Maintaining a healthy weight is very important for your cat. In addition to lowering the risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and high blood pressure, it can also lower the risk of several different cancers. A steady weight loss of 1 to 2 pounds per week (or 2% of their current body weight) is recommended for the most effective weight management plan. Many weight loss plans leave your cats feeling hungry or unsatisfied. These are the major reasons why you might find it hard to stick to a healthier weight loss plan. However, there are specific diets available that promote weight loss without necessarily reducing the amounts fed. In general, low-carb and low-calorie diets are more effective for weight loss, especially in their canned form. Here we will explore some ways to start shredding weight from your cat today that involve healthy eating and living habits.
Why It's Important
One of the main reasons why you chose to bring your feline friend into your home was because they're cute and cuddly. But did you ever think about the fact that they might turn into fat cats? The truth is, that many cats and their owners don't realize that their beloved pets are overweight or obese. But if you're worried that your cat is too fat, don't worry. There are plenty of healthy ways to help your cat lose weight.
It is very important to keep your cat healthy in order to ensure that they have a happy and fulfilling life. One of the most important things to do for your cat's health is to make sure they are not overweight. The health impacts of being overweight can be severe and have a huge impact on your cat's quality of life, and even their longevity! Diabetes mellitus for example is a common consequence of obesity in cats. Not only does this have significant health implications for your cat, but it also requires a lot of dedication on the owner's part. Your cat would need to be treated with insulin which is administered by subcutaneous injection, twice daily. Frequent monitoring of her blood sugars/glucose is also required.
How to tell if your cat is overweight or obese?
The easiest way to tell if your cat is overweight is by doing a visual and physical inspection. Start by looking at your cat and you should see some definition around the hip areas ("hour-glass figure") and a nice tucked-in abdominal region when standing. Next, feel around his or her spine and rib cage area. Your ideal weight cats will have bones, ribs, and vertebrae that you can feel easily whereas an overweight or obese cat may have a hard time feeling these due to excess fat. See the chart below that your vet will use to better objectively measure your cat's body condition score.
Healthy Diet and Exercise
If you take your cat to the vet, the vet will probably tell you that your cat is overweight. The reason is because many cat owners don’t understand proper feline nutrition and exercise. The result? A lot of cats are obese. And since obesity is a major cause of health problems in cats, you should take action to help your cat lose weight.
Okay, moving on...there are two things you can do to help your cat lose weight: Diet and exercise.
A healthy diet is the first step to helping your cat lose weight. It’s important to feed them a high-quality food that meets all their nutritional needs, but also limits calories. You want to avoid feeding them foods that are high in carbohydrates, which will increase their caloric intake without providing any nutritional benefits. Feeding 75% wet/canned food to 25% dry kibble is another good tip to promote weight loss in your cat. Prescription weight loss diets are also available from your veterinarian and work very well. It is best to have your vet oversee the weight loss program so that you can make sure your cat is losing weight and healthy amounts. Once you have a healthy diet set up, the next step is introducing some exercise into your life.
There are many ways you can help your cat get moving! One way is with interactive play—fetch, hide & seek, or laser pointer games help give your cat the exercise they need without putting too much stress on their joints.
Fun Ways to Get Your Cat Moving
Making your cat healthier starts with a little exercise. You can do this by getting them to chase a laser pointer or take a walk around the block. If you have a treadmill at home, you could also use that as an option for exercise.
Cats are not small dogs so it's not enough to just put a harness on your cat and take them for a walk around the block for 15 minutes. Instead, here are some exercise tips you can try to help your cat lose weight:
- Teach your cat how to play fetch.
- Buy them a scratching post and make it their own personal territory where they can keep themselves entertained and active (especially if they don't like other cats).
- Adding a cat tree to your home can also help your cat get moving and is a great way to have fun with your cat.
- Leave out different toys that encourage movement such as balls, mice, and feather wands for them to play with.
- Start playing with your cat more often and interact with them more each day—you'll notice they're more lively and enjoy playing with you!
- Train Your Cat: Using treats as a reward, teach your cat to do tricks or other exercises, like jumping from one side of the room to another. This will provide hours of amusement and healthy exercise for both you and your cat.
Your cat needs exercise just like you do, and it can be a great way to bond with your cat! If you know what kind of exercise your cat likes, it will be easier to ensure that you are giving them the exercise they need. It is also a good idea to feed your cat a high-quality, prescription weight loss diet which can help you achieve success, and increasing the amounts of canned food fed will also help. We hope this post has given you some great tips on how to keep your cat healthy and fit! If you have any other questions or concerns, please be sure to reach out to us!