5 Easy Ways To Prevent Obesity In Cats

20 Jun 2017

Obesity is becoming a serious concern for humans and animals these days. It gets disheartening to see your loved ones suffering from various disorders that are caused due to unwanted fat deposits. Cats are one of them; if your cat is fluffy, and is facing trouble walking around the house, then it’s a matter of concern. It isn’t a sign of its cuteness; thereby, get your cat medically checked up.

Your little feline pal may be suffering Obesity!

Nearly 50% pet cats suffer obesity in the USA, which is primarily ignored by us. Believe me, our felines require our acute attention. After reading this post, you will have more useful information to prevent this bad situation happening with your cat.

Immediate Symptoms

Problems in movement and joints
Certain skin disorders and hair loss
Lethargic behavior and respiratory problems
Infection in bladder and Diabetes Mellitus

The above symptoms can often lead to weight gain issue in felines; further, obesity can lead to other health problems including arthritis, diabetes, thyroid, etc. in cats.

Have you noticed the above signs in your cat? If yes, a check up is vital. A healthy weight for cat also is based on its breed.

Domestic cat: 8-10 lbs
Persian: 7-12 lbs
Siamese: 5-10 lbs
Maine coon: 10-25 lbs

If your cat is in obesity, get it on a weight loss program now by following the steps below:

Make a Diet Plan

Diet plans aren’t just for humans; they are essential even for your pawed pals. Visit a veterinarian and see what he has to say about your cat. A suitable diet will help your cat healthier.

1. Limit your Cat’s Calories

Cats’ daily intake of calories are around 200, so designing a diet plan that does not surpass the number of calories is necessary. You may ask a veterinarian to design a food plan for your feline friend in order to maintain its good health and weight.

2. Choose the Right Food for your Pal

I suggest to feed your cats with cat food only. There are many brands that offer high-quality, healthy catfoods. Why? The reason is cat food is designed with a perfect number of carbs and calories that are essential of felines throughout the day. Consult your vet and make a food checklist that shows you the do’s and don’ts. Make eating fun for your cats offering healthy food options.

3. Foods to Avoid

Can your cat eat ice cream? No, they cannot. Please avoid giving your cats’ milk products such as yogurt, ice creams, tofu, paneer, cheese and more. Milk products are difficult to digest for cats; it may even disturb their process of digestion leading to various, serious gastric ailments. They may even throw up!

What about grapes or raisins? Again, it is a Big No! Cats cannot digest these treats. Do not put their health to risk by offering food items that are edible for cats. The veterinarian will never advise you to feed cats with grapes or other fruit, which is not meant for them. According to experts, treats should make only 10% to 12% of the total calorie intake of your cat. Try to give different food as treats.

4. Offer them Small Portions of Meal

Are your little ones still hungry? Offer your cats small portions of the meal, 3 to 4 times in a day. It will keep their digestive systems up and active. It will help in maintaining proper levels of fats and carbohydrates, without increasing the calorie count. Treat your cat occasionally using recipes that comprise only edible selections.

5. Over-feeding can by Disastrous

Do not let your cat overeat. Overeating causes obesity and can be life-threatening too. Keep a small-medium sized bowl to give small portions of food to your cat, within an interval of around 4-5 hours. Keep a record of your cat’s intake and take it for a regular check-up.

P.S.: Indoor cats require a workout plan along with a diet plan to digest and use the calories consumed throughout the day.

Regime is Essential

Sedimentary lifestyle invites problems not only in men and women but also in pets. Your cat can be fit and healthy only if it has regular exercises to perform throughout the day. An active lifestyle all day shall boost weight loss in cats:

Let your cat play and run around the house
Buy some toys for your cats; there are several of them available in pet stores
Set a jumping target for them so that their muscles get adequate stretch
If you have a backyard, leave it free to play on the lawn for an hour or two

Do you have a middle-aged cat? Middle-aged cats are prone to obesity more than the young ones. Maybe this is why you hear people often say, “your pet is overweight.”

There’s a myth about overweight cats; people say that the “high-calorie air” is making their felines obese. We may not want to go by this notion as I believe that air has nothing to do with weight in cats and humans.

A good diet plan and a perfect daily regime will not only aid weight loss in your obese cats but will also keep them happy and stress-free. So mates, don’t let your pawed pal lay down all day on the couch and watch television; make it run all around. Even better! You should run around with it, and you will see some fascinating results in yourself too.

We know how much you love your little members, and we want to make sure you are offering them a healthy, happy life.