Unfortunately, it is relatively common to find overweight cats. Diet and lifestyle can favor this problem. We must know that it is not only an aesthetic issue, the extra kilos affect the quality of life of the animal, making it more prone to certain diseases and aggravating others.
In this article on our site we will talk about overweight in cats, its causes, symptoms, consequences and treatment.
What is overweight in cats?
When we talk about overweight we mean that the cat has exceeded its ideal weight between 1 and 19% If this percentage reaches at 20%, the cat would no longer be overweight, but obesity There is no single weight great for all cats Each specimen will have its own depending on its size, sex, breed, etc.
How do you know if a cat is overweight?
To know if our cat is overweight we can look at his body condition. There are some scales that assess it based on certain criteria, establishing whether it is at its optimum weight, too thin, fat or obese. For example, it is evaluated if seen from above the waist is marked, if the ribs are easily palpablewhen passing your hand or if abdomen hangs down
If you have any doubts, since we caregivers are not always able to observe our cat objectively, it is best to consult the veterinarian. This professional can tell you what your cat's ideal weight is and calculate how much it exceeds. Remember that how much an overweight cat weighs will be between 1-19% more than its optimal weight. If this condition is confirmed, it must be remedied.
Causes of overweight in cats
There are several causes that may be behind weight gain in cats. The most common are the following:
- Castration: this intervention results in a decrease in energy needs. This means that if the cat eats the same calories as usual, there will be an excess that will accumulate.
- Sedentary life: if the cat eats more calories than it burns in its daily activity because it barely exercises, these will not be eliminated and they will end up giving rise to extra kilos.
- Feeding: an unsuitable diet for the characteristics of the cat, of low quality or administered incorrectly can cause overweight.
- Age: Over the years, cats tend to reduce their activity, which can lead to weight gain if they continue to eat the same quantities or foods as in their youth, especially in specimens between 2-10 years old.
- Diseases: Occasionally, some pathologies can cause weight gain. For example, a cat with joint pain will move less. If you keep eating the same, you will gain weight. Other times illnesses are not physical. Some specimens can eat obsessively in stressful situations.
How to treat an overweight cat?
The first step is to recognize that there is a problem and that it is not just an aesthetic issue. The treatment of overweight in cats is the responsibility of the veterinarian and has two key points of attention: food and lifestyle We cannot make the mistake of removing feed the cat on our own abruptly, as the result could be a dangerous hepatic lipidosis.
Exercise for overweight cats
It is essential that the cat does more than just sleep all day. You can encourage him to move, always taking into account his circumstances, playing with him and providing him with an environment in which he can carry out the activities that are natural, such as running, climbing, scratching, or hiding. Provide him with vertical scratchers, furniture at different heights and offer him toys to interact with.
Food for an overweight cat
If you wonder how to care for an overweight cat, the first thing is to look for a suitable food for this circumstance to help it lose the extra kilos, let be appetizing and let satisfy you so you don't go hungry. For example, Lenda has developed the VET Nature range, made with natural ingredients and intended to treat certain he alth problems, such as being overweight. To do this, you have Slimming & Sterilized It is a low-fat food so that the body burns its deposits, thus producing weight loss. At the same time, it has high-quality proteins in an adequate percentage to ensure the maintenance of muscle mass. In addition, it adds probiotics that help maintain the immune and digestive systems, which will be strained during the weight loss process.
Follow the instructions to administer it correctly. Better than leaving the food within his reach all day is to divide it into several portions, unless this measure causes him anxiety. This way we prevent him from eating everything at once and spending the rest of the day ordering. You can also use interactive feeders that force him to “work” to access the food. On the other hand, do not give him sweets and, if you do, deduct them from the daily ration. Otherwise, you would be promoting overweight.
Consequences of being overweight in cats
We have insisted that extra kilos not only affect the appearance of the cat. Being overweight makes you more prone to diseases such as diabetes or the very common pathologies that affect the urinary tractIt also aggravates others, such as those involving the joints. In addition, being overweight makes the cat less able to tolerate heat, exercise or anesthesia , running more risk if it requires surgery.
In general, as we can see, being overweight affects the animal's quality of life and can decrease its life expectancy.
How to avoid overweight in cats?
Much better than trying to make our cat lose weight is to prevent it from exceeding its optimal weight. To do this, we must take into account the measures that we have already mentioned. In other words, we must offer him a quality diet adapted to his circumstances, such as the aforementioned Slimming & Sterilized if it is a sterilized cat, and thenecessary conditions for you to exercise Also, don't go overboard on food treats or let your weight gain get out of control. This means that as soon as we notice that you start to put on weight, we will have to take action immediately.
Likewise, it is recommended that at least once a year we take him to the vet for a general checkup in which he will also be weighed. In this way, we maintain regular weight control and we can discover factors that can increase it early.
