Slimming for cats?

A.B.Yaffle · 31-08-2006, 19:55

I weighed our cat Ermi earlier and was shocked to discover he weighs just over a stone! Someone told me that a healthier weight would be around half that. He is only eating the recommended amount (3 single pouches per day), so does anyone have any suggestions on how to get him to lose weight? (Apart from getting him a gym membership!)

kittenta · 31-08-2006, 20:11

Are you sure your cat isn't getting fed elsewhere? Do you have biscuits down or anything? Doesn't sem a lot to be eating to get over weight

torin8 · 31-08-2006, 20:14

How old is your cat and have you had a health check recently at the vets? If not might be worth going (oh and take your cat too

). At least then you'll have ruled out any other health probs.

Tracie · 31-08-2006, 20:29

Similar question to Kittena's - does Ermi have cat biscuits as well as meat and if so, does he have unlimited access to these? Our cat started to get a bit chubby earlier this year and we put it down to her being able to nibble at her cat biscuits all day (whenever the bowl was empty, I just refilled it

). We started to limit the amount we gave her and also, made sure that she only got access to her biccies at set feeding times rather than allowing her to snack all day. She's back to her normal healthy weight now.

Also, it's probably worth getting the 'lite' version of Ermi's normal cat biscuits, if he has them

A.B.Yaffle · 31-08-2006, 20:45

Ermi doesn't have access to other food, as he only goes out at night and avoids strangers like the plague! Apart from his food, he just has 4 whiskas dentabits treats and occasionally whiskas milk. We did take him to the vet last year, and the vet said he had cystitis and recommended the wet food rather than dry food. Apart from cystitis and his weight, the vet said he seemed very healthy. He has become very large though, not so much fat as long, tall, and chunky. He is only 3 years old, and if he gets much bigger he will be needing his own bedroom soon!

torin8 · 31-08-2006, 22:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patchy

We did take him to the vet last year.......

Might be worth a fresh trip.....
Still I have a 4 month old cat which is 3kg.... vet calls him 'Chunkey Monkey' he's just big boned

zweena · 01-09-2006, 06:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patchy

Ermi doesn't have access to other food, as he only goes out at night and avoids strangers like the plague! Apart from his food, he just has 4 whiskas dentabits treats and occasionally whiskas milk. We did take him to the vet last year, and the vet said he had cystitis and recommended the wet food rather than dry food. Apart from cystitis and his weight, the vet said he seemed very healthy. He has become very large though, not so much fat as long, tall, and chunky. He is only 3 years old, and if he gets much bigger he will be needing his own bedroom soon!

Sounds very similar to Hobbes, our 2 year old tabby, who weighs just under a stone, much to the vets wry amusement! One thing though that they also have in common is cystitis...Hobbes gets this frequently as a result of stress, and has suffered severely with it since he was only 4 months old. The vet recommended a special diet (dry food as he won't touch wet), but this is where the weight gain/greed started. Are you on a vet special diet, or just changed to wet food? i just wonder if this food is part of the problem - Hobbes is almost addicted to the stuff and really would eat a whole bag. In fact, the neighbourhoods cats have been known in the past to break in and scoff the stuff straight from the bag. Maybe there is some connection?

kittenta · 01-09-2006, 10:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patchy

Ermi doesn't have access to other food, as he only goes out at night and avoids strangers like the plague!

Just because he avoids strangers doesn't mean he isn't finding food elsewhere! My cats have there own cupboard with all there stuff in and a cat flap and i've often opened the door to find another cat happily munching only to run light lightening as soon as it sees me.

I would take him to the vets to be on the safe side!

A.B.Yaffle · 01-09-2006, 10:53

Will make an appointment soon, he's due a check-up anyway!

kittenta · 01-09-2006, 11:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patchy

Will make an appointment soon, he's due a check-up anyway!

Good, let us know how you get on!