BLOG / Cat

How to Help You Cat Maintain the Perfect Weight?

main banner
by Alexander Thompson
May 04, 2022
4 minute read
TABLE OF CONTENTS
  • How to Tell If Your Cat Is Overweight?
  • What Are the Risks Linked to Obesity in Cats?
  • How Do You Help Your Cat Shed Weight?
  • How Long Should Your Cat Be on a Diet?
  • In Conclusion
Wondering if obese cats exist and how common they are? Well, according to statistics, obese cats in North America constitute 30-35% of the entire cat population. The chances of a cat becoming overweight are higher if it spends most of its time indoors with little or no exercise.
Obesity, even in cats weighing two-three pounds, comes with less activity, joint pains, and skin conditions due to poor grooming. You will also not find that soft, silky coat in obese cats. Cats cannot maintain their weights by themselves - it is the role of the cat owners to help by ensuring adequate diet and exercise.

How to Tell If Your Cat Is Overweight?

The first sign of an overweight cat is in its figure, with changes based on the amount and quality of exercise and diet. Obese cats are at higher risk of skin problems, arthritis, diabetes, and other diseases. Another adverse effect of obesity manifests in the life quality and mobility of the affected cats.
You can know if your cat’s weight is healthy by measuring the rib coverage. It is a simple DIY method that effectively helps estimate your cat’s weight. Your cat can be too thin, slim, perfect, overweight, or obese based on the rib coverage measurement.

  • Too Thin

    Cats in this category have little muscle mass. The ribs are visible alongside the shoulder blades, hip bones, and backbone.

  • Slim

    Slim cats have ribs and waistlines you can quickly see and feel.

  • Perfect

    Cats with the ideal weight also have ribs you can feel without pressing too hard. Just run your hands gently down their sides, and you feel the ribs.

  • Overweight

    Cats in this category have a sausage-like body. You will not see the waistline from a distance. The abdomen appears saggy if you are looking at the side view.

  • Obese

    Obese cats have ribs you can only feel by digging your hands down the fat. The abdomen appears clearly saggy from a distance.

What Are the Risks Linked to Obesity in Cats?

As mentioned earlier, obese cats are at higher risk of developing diseases that reduce both life quality and expectancy. Before now, fat is seen as a relatively inactive tissue that houses excess calories. However, recent scientific discoveries confirm that these fat tissues are biologically active, creating oxidative stress on other tissues of the body and secreting inflammatory hormones. Overall, they deplete the immune system of the cats.
Your cat’s health can move from 100 to 0 just by adding a few extra pounds. An obese cat is at the risk of:
  • Heart diseases, diabetes mellitus, and different forms of cancer.
  • Osteoarthritis and rapid degeneration of the joints involved.
  • Urinary bladder stones.
  • Decreased heat tolerance causing anesthetic complications.

How Do You Help Your Cat Shed Weight?

Having an overweight cat is not the end of the world. All you have to do is consult your vet for professional guidance on what to feed your cat to keep the perfect shape and weight. If you enjoy spoiling your cats with treats, you may need to cut down on the amount of normal good you give them.
Below are a few tips on how to help your cat shed weight:

Get Them to Exercise More

A cat that spends most time indoors may suffer from boredom and stress, with overheating in the long run. To avoid this, ensure you play with your cat daily and get them to exercise. For example, you can put some food inside their feeding ball to get some physical activity out of them before eating.
Crash diets or starving your cats are not advisable. Not giving your cat food for a period of time can cause serious problems. Instead, it is best to stick to a slow and consistent weight loss plan. For example, puzzle feeders can activate your cat’s hunting instincts and make them run around to get food. Feeders come in handy for weight loss programs - it encourages your cat to do some physical tasks and minimize the begging behavior.
a fat orange cat

Cut Down Your Cat’s Calorie Intake

Every food has a different caloric density, and it is based on this, that you determine the right amount of food for your cat. The number of calories a cat expend depends on the extent of exercise it does. We recommend using a measuring cup to estimate the correct feeding portions for your cat.
Diet cat foods consist of more fiber, fewer calories, and less fat. That said, all foods are created differently. Your vet will assess your cat’s dietary needs and prescribe the proper diet based on that. Your vet can also provide helpful exercise tips you can adopt for your indoor cats.

How Effective Are Weight Control Cat Foods?

Weight gain in cats occurs when your feline friends consume more calories than they use up. So, you can control weight by cutting down on the number of calories your cat consumes. Weight control cat foods often help to burn more calories by enhancing the cat’s metabolism.
However, cats may fail to lose weight despite eating weight control cat foods. That is why we recommend that you only use them as directed by a vet. Besides weight control cat foods, you can also consider weight control treats and similar cat supplies that keep your cat healthy.

How Long Should Your Cat Be on a Diet?

It takes about six to eight months for most cats to attain an ideal weight. In addition, losing one pound per month is a safe weight loss plan for cats. While some cats may go slower, others go faster and lose more pounds in shorter periods. The specific time often depends on the health conditions of the cat.
Weighing your cats regularly helps you keep track of their weight gain or loss and finetune their diets according to your goals. Work closely with your vet to create a healthy body weight gain or loss plan that works safely and correctly for your cat.

In Conclusion

Cats have no idea how excess weight affects their quality of life and overall wellbeing. That is why you must protect them from these harms as the cat owner by helping them maintain a perfect weight. It is the only way to help your cat live a long, healthy life. Obesity is common in cats, and it is a precursor to other health problems, including liver and heart diseases, diabetes, arthritis, and others. If you want to keep your cat’s life expectancy at the maximum, help it maintain a healthy weight.
SUBSCRIBE
Subscibe for our newsletter to get updates on the latest products, offers, and more.
CATEGORIES
Latest Articles
Professing love to your furry companions with considerable care.
Dog
Embarking on the exciting adventure with your canine pals.
Cat
Launching the journey into your feline friends' inner world.
CATEGORIES
Latest Articles
Professing love to your furry companions with considerable care.
Dog
Embarking on the exciting adventure with your canine pals.
Cat
Launching the journey into your feline friends' inner world.
BLOG / Cat
How To Make Your Cat Use Water Fountain?
by Alexander Thompson
Dec 15, 2022
2 minute read
Cat owners must have had the experience of having cat bowls with water in them. But instead, these cats are more interested in drinking from the owner’s cup. Many cats even end up breaking several cups. You may also discover that your cat is attracted to the sound of running water whenever you turn on a faucet or shower. They are even eager to lick the flowing water, but to no avail. As a cat owner, you may then prepare a water fountain for your feline friend only to find out that your pet is uninterested in it. Fortunately, this is the right place if the aforementioned has been your experience. This blog can help you make your cat fall in love with a water fountain, whether you have purchased one or not.
Read More
BLOG / Cat
How Often Should You Replace Cat Water Fountain Filter?
by Alexander Thompson
Dec 07, 2022
2 minute read
Your pet’s overall well-being is your sole responsibility as a pet owner. You must provide all the love and support your furry friend needs to stay healthy and happy. But you can only do this when you understand what is expected of you. One of these expectations is providing your pets with a regular supply of safe, clean, healthy food and water. Cat water fountains help to meet this need partly.
Read More
BLOG / Cat
How to Get Rid of Cat Smell?
by Alexander Thompson
Nov 30, 2022
2 minute read
Homeowners get irritated by lingering cat smells. And sometimes, the home residents become used to the scent and no longer notice. However, guests and potential buyers will notice the smell. Moreover, cats find their smells offensive. Cats usually use urine to mark territories. A cat may develop behavioral issues after smelling another cat’s scent, especially a cat from another household. These behavioral issues include agitation, aggression, or peeing in inappropriate places like outside their litter boxes. For example, your cat may continue peeing on the carpet due to the lingering urine smell on that spot. 
Read More
BLOG / Cat
How to Take Care of Senior Cats?
by Alexander Thompson
Nov 24, 2022
2 minute read
One way to keep your domestic cat alive and healthy for as long as possible is to feed her well. However, it gets somewhat tricky when your feline friend grows old. Wondering how old your cat is? Cats age in a different way from humans. The aging in cats often depends on the breed and the environment they live. Generally, cats that are 11 years old are considered to be in their senior stage.
Read More
BLOG / Cat
Should Your Cat Use An Elevated Bowl?
by Alexander Thompson
Nov 17, 2022
2 minute read
Cats are known for being choosy about what they eat. However, your cat’s willingness to eat might depend on how and what you feed her every day. Choosing the best food bowl can be tricky, considering the endless options available in the market. One of these options is an elevated cat feeder, which becomes much more popular in recent days. Unlike traditional cat food bowls designed to sit flat on the ground, the elevated cat bowls sit up, adopting an elevated position to make your furry ball eat in a comfortable manner.
Read More
BLOG / Cat
Tips for Taking Plane with Your Cat
by Alexander Thompson
Nov 14, 2022
2 minute read
We have grown so close to our pets that we see and treat them as part of our family. That means they are most likely to follow us wherever we go, including on planes. Taking your furry friend on an airplane is more complex than it seems. It requires adequate planning, from knowing the best airlines for such trips to preparing your cat for every possible situation weeks before the trip. It is also important to have contingency plans to take care of unforeseen flight cancellations or delays.
Read More
BLOG / Cat
How Long Do Cats Sleep?
by Alexander Thompson
Nov 10, 2022
2 minute read
Cats sleep most of the day. On average, some cats can sleep 15 hours a day, some even sleep up to 20 hours a day. This is because cats are crepuscular creatures – they are more active at dawn and dusk while sleeping in between.
Read More
BLOG / Cat
How to Pick The Right Toys for Your Cat?
by Alexander Thompson
Oct 11, 2022
3 minute read
Toys are essential supplies in a cat’s life. You need these exciting pieces to keep your cat’s hunting instincts and desires active. Toys also consume your cat’s physical energy and create a strong bond between you and your furry friend. However, most cat owners do not know the right toys to choose for their cats.
Read More
BLOG / Cat
How To Trick Your Cat to Drink More Water?
by Alexander Thompson
Sep 19, 2022
2 minute read
Cats are descendants of desert animals. Consequently, they didn’t drink water as often as canines. But, increased water intake helps with urinary conditions and flushes the kidneys and urinary tract. Unfortunately, getting cats to drink more water is tricky and sometimes impossible.
Read More
BLOG / Cat
How to Find A Lost Cat
by Alexander Thompson
Sep 12, 2022
2 minute read
Cats are naturally curious animals and love playing hide-and-seek with their owners. So, these feline creatures get lost from time to time. If your cat is missing, you shouldn’t be too worried. Instead, you should determine the scope of the search first and then start your search immediately. This blog discusses effective methods that can help in finding your cat. But hopefully, you won’t have to use these methods.
Read More
BLOG / Cat
How Much Should You Feed Your Cat?
by Alexander Thompson
Sep 02, 2022
3 minute read
Usually, cat food packaging contains instructions on how much food to feed your cat at each age and weight stage. Nevertheless, some cat owners, especially novice owners, are still concerned that their cat is not eating enough or overeating. Furthermore, the eating habits of different breeds of cats may vary. So, correctly judging the quantity of food your furkid consumes seems important.
Read More
BLOG / Cat
Why Is My Cat Breathing Heavily
by Alexander Thompson
Aug 31, 2022
2 minute read
Unlike dogs, cats hardly breathe heavily or pant. If your cat has been doing this recently and you wonder why this is so, this blog is for you.
Read More
BLOG / Cat
Does My Cat Love Me?
by Alexander Thompson
Aug 29, 2022
2 minute read
Cats have strong personalities, keeping to themselves most of the time. Although they have cute acts and moves, their behavior is sometimes incomprehensible to humans. Cats are often aloof, making it seems like they have cold personalities. It is often easy for cat parents to even overlook how much their cats love them. Nevertheless, if your cat acts in the following ways, you can be sure that your feline friend loves you.
Read More
BLOG / Cat
Tips to Prevent Your Cat from Getting Lost
by Alexander Thompson
Aug 25, 2022
2 minute read
No one wants their cat to go missing. But except you learn how to prevent this, there are chances your cat can go out one day on their own and become lost. This article will show you how to keep your furry friend safe and sound indoors using a few practical tips and tricks.
Read More
BLOG / Cat
Here Is Why Your Cat Headbutts You
by Alexander Thompson
Aug 17, 2022
2 minute read
Cat headbutts are not strange to most cat parents. Also called head bunts, this action is hardly random in cats.
Read More
BLOG / Cat
How Can You Read Your Cat’s Body Language?
by Alexander Thompson
Aug 15, 2022
2 minute read
Like humans, cats also have their body language. These sweet furry creatures communicate in various complicated ways. Sometimes, your cat just wants to be alone. Other times, she may want to move close to you and get really cozy. Understanding these, and by extension, learning cat body language, will strengthen your relationship with your furry ball.
Read More
BLOG / Cat
Why You Should Not Declaw Your Cat
by Alexander Thompson
Aug 11, 2022
2 minute read
Claws are essential to the everyday life of your feline friends. They use them in climbing, playing, and even stretching. Declawing cats or removing their nails also mean you are taking off some of the bones of their toes, which is both crucial and harmful.
Read More
SUBSCRIBE
Subscibe for our newsletter to get updates on the latest products, offers, and more.
SUBSCRIBE
Subscibe for our newsletter to get updates on the latest products, offers, and more.