| Product: |
Obesity in cats |
| Date: |
09/02/06 (3857 review reads) |
| Rating: |
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Advantages: fat cats are cuddly
Disadvantages: fat cats don't live full lives
As much as I loved him, there was no denying it any longer. Findon, my 8 year old neutered ginger tom was a fat bundle of fur with a peanut for a head.
When you live with a cat day in day, it’s very difficult to spot how much they are changing. Even as a kitten, Findonwas always bigger than his sister, Mila, but it was very easy to put his eating habits down to him having a “healthy” appetite. Having two cats also meant it was very difficult to regulate how much he ate. Mila was never a big eater and what was left in her bowl inevitably ended up in Findon’s tummy.
Last summer, Mila died suddenly (she had a heart attack) and I decided for peace of mind to get Findon booked in to the vet for a full health check.
His check-up went ok but his weight was inevitably an issue – he was 9Kgs which meant he fell into the clinically obese category and we decided there and then to get him onto a pet "weight-watchers" programme. If we didn't, his health would start to deteriorate.
The Programme
Findon was prescribed reduced calorie dry cat food and the vet then worked out that to reach a healthy weight, he would need to lose 3Kgs. I was told how much food to give him a day and bring him back every 3 weeks for a weigh-in (weigh-ins are free of charge at my vet).
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I have read up quite extensively now on obesity in cats and I'd like share my findings with you.
INTRODUCTION
Obesity is a problem no longer confined to humans. It is fast becoming a serious issue for domestic cats and dogs in the UK too and they run the risk of health complications similar to us.
HOW TO TELL IF YOUR CAT IS OVERWEIGHT
To be overweight, cats must be at least 15% above their ideal weight. An obese cat is not a pretty sight. They can be cumbersome, unable to reach all the parts that need grooming, they suffer deterioration in athletic ability and are subject to skin problems.
Severe obesity is easy to identify, but moderate obesity may be more difficult to ascertain. There isn't a standard weight for pedigree or non-pedigree cats so a vet examination is necessary to assess just how overweight kitty is. They do this using a technique called "body condition scoring" and there are established UK guidelines to help vets determine the severity of obesity accurately.
WHAT CAUSES OBESITY
The simplest cause is this - the cat consumes far more calories than it expends.
Other factors that come into play include their basic metabolic rate (different from cat to cat), age, neutering, sex (females are 2:1 more likely than males), hyperadrenocorticism, diabetes, hypothyroidism and inactivity.
Neutering is frequently blamed and studies show that spayed cats run twice the risk of becoming obese. Once a cat has been neutered its energy requirement are reduced. That said, there is little doubt that other factors such as diet and "treats" play a large part in the development of obesity. Owners can be as much to blame as the other factors I've listed.
You may be surprised at how little food some cats require to maintain their body weight, particularly if they are relatively inactive or indoor cats.
Bad habits such as the following need to be kicked too:-
- Leaving your cat alone for extended periods of time
- Leaving a pile of food in the bowl for the day
- Having more than one person responsible for feeding the cat
- Giving the cat treats and snacks
- Not playing with your feline pal
PROBLEMS AS A RESULT OF BEING OVER-WEIGHT
One thing is for sure, letting your cat remain fat will shorten its life span.
Skeleton:
Extra weight places stress on the musculo-skeletal system, predisposing your cat to lower back problems, lameness and arthritis.
Blood pressure:
Obese cats also develop high blood pressure, which in turn places stress on the heart and circulatory system, leading to heart failure. High blood pressure itself leads to the possibility of organ failure, especially the heart, kidneys and liver (particularly hepatic lipidosis).
Breathing:
They may have trouble breathing through congestive heart failure or asthmatic problems.
Diabetes:
Another major problem in obese cats is diabetes. Frequently these cats are insulin resistant but if normal weight can be achieved, often the diabetes disappears.
There are many more problems associated with cat obesity and all of them put your cat at risk in another way. If your cat requires surgery, an anaesthetic is much more risky than normal, the incidence of complications is greater and the obesity itself prolongs the cat's convalescence.
ACTION REQUIRED TO HELP YOUR CAT LOSE WEIGHT
If you think your cat is overweight it is important to see your vet before you do anything. Suddenly cutting an obese cat's daily intake of food can damage on their liver.
The goal of a good weight management program is gradual weight loss. This is particularly important in cats because severe food restriction can result in hepatic lipidosis (fatty liver).
Your vet will advise you of what to do. First up, they will confirm whether the increase in weight is fat-related or something more serious. Some of the best diet foods are only available through prescription by your vet so instead of buying a "light" cat food off the supermarket shelf, see what your vet advises and follow the feeding programme he sets out.
SOME HELPFUL GUIDELINES TO HEALTHY WEIGHT-LOSS:
- Assign one person in the house to feed the cat
- Do not leave food out all day
- Don't feed your cat cheap brands of cat food. You get what you pay for, and cheap brands are mostly fillers, dyes and low in nutritional content. Good diet cat foods are high in fibre and rich in the right nutrients.
- Make sure there is plenty of fresh water. Diet cat food is high in fibre so your cat will inevitably feel thirstier than normal. My cat prefers to drink running water so I find myself gently running the bath tap more frequently for him now.
- Give your cat a small amount of food in the morning and the balance while you eat in the evening.
- If your cat doesn't like the diet food, introduce it gradually so he/she learns to tolerant it.
- If he/she pesters you for food, change the focus of their attention by playing with them.
- If you cat is an outdoor cat, tell your neighbours that he/she is not to be fed by them no matter how much they beg.
- Play with him/her more often, to help him work off some of the extra weight. If they are bored with their current toys, get some new ones.
- If you have only one cat, you may consider getting another to encourage them to exercise and play more. We got a new kitten a few months ago and Findon spends alot less time sleeping these days.
SLOWLY BUT SURELY WE'RE GETTING THERE
Findon is still on his diet. He weighed 7.1Kgs on his latest visit to the vet which means that he’s lost almost 2Kg since starting his diet 6 months ago. I'm not sure WHERE exactly he's lots that 2 kilos from as I can't see a difference in his physique yet (hope it's not just from all the fur balls he's been hacking up lately!) but I guess as I mentioned before, when you live with a cat day in day out it's difficult to see the changes.
Regular evaluation by your vet during a pet weight loss programme is important to ensure that adequate weight loss is being achieved. In general, cats should be weighed every three weeks during a weight loss programme.
Once your bundle of fluff has achieved their "target" weight, their diet and lifestyle will need to be adjusted carefully so as to avoid any further weight loss and prevent of course to prevent any weight gain.
Helping your cat get back to a normal weight can be tough but it's worth it knowing you've done your best to ensure that they are a happier, healthier and longer-lived pussy cat.
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© Jaggynettles / kollarosie on Ciao
Summary: Helping your cat get back to a normal weight can be tough but it's worth it.
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