Effective Tips and Strategies to Make Your Cat Lose Weight

Obesity is a growing concern for cats, and it can lead to a range of health problems, from diabetes to joint issues. If you're wondering how to help your cat lose weight safely, you're not alone. With the right diet, exercise, and lifestyle changes, you can help your cat shed excess pounds and enjoy a longer, healthier life. Here are some effective strategies to help your cat lose weight.

How to Know My Cat is Overweight?

1、 Appearance observation method

• Body contour

When observing a cat from above, if the cat's waist cannot be seen, the sides of the waist protrude outward in a circular shape, while a normal cat's waist should have a noticeable depression. For example, a healthy weight cat should have a smooth body line from the top of its head along its back to its tail, with slight undulations and an inward curve at the waist; And for overweight cats, this area is rounded and lacks a sense of curves.

• Abdominal condition

When a cat stands or walks, if its abdomen is noticeably sagging and almost close to the ground, it may be a sign of overweight. A cat of normal weight has a relatively tight abdomen and does not have excessive fat accumulation.

• Rib touch

Gently touch the cat's ribs with your hands. If it is difficult to touch the ribs and requires strong pressure to feel, it indicates that the cat is covered in too much fat and is likely overweight; On a cat of normal weight, it should be relatively easy to feel the ribs, but the ribs will not protrude significantly.

2、 Weight assessment method

Reference variety standard weight

Different breeds of cats have different standard weight ranges. For example, the adult weight of Siamese cats is generally 3-5 kilograms; Adult British Shorthair cats weigh 4-8 kilograms. If your cat's weight exceeds the normal weight limit of its breed, it may be overweight. However, this is only a rough reference and needs to be judged based on the individual situation of the cat.

Physical Condition Score (BCS)

• This is a relatively professional evaluation method, usually dividing the physical condition of cats into 1-9 points.
• A score of 1-3 indicates that the cat is underweight and thin, and the skeletal structure can be clearly seen.
• 4-5 points is the ideal weight range for cats, with smooth body lines, ribs that can be easily touched but not protruding, and moderate abdominal fat.
• A score of 6-9 indicates that the cat is overweight or obese, with 6-7 points possibly indicating mild overweight. The cat's ribs are difficult to touch and there is a lot of fat in the abdomen; 8-9 points indicate severe obesity, the cat's body is round and almost no ribs can be felt, and there is obvious abdominal fat.

This rating system is determined by observing the cat's body size (from top and side), as well as by touching its ribs, waist area, abdomen, and accumulation of subcutaneous fat. The ideal BCS score is usually 4 points, indicating that the cat is within a healthy weight range. High or low scores may indicate weight management issues in cats.

Why Cats Shouldn't Be Too Heavy?

Cats that are too heavy can be dangerous to their health in a number of ways, as described below:

⒈Health Problems

Diabetes: obese cats are 2 - 4 times more likely to develop diabetes than ordinary cats. Excessive weight can lead to insulin resistance in the cat's body and an increase in blood sugar levels.

Liver Disease: when overweight, fat is excessively hoarded around the liver, causing a burden on the liver and leading to decreased liver function. For example, cats of any size, if anorexia or prolonged skipping of food and rapid weight loss is triggered by disease, the liver can be damaged or even endangered, and obese kittens facing this situation are even more dangerous.

Joint problems: the risk of arthritis in overweight cats is 3 - 5 times higher than in normal weight cats. When a cat jumps from a height, the heavier weight can lead to increased stress on the joints, joint damage, and abnormal cartilage problems.

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Skin problems: Obese cats may often be unable to adequately groom their body hair due to body burden and carcass limitations, which is more likely to lead to skin problems and exponentially increase the chances of skin diseases compared to normal size.

Urinary diseases: Obese cats are also prone to urinary diseases such as urethral stones and  bladder stones. These diseases can lead to frequent urination, painful urination, hematuria, and in severe cases, even kidney failure in cats.

Respiratory diseases: Obese cats have restricted respiratory function and are prone to respiratory diseases such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Compression of the chest cavity will affect the normal function of the respiratory system, leading to symptoms such as dyspnea, asthma, and in extreme cases, it may even lead to asphyxiation.

Cardiovascular disease: obese cats have an increased heart burden, which can easily lead to problems such as cardiac hypertrophy and heart enlargement. These heart diseases will not only make the cat feel difficulty in breathing, coughing and fatigue, but can even lead to sudden death in severe cases.

Tumors: Cats that are too obese and have a lowered metabolism are at risk of developing lumps of varying sizes in the chest, abdomen, neck and other parts of the body.

⒉Quality of life and longevity

Difficulty in mobility: Excessive weight will put a burden on the cat's joints and bones, causing them to have difficulty in mobility and may even affect their daily life. For example, cats may not be able to jump and climb high with flexibility.

Decreased vitality: obesity can lead to limited mobility in cats, and overweight cats tend to be reluctant to move and their daily activities are reduced. This lack of exercise can create a vicious cycle - the less a cat exercises, the harder it is to control its weight, which in turn leads to continued deterioration in health.

Mental health is affected: obesity may affect the mental health of cats, making them feel depressed, anxious or have low self-esteem. For example, a cat that is unable to move as flexibly as before due to its bulky size may become withdrawn and afraid to interact with other cats.

Shorter life expectancy: Obesity accelerates the aging of a cat's organs, especially vital organs such as the kidneys, heart and liver. Excessively obese cats usually develop health problems earlier and have a shorter life expectancy compared to normal weight cats.

⒊Surgery and Anesthesia Risks

Risks increase dramatically when anesthesia and surgery are performed on obese cats, and extra precautions are often required. Most anesthetics are absorbed into the fat, and overweight cats take longer to awaken from anesthesia. In addition, anesthetics are broken down by the liver, and if a cat has a fatty liver, it is less efficient at breaking down anesthetics and other medications, which can also further delay awakening and recovery. Body tissues that have large amounts of fat will obscure the surgical area, making the surgery more difficult and not only difficult to operate, but also longer, which can also increase the risk of anesthesia.

What are the Health Benefits of Weight Loss for Cats?

Weight loss has many health benefits for cats, including the following.

• Prevention and control of diseases

Obese cats are more susceptible to diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, arthritis, heart disease and fatty liver. Losing weight can reduce the risk of developing these diseases or alleviate symptoms in cats that already have them. For example, obese cats are more likely to develop diabetes, and losing weight can help control blood sugar levels and reduce the occurrence of diabetic complications. Reduce the burden on joints to prevent and relieve arthritis. Being overweight puts more pressure on a cat's joints, and losing weight reduces the pressure on the joints, helping to improve joint function.

• Improve quality of life

Cats that have lost weight are more agile and have increased mobility. They are able to jump, run, and play with greater ease, and the increased amount of exercise helps to improve your cat's physical fitness and mental health. Improved breathing reduces problems such as shortness of breath caused by obesity and allows cats to breathe more smoothly.

• Prolong life span

Studies have shown that obesity shortens a cat's lifespan. Cats that maintain a healthy weight by losing weight tend to live longer.

How to Make My Cat Lose Weight?

I. Diet

• Control the amount of food

Follow the recommended feeding amount on the cat food package. Often, cats are prone to over-eating, so you need to control the amount of each meal precisely. For example, if the package recommends feeding 50 grams per day, then divide it into 2 - 3 meals of 25 grams or about 16 - 17 grams per meal.

• Choosing the right cat food

Choose a cat food that is low in calories and high in fiber. This type of cat food allows the cat to feel full while consuming fewer calories. For example, some cat foods specifically designed for weight loss cats are relatively high in protein and low in fat, like Royal's Indoor Adult Weight Loss Cat Food for Adult Cats.

• High - Quality, Low - Calorie Food

Look for cat foods that are high in protein and fiber but low in fat. Wet food can be a good option as it often has a higher moisture content, which can make your cat feel fuller with fewer calories. Some brands offer "weight management" formulas specifically designed for overweight cats.

• Reduce snacks

Minimize the frequency and amount of snacks you feed your cat. Snacks like cat strips and canned food tend to be high in calories, and excessive consumption can easily lead to obesity. If you want to give snacks, choose some low-calorie ones, such as a small amount of freeze-dried chicken pellets, and give them only 1 - 2 times a week.

II. Exercise

• Increase interactive games

Play with your cat for 20 - 30 minutes a day with a teaser stick. The teaser stick can attract the cat to jump and chase and increase its exercise. For example, move the stick around the room in different places to allow the cat to move its body during the chase.

• Provide climbing space

Install a cat climbing frame or set up some shelves or boxes in the room that cats can climb on. Cats love to climb and this allows them to burn more calories during their daily activities. Cats will go up and down on these climbing facilities, which helps build muscle and burn fat.

Ⅲ.Regular Vet Check - Ups

Regular visits to the vet are crucial.

• Health Assessment: The vet can assess your cat's overall health and determine if there are any underlying medical conditions contributing to the weight gain, such as thyroid problems.
• Weight Monitoring: They can also accurately monitor your cat's weight loss progress and adjust the diet and exercise plan if necessary.

Ⅳ. Provide a Stress - Free Environment

Stress can sometimes lead to overeating in cats.

• Safe Space: Ensure that your cat has a quiet, safe space where they can relax. This could be a cozy corner with a soft bed and some of their favorite toys.
• Routine: Cats thrive on routine. Try to keep their feeding, play, and sleeping times consistent.

What Misconceptions Should I Avoid During Cat Weight Loss?

During cat weight loss, here are some of the misconceptions to avoid.

• Dieting method

Suddenly and drastically reducing your cat's food intake may cause health problems such as fatty liver and jaundice.

• Over-reliance on diet cat food

Although diet cat food helps to control calorie intake, you can't rely on it alone to lose weight, and it needs to be combined with diet control and exercise.

• Ignoring the calories in snacks

Snacks tend to be high in calories and should be reduced or avoided during weight loss.

• Lack of exercise

Increasing your cat's exercise is essential for weight loss, and simply controlling the diet without increasing exercise may not be effective.

• Failure to consult a veterinarian

Before starting a weight loss program, a veterinarian should be consulted to ensure that your cat's obesity is not caused by an underlying health problem.

• Losing weight too quickly

Losing weight too quickly may lead to health problems in cats and the principle of gradual weight loss should be followed.

• Neglecting nutritional balance

During the weight loss period, you should ensure that your cat consumes enough protein, fat, carbohydrates and fiber to avoid malnutrition.

• Not providing enough water

Make sure your cat has fresh water available at all times, as water is vital for metabolism and weight loss.

FAQs

What to feed an overweight cat?

• High Fiber Food

High-fiber cat foods help increase satiety while reducing calorie intake. For example, some cat foods with grains (e.g. oats, brown rice) and vegetables (e.g. pumpkin, broccoli) as the main ingredients. The fiber in these foods promotes intestinal motility, aids in digestion, and allows your cat to feel full on a smaller calorie intake.

• Low-fat food

Choose cat food with lower fat content, you can usually check the nutritional content table on the cat food package, and the fat content is around 10% - 15% is more appropriate. For example, some cat food with chicken and fish as the main protein source, but processed with low fat. At the same time, you can feed your cat a moderate amount of skinless chicken or fish, which are rich in high quality protein but relatively low in fat.

• Food portion control

Control the amount of food in each meal precisely according to your cat's age, activity level and ideal weight. Specialized measuring cups or kitchen scales can be used to ensure the accuracy of the amount of food fed. Avoid free-feeding by dividing the daily amount of food into 2 - 3 meals at regular intervals.

How can I fatten up my skinny cat?

• Increase high-quality protein intake

Foods rich in high-quality protein help cats gain muscle mass. You can feed your cat meat such as chicken, beef and fish. For example, cooked chicken breast can be cut into small pieces and fed to your cat. You can also choose cat food with high protein content, such as some cat food with fresh meat as the main ingredient and with a protein content of 30% or more.

• Provide high-calorie food (moderate)

You can occasionally feed your cat some high-calorie food, such as canned cat food (especially canned food with high meat content and moderate fat). But be careful not to overdo it, so as not to cause indigestion or obesity. You can also feed your cat some nutritional paste, which is rich in many nutrients and high in calories, to help replenish its energy.

• Increase the frequency of feeding

Increase from 2 - 3 meals to 3 - 4 meals per day. This will keep your cat energized throughout the day and help with weight gain. However, the amount of each feeding should also be properly controlled to avoid overfeeding at one time causing gastrointestinal burden.

What is a healthy weight for a house cat?

Conclusion

Helping your cat lose weight is a gradual process that requires a combination of proper diet, increased exercise, and careful monitoring. With the right approach, you can help your cat achieve a healthy weight and improve their overall quality of life. Always consult with your veterinarian before starting a weight loss plan, as they can provide tailored advice and guidance. By following these steps, your cat can enjoy a healthier, more active lifestyle and avoid the risks associated with obesity.