Fat Cats – How to keep your feline fit and healthy

We’ve absolutely loved watching the Olympics and have been truly inspired to get moving and keep physically fit. It’s not just us humans that need to keep active, it’s your favourite felines that need to live a healthy and active lifestyle too.

Is my cat overweight?

Cat obesity is rising but it’s not always seen by cat owners, due to our unconditional love for our furry friends!

You need to be aware of your cat’s weight and whether or not it is overweight (or in some cases even obese!)

Whilst there are many factors that can cause weight gain e.g. type of breed, neutering or age, if your cat is medically well then the main reason why it may be overweight is because it is eating more calories than it is using (and this is usually down to us!)

We want the best for our pets right? An overweight cat can be at risk from numerous physical and health problems, that’s why it’s important to spot any signs of dramatic weight gain so you can eliminate the problem early, and if necessary get them checked out at the vets!

You can see if your cat is close to its ideal weight if you can see the waist behind the ribs (which should create an hour glass shape), you should also be able to gently feel the ribs with a minimal fat covering. If you are the owner of a long-haired cat take care that you do not underestimate your cat’s weight. 

Some examples of the health problems an overweight cat may experience are –

• Hepatic Lipidosis or ‘Fatty liver syndrome’, where large amounts of fat build up around the liver.
• Urinary Tract Diseases .
• Diabetes.
• Skin conditions and rashes.
• Lameness - an overweight cat is very likely to become lame and arthritic.

Apart from any medical conditions, the largest cause of cat obesity is humans, if like us you are a feeder and use food as a reward as well as feeding them meals throughout the day, your cat could be overeating!

There are a number of other reasons why your cat may be overweight or obese. Some of these reasons are -

• If your cat is neutered it does not need food for growth and needs 20-25% less calories.
• You should not be giving constant food throughout the day, but should be providing 3 or 4 separate meal.
• If they are mixed breed rather than a pedigree cat and are middle-aged you could be feeding them too many treats.
• House cats and lazy cats might not be getting enough exercise.

Encouraging your cat to play and run around will mean it burns off food efficiently and will not store the food as fat, this can be encouraged with toys including feather toys, electronic balls and cat teasers.

To ensure your cat has a long and healthy life, make sure you do all you can to feed it in the most appropriate way and spend time ensuring it has the as much exercise as possible.

Pet food packs often advise portion size, so try and stick to this. Be careful how you impose a new dietary programme as too rapid a weight loss can be life threatening. Speak to your vet or a vet nurse for advice. They will also be able to clarify whether or not the weight gain is due to a medical condition.

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