Most of us - pet lovers
especially - are familiar with the term "fat cat". We've seen photos of
25 or 30 lb cats and laughed at the way their bellies graze the floor
as they walk (or perhaps "waddle" is more appropriate). These cats may
be a source of entertainment for us, but what does being a "fat cat"
really mean?
To get to the point: it means a big increase in the risk of many health problems for your feline friend. Overweight and obese cats have a higher risk for diabetes, arthritis, breathing problems, skin conditions, and heart and liver diseases. Overweight cats also have shorter life expectancies than cats who are a healthy weight. It works the same way for our pets as it does for ourselves - too much weight equals major risks of health problems!
Not surprisingly, many cats become overweight because they are lazy. They like to eat, but they don't like to move too much. While some cats are very active and playful, many - fat cats in particular - are not; they'd rather nap in the sun than run around (and really, doesn't a nap in the sun sound wonderful?). Often they eat too much, or they are fed high-calorie, high-fat foods. According to veterinarians, the average cat should consume no more than 300 calories per day. Some cat foods are so fatty that you can actually see and feel the oil on them; try comparing these to a high-quality, calorie control diet... you may be surprised at just how big of a difference there really is!
Treats are another source of excess calories, and therefore of excess weight and health problems. If your cat is already overeating - say, 400 calories per day - and you add on even a few treats (let's say 5 calories each), your cat is now consuming another 100 + 15-20 extra calories. While that may not be a lot for a human, it is definitely a lot for a cat! This is especially true if your cat isn't moving around enough to burn off the extra fuel.
So what can you do to help your overweight cat? For one, make sure you are feeding him/her a high-quality, well-balanced cat food. Personally, I am a big fan of "Royal Canin Calorie Control"... it's not greasy and my cats love it! Also key is portion control; check the bag to see how much your cat should be eating, for his age and weight. Once you've figured that out, monitor how much your cat is actually eating for a few days. If the recommended amount of food for your cat is 1.5 cups and he's currently eating 5 cups a day, don't cut him down to 1.5 cups overnight. Start cutting him down gradually (e.g. reduce his intake by half a cup per week) - otherwise you will have a very angry kitty on your hands! Slowly reduce how much your cat is eating until he is closer to the recommended amount.
Move it to lose it! Get your cat moving... buy her favourite toys (my cats tend to love anything on a string) and play with her. Try a laser pointer or a small flashlight - many cats love to chase the tiny lights and will run around until they're exhausted if you give them the opportunity. This is a fun way to slim down your fat cat.
Finally, don't punish your cat for being overweight. Odds are, he didn't get there by himself and he's probably quite content! Give him lots of love (but not treats!), especially after play time. After all, you're doing this because you love him so much and want him to live a long, healthy life and reduce his risk for health problems down the road.
To get to the point: it means a big increase in the risk of many health problems for your feline friend. Overweight and obese cats have a higher risk for diabetes, arthritis, breathing problems, skin conditions, and heart and liver diseases. Overweight cats also have shorter life expectancies than cats who are a healthy weight. It works the same way for our pets as it does for ourselves - too much weight equals major risks of health problems!
Not surprisingly, many cats become overweight because they are lazy. They like to eat, but they don't like to move too much. While some cats are very active and playful, many - fat cats in particular - are not; they'd rather nap in the sun than run around (and really, doesn't a nap in the sun sound wonderful?). Often they eat too much, or they are fed high-calorie, high-fat foods. According to veterinarians, the average cat should consume no more than 300 calories per day. Some cat foods are so fatty that you can actually see and feel the oil on them; try comparing these to a high-quality, calorie control diet... you may be surprised at just how big of a difference there really is!
Treats are another source of excess calories, and therefore of excess weight and health problems. If your cat is already overeating - say, 400 calories per day - and you add on even a few treats (let's say 5 calories each), your cat is now consuming another 100 + 15-20 extra calories. While that may not be a lot for a human, it is definitely a lot for a cat! This is especially true if your cat isn't moving around enough to burn off the extra fuel.
So what can you do to help your overweight cat? For one, make sure you are feeding him/her a high-quality, well-balanced cat food. Personally, I am a big fan of "Royal Canin Calorie Control"... it's not greasy and my cats love it! Also key is portion control; check the bag to see how much your cat should be eating, for his age and weight. Once you've figured that out, monitor how much your cat is actually eating for a few days. If the recommended amount of food for your cat is 1.5 cups and he's currently eating 5 cups a day, don't cut him down to 1.5 cups overnight. Start cutting him down gradually (e.g. reduce his intake by half a cup per week) - otherwise you will have a very angry kitty on your hands! Slowly reduce how much your cat is eating until he is closer to the recommended amount.
Move it to lose it! Get your cat moving... buy her favourite toys (my cats tend to love anything on a string) and play with her. Try a laser pointer or a small flashlight - many cats love to chase the tiny lights and will run around until they're exhausted if you give them the opportunity. This is a fun way to slim down your fat cat.
Finally, don't punish your cat for being overweight. Odds are, he didn't get there by himself and he's probably quite content! Give him lots of love (but not treats!), especially after play time. After all, you're doing this because you love him so much and want him to live a long, healthy life and reduce his risk for health problems down the road.
Candice Reich is an avid pet lover and the mother of a happy,
healthy Tortiseshell cat. She provides valuable pet health related
information at [http://www.Pet-Health-Insider.com].
Help to keep your dog or cat healthy by grabbing your free pet health insider's report at: [http://pet-health-insider.com/free-report]
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Candice_Reich
Help to keep your dog or cat healthy by grabbing your free pet health insider's report at: [http://pet-health-insider.com/free-report]
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