My cat needs to lose weight. Can you help?

Question

My cat has a little bit of a gut. He's big-boned naturally, but he still needs to lose weight. Any suggestions? I don't want to deprive him of food. I feed him a can of soft food (such as Nine Lives) in the morning and he eats hard food throughout the day (a bowl is left on the floor and refilled as necessary). How can I help him lose weight?

Answer 1

First off you're feeding him to much hun.  He shouldn't be getting a whole can of food , in addition to a constant stream of food all day.

If he is an indoor cat , he isn't getting enough excercise to work off all that food and that is the cause for his weight gain.  An adult cat doesn't necessarly need any wet food at all. But if you feel you want to feed him wet food then cut what he is eating into 1/3 the amount.  and only leave a small bowl of dry food down for him.  Do not re-fill it when it is empty.  That is enough food for a day for 1 cat.

So one third can of food in the morning, and 1 cup of dry left down and nothing else, no scraps from the table, and no extras, and he should start to loose a little weight.  Also if he is indoors, Play with him and get him running around.  Just like with people, if he excercises that will also help him to loose the weight.

Answer 2

Check out:  http://www.littlebigcat.com and read Dr. Jean Hovfe's article titled "The Right Weight Loss Program for Cats".

Answer 3

you can buy food that is supposed to make your cat lose weight. just feed them once in the morning and once at night so they don't eat all day

Answer 4

Hey, my cat's got the same problem. What you need to do is go to the vet first. This is important because they will check if it has any illness which may be realted to the extra chub and will give you diet cat food :) .. also make it run around 15 mintues a day .. but the main thing is its food!

Answer 5

change his food.

talk to a vet.

but change the food id say

Answer 6

It's not difficult.

Increase his activity with new toys (mice, feathery wands, rolling balls)

Decrease his calorie intake by reducing his amount of regular food OR feeding the same amount of low-fat food.

YOU MUST PORTION HIS DRY FOOD!

Give him a set amount of dry food in his bowl and when he finishes it, he gets no more until the next day.It might be easier to give him 2 - 1/2 portions (one earlier, one later in the day) so he doesn't get freaked out that there's no food.

Reduce or eliminate his canned food as this just adds useless calories and provides very little nutrition.

Most healthy cats require 1/2 cup of dry food for 10 lbs of body weight. Use this as a guide only, and adjust his portions according to his weigh-ins. Weigh him every 2 weeks and watch for no more than 1/2 lb per 2 weeks.

Answer 7

Sorry, but for the cat to lose weight you are going to have to cut down it's food intake. Pre measure its daily food and put it down gradually throughout the day.

Answer 8

Instead of leaving a bowl down all day long you can try just putting down a measured amount like a cup or a half a cup in the morning and at night. Portion control is usually the best way. You can also switch to a high protein low carb diet (C-atkins diet!) Or a low fat/reduced calorie dry food. Canned food is also a good way because it makes them feel more full so they'll eat less.  

Answer 9

Feed him a better quality of food.  Try to find a low-carb, high-protein canned food, such as Wellness, which can be found at Petco.  Canned food is better for cats than dry food, contrary to what people used to believe.

Also, try to play with your cat, if he's in ok condition physically to do so.  Wand toys work great.