We’ve all seen photos of babies who are chubby and roly poly and usually think they are cute, but in reality, we know it’s not really healthy. The same concept applies to our pets. We might see a chubby cat and immediately say, “Ahhhhh,” but carrying extra fat can endanger the health of your cat.
It is vitally important to keep your cat’s weight in check. According to vetstreet.com, studies have shown that nearly 50% of adult dogs and cats in the United States are overweight or obese. That percentage increases among senior pets. With obesity comes increased risk for other serious health issues, such as diabetes, osteoarthritis, heart and respiratory disease and a host of cancers. Extra pounds can also cause complications during anesthesia if a cat needs to under to surgery or other procedures. Plus, if your cat already has a health issue, extra weight only serves to aggravate that condition, making it more challenging to manage. And we all know for ourselves that a few extra pounds make us feel tired, weak, and unmotivated. Cats with extra pounds cannot enjoy a full and active lifestyle with their families.
So, what are the contributing factors to weight gain in cats? Simply speaking, if a cat eats more than he burns off, weight gain can occur. Other factors include overfeeding, inactivity or low activity levels, the breed and age of the cat, pre-existing illnesses and reproductive states (intact versus spayed or neutered).
It is important to know how much you feed your cat, not only just at meals but also in the form of treats, which can pile on the calories throughout the day. It is important to keep a keen eye on your pet’s daily eating habits, and if you have any concerns, you can work with your vet to establish a plan if your cat does need to shed some weight.
Sure, we get it. It can be challenging to know how much your cat consumes each day, especially if there are multiple people in the house who all might indulge your feline friend throughout the day. If this is the case, consider keeping a food diary in which everyone in the house writes down what he or she feeds your cat whenever your cat is fed, even if it is “just a treat” or a reward given during a training session.
Another great idea is to assign a family member to be responsible for the treat jar. Each morning, the allowed treats for the day can be put in the jar and if someone wants to give your cat a treat, it must come from that jar. Once that jar is empty, your cat has enjoyed his or her daily treat allowance.
Be sure to feed your cat the right amount of food and the right type for his species, age and size. You may want to inquire of your veterinarian on this matter and find out what products offer the right nutritional mix for your cat and how much and how often you should feed him or her.
And try to refrain from giving your cat people food. Bad idea. Not only does it contribute to increased weight, but it can also aggravate other medical conditions. Plus, some people food is toxic to cats.
And don’t forget to incorporate some exercise into your cat’s life! This could mean daily play periods with your cat, using fun toys such as a light pointer or tossed ball.
Just as it is important for humans to keep their weight and diets in check, it is equally important for our pets. We are responsible for them, so we have to take the necessary steps to ensure their overall health and quality of life.
Written by Ann Butenas
An internationally-recognized author and writer, Ann began her professional writing career at age 12 and began speaking while in college. She has been published thousands of times over the past three decades in all media forms, was former editor and publisher of KC Metro Woman magazine, and has also hosted three talk radio shows in the Kansas City area.
