Did you know that 400g of extra weight on a cat is the same as an extra 10-15kg on an average woman that’s 1,70m tall? But what is a healthy weight for cats, and when is it time to worry?
In most households, cats rule the roost and get what they want when they want it. But the problem with succumbing to the charm of those pleading eyes when it comes to food can put your furry friend’s health at risk. Overweight cats are four times for likely to contract diabetes and two times more likely to develop urinary stones that call for surgical intervention. So when does your cat’s weight become a problem?
How to determine a healthy weight for cats
Although your veterinarian may have your cat step on the scale at her next appointment, they’ll use more than this number to assess her health.
Veterinarians use a Body Condition System (BCS) to visually and physically assess whether your cat is too heavy or too thin. You can see the criteria your veterinarian uses when evaluating your cat’s weight here.
If you’re not sure if your kitty is a little overweight, you can make use of online tools to calculate it. We especially like Hill’s Pet Nutrition Calculator, which can be used before you consult with your vet about your cat’s diet. That being said, here are some tips you can implement to bring your cat back from the brink of becoming the next Garfield!
Tips for your cat’s weight
1. Offer smarter food choices
Cutting back on the amount of food you feed your overweight cat isn’t the solution to the problem. That’s why it’s better to chat to your vet about foods that’ll rev up your cat’s metabolism before you start restricting kilojoules.
2. Introduce new food gradually
It’s not wise to suddenly change your cat’s food since it can lead to an upset tummy or point-blank refusal to eat it from your cat’s side. You need to introduce your cat to the new food gradually, over a week. Try mixing the new food with your cat’s old food at a ratio of 3 to 1 with the majority being the old food and slowly shift the ratio until you’re at 100% new food.
3. Plan carefully when you’ve got two cats and only one cat’s weight is a problem
The last thing you want to do is give your dieting cat access to your healthy cat’s food bowl. Make sure they have separate feeding areas and that your overweight cat doesn’t have access to food throughout the day. If need be, use a cardboard box and cut a hole in it that’s only big enough for the slimmer cat to fit through.
4. Pump up his physical activity
Exercise is an essential part of staying healthy, for all cats, not just the ones that have issues with their weight. But of course, you’ll need to be the one that encourages active play if your overweight cat is on the lazy side. Perhaps it might be a good idea to invest in some interactive toys that encourage play. Something as simple as a cat tickler can help promote hunting, running, and jumping, but so will a tall scratch post.
