Today, in North America, 60 percent of cats are overweight, and 30 percent are obese. Cats that are too fat are more susceptible to a variety of ailments, such as diabetes, kidney disease, and hip problems. An overweight feline may even have problems using the litter box. Just as with people, the only way for a cat to get back into shape is through diet and exercise.
Diet
Treating your cat to a piece of cheese or a bowl of milk is a bad idea. If a 10 lb cat ate 1 oz of cheddar cheese, it would be the same as if you ate 3 1/2 hamburgers and 4 chocolate bars. A glass of milk would be the equivalent of eating 4 1/2 hamburgers and 5 chocolate bars! Do not treat your cat to food that is meant for people unless you are positive it will do no harm (a veterinarian or well-trained pet store staff can help with this).
Feline obesity often starts by feeding a cat a low quality, grocery brand cat food. These foods are full of grain, and not meat. Since felines are obligatory carnivores, meaning they need meat to survive, a grain based diet does not provide them with enough nutrients. The excess carbohydrates of a grain based diet will cause your cat to pack on the pounds. Always read the labels on a bag of food before you feed in to your cat, and pay special attention to the first 3 ingredients.
If your cat is overweight, feed it a "light" or "calorie reduced" diet. Pay special attention to the feeding guides listed on the bag of a light diet. Cats will not lose weight if they are allowed to eat as much as they please, even if the food is lower in calories. There are many high quality light diets available at pet specialty stores, so you do not have to purchase a prescription diet from a veterinarian.
Exercise
More cats than ever before are spending the bulk of their lives indoors. The benefits of having an indoor cat are many, but an unfortunate side-effect is that these cats often do not get enough exercise.
A cat should have plenty of toys to encourage them to get up and move around. Toys with catnip usually do the trick. If your cat does not seem to care about catnip, try a toy that contains honeysuckle. Cat toys that crinkle seem to be favorites among felines as well.
Scheduling playtime with your cat can also help them get back into shape. There are plenty of interactive toys on the market. Wands with strings or feathers attached to them are a great choice. Laser pointers also send cats into a frenzy. Nothing is more fun to watch than the antics of a cat trying to catch its "prey."
Every household that contains a cat should also have a scratching post. It will not only encourage the cat to leave the couch alone, but scratching helps the cat to burn off calories. Large scratching posts that the cat has to climb up on to use are especially effective in getting them active.
Cats are wonderful companions and become members of the family to most of their owners. Just as with any other member of the family, you want your cat to be as healthy as it can be. Keeping your feline family member slim and trim will help your cat to live a long and happy life.
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