How to Manage Feline Weight Loss

It takes patience and persistence to manage feline weight loss. Cats are notoriously resistant to dietary changes. So, any alteration in food type and feeding frequency may be met with fierce opposition. As cat obesity is the primary cause of feline diabetes, kidney disease, and heart failure, weight control remains a leading concern to many feline owners.

So, what are the best ways to keep cat weight loss in check and keep your kitty content?

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Have a vet monitor your cat. Before beginning a cat weight control program you should see your veterinarian. They can offer advice and tips about feline weight loss. They can also discuss with you any health restricts in activity that may affect your cat.

2. Decrease calories gradually. In order to lose one pound of body fat, 3,500 calories must be burned off through exercise or by a decrease in calorie consumption. That’s a lot of calories for a cat. It’s unrealistic to expect a cat to burn through that many calories in one day. Relax. Roman wasn’t built in a day and your cat won’t be a slim kitty overnight.

3. Try raw or canned cat food. Dry cat food is probably the number one cause of cat obesity. It’s high in carbohydrates that cats do not need. So, why don’t you try canned or raw cat food? You can even make homemade raw food meals.

4. Watch for sign/symptoms of fatty liver disease. Feline fatty liver disease (feline hepatic lipidosis) is a potentially life-threatening condition that happens to overweight cats that have been put on starvation diets. During starvation, fat builds up in the liver and causes liver failure. Signs of fatty liver disease include: drooling, loss of appetite, and an enlarged abdomen.

5. Encourage exercise. It can be challenging to get an inactive obese cat to move around. But, exercise is a necessity in weight loss. Schedule interactive daily playtime. Take your cat for a walk. Even hiding food around the house can be a form of exercise.

6. Check progress regularly. Cats on a feline weight loss regimen should be losing about 1 to 1.5 percent of their body weight weekly. In addition, check to see that your cat is not sneaking in food from another source. Cats are clever and an extra mouse meal or two can add up.

7. Nix table scraps. It can be tempting to give a cat human food and treats, especially when they beg for food. Don’t do it! You’ll set your cat up for failure. And you’ll have to recalculate how much regular cat food must be given to maintain your cat’s weight loss.

8. Consider supplements. Supplements like L-carnitine, mulitvitamins, and chitosan can all help facilitate feline weight loss. Be sure to okay any supplements with your vet first before giving them to your cat.

Tips & Warnings

• To lose weight, reduce your cat’s food consumption by about 20% of what it normally eats.
• Feed your overweight cat measured meals. That way you’ll know exactly how much food they are consuming daily.
• Feed meals in 2 or 3 divided doses spread throughout the day.

Resources

• To Learn More About Cat and Kitten Health Visit All About Cute Kittens.