Why is my cat getting so fat?
Put simply, the reason your cat is fat is that it’s eating more calories than it’s burning off. This problem is more common among house cats because they tend to be less mobile if not stimulated properly. If your cat is leading a lazy, sedentary lifestyle, it won’t lose any weight.
How do I stop my cat from being overweight?
How can I prevent my cat from becoming obese in the first place?
- Ask your veterinarian to help you choose the most appropriate food for your cat.
- Portion control is critical.
- Choose specific meal times, and then be consistent.
- Consider using interactive feeding toys.
- Increase your cat’s exercise.
Should I worry if my cat is overweight?
If you suspect your cat is more fat than fit, consider scheduling an appointment with your cat’s veterinarian for a complete checkup to rule out a more serious cat health issue like an infection, a metabolic disease or heart disease.
How is obesity in cats treated?
Cutting down on snacks and/or treats is the first step to reducing energy intake. When your cat begs, you should respond by petting, exercising or playing. If you do feed treats, be sure to use them sparingly. When treats are used, reduce your cat’s regular meals to compensate for the extra calories.
Why is my cat fat and always hungry?
Lack of insulin, or lack of response to it, causes blood glucose levels to rise (hyperglycaemia) so cells can’t use glucose efficiently for energy. In cats, insulin resistance is commonly caused by obesity with 60% of obese cats becoming diabetic over time. The rise in diabetes may be linked to the rise in obesity.
What does it mean when a cat is overweight?
‘Obese’ cats are those that are at least 20 per cent heavier than the optimal weight due to excessive fat accumulation. A cat is ‘overweight’ if it is 10 to 19 per cent heavier than the optimal weight.
What are the risk factors for obesity in cats?
(See the Muscle Condition Score chart: Cats or Dogs) Your cat is overweight if he is 10% more than the ideal weight and obese if over 20% of the ideal weight. 2. What are the risk factors for obesity in cats?
What causes a cat to gain so much weight?
Why is my cat overweight? 1 Diet and exercise: Most overweight cats are simply just eating too much! 2 Medical: It’s rare for obesity in cats to be caused by a medical problems. 3 Pregnancy: If you have an unneutered female cat that could have had access to a male, it’s important to rule out pregnancy as a cause of their weight gain.
What should I do if my kitten is overweight?
It’s been shown that cats are more likely to become overweight after spaying or neutering. We routinely recommend to decrease the amount of food after this procedure by 20-30% and to watch body condition closely, but it’s still important to keep your kitten on a diet that meets the needs of growing cats until he is at least 1 year of age. 4.
What do I do if my cat is overweight?
The first thing you should do if your cat is overweight is change their eating patterns. For example, if you currently leave a bowl of food out, try feeding smaller controlled portions at breakfast and dinner. If your cat is extremely overweight, you may want to consider switching to a lower calorie food.
How can you Tell Your Cat is overweight?
You can start determining if your cat ‘s overweight by looking at him. Examining your cat from above and from the side should help you determine if his weight is a problem. Look at your cat from above. The area between his ribs and hips should move inward slightly, creating a clearly defined waist.
Why does my cat keep losing weight?
Causes of Weight Loss in Cats. Weight loss in cats may be caused by different factors, ranging from a change in diet to parasites or diabetes. Anxiety and stress may also cause weight loss. If your cat loses more than 10% of his body weight, you need to call the vet.
How to tell if you have an overweight cat?
Part 1 of 3: Evaluating Your Cat’s Body Look at your cat from different angles. You can start determining if your cat’s overweight by looking at him. Touch your cat’s ribs. You can further examine your cat by touching him. Examine the base of your cat’s tail. Check other bony areas. Do not be overly concerned about a saggy belly.
