Obesity in Cats

Dear Dr. Jody:  Our 8 year old cat, “Earl”, has recently become much plumper than he used to be.  We haven’t changed his food recently, and he still eats from the same self-feeder he always has.  He doesn’t seem to overeat.  How do we get him to lose weight?

Obesity in cats is one of the most common health concerns I address on a daily basis.  Approximately 90% of the adult cats I see in my clinic are overweight.  Unfortunately, more than half of the owners of these cats do not realize their cats are chubby.  Most owners feel that their cat is simply “big-boned” or muscular.  While people and dogs store their excess body fat between their muscles and their skin, cats store most of their body fat inside their abdomen, hidden around their organs.  This means that you still may be able to feel your cat’s backbone and ribs without much effort, giving the impression that your cat is therefore fit when this may not be the case. 

Most healthy adult male cats should weigh in the vicinity of 9-11 lbs, and females should weigh slightly less.  If you are unsure whether your feline friend is too portly, please contact your veterinarian.  If it is determined that your cat is too wide around the middle, it will be critical that you begin a weight loss program immediately. 

Excessive weight in cats has been linked to an increased incidence of liver disease, diabetes, lower urinary tract disease, arthritis, skin disease, and a poor coat.  Maintaining your cat at his ideal body condition will statistically increase his chances of living a very long and healthy life.

So how do we get a cat to lose weight?  It can be a bit more challenging than undertaking a weight loss program for the family dog, since most cats do not exercise on command.  Although I do have one very special (and physically fit!) feline patient that enjoys hiking long distances on-leash in Kananaskis, most cats live a sedentary life. The first step is to have your veterinarian determine what your cat’s target body weight is.  With this information, he or she can then calculate the number of daily calories, and therefore daily food volume, your cat needs in order to lose weight at a healthy rate.  Most cats require only about 250 kcal per day to maintain a healthy weight.  This translates to roughly ¼ cup of dry food twice daily.

It is important to meal-feed your cat rather than keeping the bowl full or using a self-feeder.  Although it may seem that your self-fed cat is rarely at the food bowl, keep in mind that free-fed cats frequently eat at night when you may not notice they are snacking.  You might be surprised how much food your cat is consuming in a 24 hour period.  Your veterinarian can give you tips on how to transition your cat from a self-feeding regimen to a twice-daily schedule, as many cats will object to this change of routine.

Pet stores carry a fun product known as a Tricky Treat Ball.  This apple-sized plastic ball can be filled with your cat’s morning or evening meal.  Your cat must then roll the ball around the room to dispense kibbles individually from small holes in the ball.  It may not seem like much exercise, but cats can burn a significant number of calories trying to figure out how to get their meal.  An added benefit of this ball is that it slows down the rate at which your cat eats.  This will have the effect of making him feel full on less food than he is accustomed to, and may decrease the frequency of post-meal vomiting in some cats. 

You can make your own Tricky Treat dispenser from a cardboard one-litre apple juice container.  Wash and dry the juice box, then cut a hole in the front of the box.  The hole should be large enough to get kitty’s arm in and out, but not so large that a head can be squeezed in. 

One final fun trick:  have your cat’s ¼ cup of supper in a container on your lap while you are watching TV in the evening.  Toss one kibble across the room for kitty to chase after.  When he comes back looking for more, toss another kibble.  In this way, he will burn far more calories at supper than any other time of the day.

For more tips and tricks on achieving weight loss in your pet, please contact your veterinarian.  It can be tricky to get an animal that is designed to sleep more than 16 hours a day to exercise and lose weight, but with some imagination and dedication, you can be well on your way to enjoying added years of health with your furry feline friend.