Helping your cat with weight loss

Obesity is a common problem in cats. If weight is not managed properly then problems such as diabetes and joint pain may occur. If your cat is obese and has been diagnosed with diabetes then weight loss is very important to help manage the condition.

Why do cats become overweight?
Cats become overweight because they are consuming more energy than they need. In order for them to lose weight they need to eat lower amounts of calories and increase their exercise. It is very important that cats do not lose weight quickly as this can lead to a liver disease called hepatic lipidosis. Weight loss in cats needs to be slow and steady, so it can take some time for an obese cat to reach its ideal weight.

Reduction in calorie intake means either reducing the amount or changing the food which your cat is being fed. An ideal diet for cats is one which is high in protein but low in carbohydrate. Most dry foods will have relatively high carbohydrate content and this can lead to weight gain. Wet diets tend to be best for weight loss as they are higher in protein but much lower in carbohydrate than dry foods. It is advisable to switch to an all wet food diet if your cat is not on this already. Your cat should be fed a regulated amount of this food, the best amount to feed will depend on the brand of food etc so speak to your veterinary surgeon for advice.

You also need to take into consideration any treats or titbits your cat is getting throughout the day. Most commercially available cat treats are high in carbohydrate, it is better to either cut out treats altogether or occasionally give your cat small amounts of high protein treats such as chicken or prawns.

Increase exercise
Increasing your cat’s daily exercise will help with weight loss also. This can be done by encouraging play with toys, for example getting your cat to chase a toy mouse up and down the stairs. There are some commercially available interactive toys which will encourage play. Engaging your cat in activity for just 10 minutes a day will help with weight loss.

Ideally, aim for weight loss of 1-2% per week, so if your cat weighs 6kg you should aim for a 60-120g loss per week. During the initial stages of a weight loss plan it is best to weigh your cat once a week to see how you are progressing. If things are not going as planned or you have any other concerns about your cat’s health then please contact us for more advice.

Interactive toys
There is a good range of interactive cat toys available at www.thecatgallery.co.uk. One of our vets recommends ‘undercover mouse’ as her cats love it! A client has purchased ‘Da Bird fishing rod’ and reports that it is great too. There is also a selection of cat play tunnels and balls, all are good for encouraging play.

But please, no laser pointers! They are not advised by behaviourists, they can send cats a little (more) crazy as there is a chase sequence but never anything to actually catch.