How can I further help my fat cat lose weight?

Question

My indoor cat, Frankie, is 5 years old. I adopted him a year ago, put him on a proper diet according to his age and target weight. I regulary buy him new toys and initiate play with him. He gets plenty of attention from me and my husband He lost a little, and maintained this. He is still considerably overweight. I take him outside with me almost every day, but he is so lazy. I can't take him to the vet at the moment. Any suggestions?

Answer 1

This info is from my blog.  Some of it you are probably already familiar with but hopefully some of the info will be new to you.

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, an 8 pound cat could eat 200 calories per day. By the same token, a cat who weighs 20 pounds but should weigh 10 could eat 250 calories per day. You multiply the ideal weight by the calories to arrive at that figure. When working toward weight loss, it's perhaps best to start  

Answer 2

Lower calorie cat food is a great start. Dry foods tend to have much more fat in them. If you haven't tried catnip yet that might also get him up and moving more often. No table scraps is a must and if he gets wet food check the fat content for that as well. I wish you luck because it isn't easy!

Answer 3

Hi, cats need no grains in their food or very little is acceptable, he is getting fat and maybe ill in the future if he doesn't get his protein. I have attached a link to a chart for canned food, you should limit his dry food intake its very high in carbs and that causes weight gain!! Believe it or not fancy feast the gourmet variety, NO GRAVY!! Is only 4% carbs and cheap at Wal-Mart. Look at the website, under canned foods, there are two links and look under their dry food link you will see the carbs from grains in the food is RIDICULOUS! I am so happy I found this out a few weeks ago, I keep my kitties 4-10 % carbs now, all canned and I will only give out a tiny bit of dry if at all to one of my kitties who misses crunching and I found one by wellness a low 12% carb dry. I used to feed my kitties 48% carb in dry and 25% in canned, THAT WAS SOO WRONG I never knew it till a while ago.. and then one ended up with diabetes, I wish I knew about the foods before I poisoned my baby! with foods cats really shouldn't be eating, its just cheaper for some pet food companies to put in grains!! I actually spend less money on cat food now using better food since they are getting more protein! Please look into it, this could save your kitties a lot of health issues later on.. and they will be healthier now too! GOOD LUCK!  GO TO  DIET-RELATED DOCUMENTS on page http://www.geocities.com/jmpeerson/index...

Answer 4

Have him chase this baby http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKCGe2Ezr...

Answer 5

There is a food, for cats that helps them lose weight.

My Mom uses it on her cat, Happy, I think the name was Fancy Feast, look up that name on Google.

Also, you can limit what you feed him.

Hope it helps~!

Answer 6

Avoid pet foods and snacks high in fat. You may want to switch to a low-calorie cat food formulated for the maintenance of the adult cat. These products are typically lower in fat and higher in fiber. You'll be able to offer your cat a nice portion while reducing the amount of calories it receives. Avoid giving supplements unless your veterinarian recommends them. Always have fresh drinking water in a clean bowl available.