How Can I Make My Overweight Cat Lose Weight?

Although the fat, cuddly Garfield cat makes a cute comic-strip character, the picture for real live cats that are overweight is not so amusing. According to the Pet Center website, obese cats--which include 40 percent of the pet cats in America--are at increased risk of developing serious medical complications, including diabetes, hepatic lipidoisis and arthritis. You can tell if your own cat is overweight by checking its midsection and evaluating its shape--if you cannot feel your cat's ribs, or if your cat does not have a discernible waist, it is time to put your cat on a diet. By feeding the proper food, controlling portions and helping your cat get more exercise, you can help your feline friend lose weight and become slimmer, more agile and alert, and healthier.

Instructions

1

Take your overweight cat to the veterinarian for a physical exam that includes blood and urine tests, as well as an exact weight. It is very important to check that thyroid function is normal, and that there is no metabolic dysfunction that would cause weight gain.

2

Feed your overweight cat a high-protein diet. According to the Pet Center website, an ideal diet for cats consists of 35 to 45 percent protein and 40 percent fat, with minimal carbohydrates. Cats, as true carnivores, not only don't require carbohydrates, but can develop insulin resistance--a precursor to diabetes--from ingesting them.

3

Feed two to four small, controlled portions a day, rather than letting your overweight cat have "at liberty" feedings. For a 7-pound cat, each feeding should contain between 6/10ths of an ounce and 1 ounce of food--about the weight of a medium-sized mouse.

4

Control your cat's portions and calories so that the weight loss is slow and steady--no more than 1 to 2 percent of your cat's body weight should be lost each week. Sudden, drastic reduction in rations, and in body weight, can cause severe liver disease in cats. You can weigh your cat by holding it while standing on a scale and then deducting your own weight.

5

Feed small bits of cooked chicken or fish as high-protein, healthy treats for your cat, if you normally give your cat treats. Avoid commercial cat treats, which are high in flour, sugar and unnecessary flavorings.

6

Brush your cat--which most cats love--or stage a lively play session at times during which you would ordinarily give an edible treat. Your cat will appreciate the attention.

7

Increase your cat's level of activity. Flick the beam of a flashlight over floors and walls, or swish a bamboo pole topped with feathers enticingly past your cat's nose to trigger its hunt-and-chase reflex. Interactive cat toys that realistically simulate escaping prey are also a good choice.

8

Help your cat maintain its healthy new lifestyle once it reaches an ideal weight. Adjust the total amount you feed your cat so that its weight remains stable. Tailor the amount of food you give your feline friend to its body type and activity level. Don't automatically rely on the amount recommended by commercial pet food manufacturers.