Obesity is the most common form of malnutrition in cats with more than one third of cats in most countries, including Australia, either overweight or obese.
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Our pets’ lifestyles are becoming more sedentary, and devoted owners often provide high quality food ad lib resulting in excessive weight gain.
Excess body weight has negative effects on health, and evidence is mounting for strong associations between body fat content and numerous diseases.
Fat cats are prone to diseases including diabetes, musculoskeletal problems, dermatitis, lower urinary tract disease and hepatic lipidosis.
Fat cats also have a shortened lifespan and prove to be a greater anaesthetic risk.
This means that the prevention and treatment of obesity is THE most important goal of feeding cats.
However, achieving weight loss is not easy! Slow and steady is the way to go.
The underlying concept of obesity management is simple. Weight loss occurs whenever daily energy expenditure exceeds daily consumption of calories. This means that fat cats need to eat less and move more.
So, how do we achieve this?
Here are a few tips.
- Remember that dry food has three times the calories of wet food
- Try to feed multiple small meals rather than ad lib feeding as this mimics normal feline feeding behaviours
- Provide food in foraging devices, food balls or puzzle feeders providing mental stimulation and energy expenditure when eating
- Provide food in multiple locations so the cat has to move around to access the food
- Play more with your cat - wand toys to stalk and pounce on are great, and many cats can be taught to retrieve; ping pong balls are also fun. Spending time playing with your cat also increases quality of life.
- Provide more opportunity for exercise eg climbing towers, scratching posts and outdoor enclosures. Many cats will happily learn to walk outside on a harness and a lead
- Some cats will love to chase bubbles and children often love being given the task of exercising a cat
Fat cats also have a shortened lifespan and prove to be a greater anaesthetic risk.
- Aim for 20-30 minutes of exercise per day divided into two or three sessions
- Completely balanced prescription diets are also available to assist with weight loss; some are high in fibre and others high in protein but low in carbohydrates. Your vet will be able to help you decide which diet is the correct one for your cat.
