Besides overeating, what could cause feline obesity? He weighs 15 pounds. Are there disorders that cause this?

Question

He really is obese. It sounds normal but he is really fat and you can tell by looking.

Answer 1

I'm not 100% sure, but my cat started to gain a lot of weight and then we found out she had a problem with her kidneys. But 15 pounds might be the right weight depending on the size and age of your cat. If your still not sure, take her to the vet just to have everything checked out and ask if her weight is normal.

Answer 2

15 pounds is pretty normal for a cat.

Answer 3

Well they will get winter fur which is an obvious and when spring comes they must be brushed so they don't have additional fur. 15 pounds isnt really bad, i wouldnt consider it obesity. maybe he is just big naturally like big boned.  

Answer 4

Make sure you are not overfeeding the cat by leaving his bowl of food out all day.

Cats, especially those on the overweight side, do much better by scheduled feedings.

My vet set up a schedule that would work for you. It is to feed 1/2 can Fancy Feast in the early AM, the other half around noon, and a 1/2 cup of Royal Canin Indoor #37 (or whatever food you like) about 4 in the afternoon. And no more food.

Cats eat out of those all-day dishes when they get bored and that's what gets them fat.

Answer 5

has he been neutered? i got my cat fixed and he got fat like overnight also age can do it (just like with people)

Answer 6

There is - I believe it's hypOthyroid, as opposed to the more common hypERthyroid.  Or maybe I have that backwards, but whatever.

However, this type of thyroid condition is rather rare in cats.  In addition, the only symptom wouldn't be obesity.  I believe cats would also display symptoms of lethargy.

A more likely cause is feeding the wrong food.

Hopefully my blog entry won't put you to sleep!

Why do cats get fat? It can be a combination of issues, or just one. First the obvious - overfeeding. This may happen either because you're giving in to the begging or because you're free-feeding (keeping food available all day) and your cat is not self-regulated. The second reason is feeding inappropriate, low-quality food (most dry foods). The third would be medical reasons I'm not qualified to discuss, but they're rare. Most cats are fat simply because they're fed the wrong food and are fed too much.

Is it bad for cats to be overweight? Of course! It's very bad. It often leads to diabetes, not to mention that fat cats probably don't feel very cat-like. Who would when dragging around extra pounds?

Why is dry food bad? With very few exceptions, dry food is not appropriate food for cats. It's chock full of carbs/sugar, doesn't provide enough meat-based protein, and is often loaded with grains such as wheat or corn (which provide those carbs/sugars). Wheat, corn and soy are known allergens and in many cats will cause digestive upsets. Not to mention most also contain "meal" and "byproducts." Cats are obligate carnivores who need to eat a diet high in protein (from meat) and fat and very low in carbs. The mouse is the perfect cat food - meat, organs and bones, with perhaps a tiny bit of grains that may exist in the mouse's stomach. In addition, dry food leaves cats dehydrated. They do not instinctively drink enough water because they're designed to get it IN their food. This results in concentrated urine which can lead to all sorts of problems. And it DOES NOT CLEAN THE TEETH! Really - think about - does dry food clean OUR teeth? If it did wouldn't dentists prescribe cookies instead of brushing?

What should cats eat? Cats should eat a species appropriate diet which very much resembles Atkins (Catkins). A raw diet is the very best, so long as it's properly supplemented to meet a cat's nutritional needs. There are many raw feeding forums available through Yahoo Groups that one can join to learn more. The next best choice is a good quality canned food (or even a commercially prepared raw diet such as Nature's Variety). These foods will have meat listed as the first ingredient, will not contain corn, wheat or soy, may include organ meats, and will not list "meal" or "byproducts." See the What to feed link for suggestions. Additionally, the brand By Nature Organics is a very good food, and at 150 calories per 6oz can, is a very good choice for weight loss.

What about supplements for weight loss? The addition of L-Carnitine to a cat's diet may assist with weight loss. 250-500 mg per day can be added to assist with weight loss. It is probably best to start with a lower dosage until you see how your cat reacts.

How much should my cat lose?  If possible, have your vet set a target weight for you.  But if your cat is obviously obese you don't need to do that before getting started.  In fact, if you're feeding dry food currently it's also a good idea to make the switch as soon as possible, even if only a few pounds need to be lost.  You can also consult this chart to get an idea of how overweight kitty might be:  http://www.placervillevet.com/feline%20b...  

How soon will I see results? Cats need to lose weight slowly, at the rate of no more than 1 pound per month, and often less. This is because rapid weight loss may cause hepatic lipidosis (fatty liver) which can be fatal.

Why is this info different from what my vet told me?  Many vets haven't been properly trained in feline nutrition.  They may attend basic small animal classes, but the only cat-specific training they receive is sponsored by Hills.  Not surprisingly, they are taught to reach for a bag of Hills __/d when a cat presents with a particular problem (k for kidney, d for diabetes, etc.).  I am not a nutritionist but I've gathered this information from people who DO know what they're talking about.  (See links below).

So what should I do?  The solution is to switch the fat cat (and any others in the household as well) to a good quality grainless canned food (or research raw feeding). Because these foods are species appropriate, the cat will lose weight at a safe, slow pace (no more than 1 pound per month). Switching foods needs to occur slowly, and if you're trying to get a kibble junkie to eat canned food, that will happen naturally.

How much should my cat eat?

This varies. Average cats may eat between 20-30 calories per pound per day. But note that that is IDEAL pounds. Using 25 calories per day for example,