Obesity is one of the most common health problems seen in cats, and it can go on to cause other serious health issues if left untreated. What’s more, it can also exemplify existing ones, such as diabetes, heart disease, and arthritis.
Obesity is caused by cats consuming more calories than they burn. The easiest way to determine whether your cat is a healthy weight and condition is by feeling the shape of him.
This is much simpler than using scales, as the ideal weight for each breed and size of cat is different, but the shape they should be is the same for all.
Webbox nutritionist Jennifer Dean offers her top tips for keeping your cat’s weight in check.
Follow these simple steps:
1 When you look at your cat from the side/above,you should be able to see a defined waist.
2 As you run your hands down your cat’s side, you should be able to easily feel his ribs without pressure.
3 When touching the stomach area, you should not be able to feel your cat’s tummy bulging.
4 When running your hands along your cat’s back, you should be able to feel his spine and hip bones, but not see them.
5 You should not be able to feel any fat build-up at the base of the tail. If you complete this check and you can’t feel his ribs, spine, and hips then your cat may be overweight. If you can see them, your cat may be underweight. If you’re concerned about your cat’s weight, visit your vet.
It’s important that you make sure you are feeding your cat food with good-quality ingredients that meet their nutritional requirements and in the quantities that they need.
Feeding guides found on packaging are a recommendation only.
Metabolism plays a big part in determining how much foodyour cat needs.
Like us, all cats are unique and require slightly different amounts of food.
Factors that affect how much your cat should eat include activity level, whether they are neutered, gender, age, and breed.
You can also ask your vet for advice on the number of calories your cat should consume per day and work out a ration based on this information.
TOP TIPS
● Weigh food out daily.
● Do not feed table scraps.
● Do not feed too many treats.
● Transition your cat onto adult food when he is a year old to avoid feeding a food too high in fat.
● In multi-cat households, try to ensure one isn’t eating more than they should.
● Keep indoor cats active by encouraging them to play for 10-15 minutes per day.
● Puzzle feeding can encourage cats to be more active during feeding and take longer to eat.
● If your cat suddenly increases or decreases in weight, get him checked out by your vet to ensure there isn’t an underlying
medical reason.
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