Today, obesity stands out as one of the most common problems cats and even emotional support animals suffer worldwide. Because you’re looking at them day in and day out, it’s not always easy to tell if your little kitty needs to lose some weight. Some of us even consider fatty cats to be adorable.
The thing is, the extra weight puts a lot of strain on their body and organs, and if left overweight, the kitty could have serious health problems down the line. Just so you know we’re being serious with you; we’re going to explore some of the biggest reasons your cat might need to lose weight below and how you can help them do that.
Reasons Why Your Cat Needs To Lose Weight
Being as much as two pounds overweight can put your cat at risk of having health problems. The threat is so severe that most of the time, developing health challenges for overweight cats isn’t an ‘if,’ but more a question of ‘when.’ Overweight cats usually have a generally shorter lifespan than their fitter counterparts and are much less energetic in interacting with their families.
These are some of the most significant disorders associated with overweight cats:
- Type 2 Diabetes
- Severe Heart Disease
- Arthritis (Osteoarthritis)
- High Blood Pressure
- Incurring joint injuries more frequently
- Intra-abdominal cancer
The worst part is that since overweight cats usually lie around, it’s much easier to overlook early signs of illness that could be the difference between receiving timely treatment or developing a condition for life!
How You Can Create A Weight Reduction Plan Centered Around Cat Food
1. Consult With Your Vet
Helping your kitty to lose weight isn’t as simple as feeding them less since cats can develop a disease known as hepatic lipidosis if they aren’t fed enough. So, you should consult your veterinarian to ensure there aren’t any underlying obstacles to weight loss for your cat.
2. Always, Always Do Your Research
Cat breeds vary widely in what adult cats are supposed to weigh, as well as in average body mass and how much they need to eat, which is why there’s no one-size-fits-all weight loss plan for cats. Before making a weight-reduction plan, do your research to figure out what your cat is supposed to weigh.
For example, the average domestic cat should weigh anywhere between eight to ten pounds (that’s roughly 3.6 – 4.4 kilograms). First, set an initial goal close to your cat’s current weight, and then have the vet evaluate if the kitty still needs to lose weight.
3. Stop Leaving Food Out!
You know how you pour cat food into the bowl and let your cat eat as it wants? Stop doing that. Having food available always encourages eating out of sheer boredom. Instead, start feeding your cat canned food several times a day.
4. Make Your Cat Work For It
We’d say take your cat out jogging, but this isn’t a perfect world, and we’ll be stunned if your cat agrees to leave the house in the first place. What you can do, though, is start moving the bowl to different places in the house (for example, upstairs or downstairs), and keep it as far away from your cat’s favorite places as possible, so it must walk more for its food.
We’re not kidding, that’s… as much exercise as you can get them to do.
Final Words
At the end of the day, it’s essential to remember that you can’t force a weight loss plan on your cat. Take baby steps with everything. If you’re changing their cat food, try tiny portions before upending the can, and don’t move the bowl too far away for the first time, or they’ll give up and lose their appetite!