of the woods where my cats could pretend to live like their ancestors. but now I live in an neighborhood house with nothing to hunt or woods. At least my cats have each other.
Weight problems seem to be a common problem for cats, but putting my two cats on a grain free diet really helped to slim them down. Plus they also seem much more healthy and energetic.
I've also been told that dry food is in fact bad for their teeth, after all cats were made to eat prey not high carbohydrate dry cat food.
Okay this is the healthiest way to get your cat to lost weight. The lady that wrote this article has no idea because if you drop cat food like that then you may give your cat fatty liver disease. What you should do is figure out how much your cat weighs. Then you look online for a cat food index. I have one so ask me and I can email it to you. It has calories per cup next to any name brand you could buy pretty much. Anyways, once you figure out your cat's weight. Then there is an equation you must follow to keep your cat on a healthy diet. I will use a 15 pound cat as an example. EX. 15 x 30 calories per pound = 450. Now that is how much you should feed him if you wish for him or her to stay 15 pounds but to start your cat on a diet you must decrease the intake of food by 5-10% otherwise you are liable to make your cat sick and give him/her fatty liver which can be fatal if it is untreated. Back to the example 15lbs x 30 calories per pound = 450 calories per day now subtract 45 calories from your cats daily intake (which is 10% if you aren'y sure)which would be 405 calories per day. No less or he could get sick, and it leaves room for some num num cat treats. The best thing for your cat is giving them raw meat because before you cook it, it has extremely high amount of proteins and over half are taken away after you cook it. Also, can food is better than dry food but do your homework because often times some products in wet cat food make cats anxious and make you think they are hungry when they really just need some TLC. Wet food can also be bad for cats because some companies go to veteranary clinics and pay the clinics for the dog, cat, etc. dead body and often times they leave any flea collars on and they used animals that have already started rotting. SO PLEASE FOR YOUR CATS SAKE DO YOUR HOMEWORK. I DID AND WITH LITTLE TO NO MONEY IN MY POCKET I CANNOT PAY FOR THE BEST BUT I TRY TO GET THE CHEAPEST BEST.
If that cat had alittle moustache it could be my cat Tigger :), currently have her and her sister on a diet and neither one is happy about it.
when buying wet food, buy wet food that has 10% crude protein, to best help your cat with its hunger pains and to feel fuller longer....when buying dry food pick something with at least 30% crude protein.....also note that corn is a common allergy among cats but sadly almost all dry food is made with corn.....if you notice your cat itching then you will need to change his/her food because they will itch themselves until they are bleeding and they will still scratch more.
Site Referenced
- How to help indoor cats lose weight | Home Sweet Home
Fat cats may be cute. We all love Garfied the fat cat. However, if a cat is too overweight, it may result in health problems such as diabetes. Oftentimes a cat may be so fat that it won't participate in the usual fun activities for cats.
Lela Bryan Level 1 Commenter 3 years ago
I have a fat cat that I will try these tips on!!
Lela