It may be cute to have a fat cat. On the other hand there is not much cuteness about being at high reisks for conditions that are life threatening such as heart disease and diabetes. Owners of pet cats tend to be on the defensive about kitties that are larger and frequently say that there really is not much they can do. However, this is not always the case. How do you know when your cat needs to shed some pounds? It can be hard to weight your feline accurately at home. Instead, to find out whether or not your cat is overweight is to feel his rib area. If you need to try to ‘feel’ through fat pads to feel his rib, your cat may be overly fat. If you see that he has something that looks like a beer belly, this may be an indication that he is fat as well.

At the Vet

Each time you visit the vet, have your cat weighed. The tendency for cats is to weight between 8-10 pounds. When you see the scale tipping to over 12 pounds, your cat may have put on too much weight. The definition of obesity is to be fifteen per cent or more overweight. The heaver and longer period of time your cat has been fat, the more dangerous it is to his health. Naturally, you want your cat to live a healthy, long life. Once you have a suspicion that your cat is fat, it is time to do something to get his weight down.

Losing Weight Safely

One way to safely lose weight is for you to get more calories burned than you eat. A treadmill is out of the question for most cats, so increasing his activity is the next step. The method considered to be most reliable is to exercise your feline with daily sessions of playing. Try various toys and figure out what your cat likes. It can make a difference when he chases a catnip mouse for even just a few minutes per day.

Cutting Calories

Cutting the calories of your cat is part of a weight-loss diet. Maintaining the right calorie amounts will help his weight become lowered. You need to cut out treats and snacks as well and this includes human food. Be ready for your cat to protest in the beginning. However, to get him on the road to wellness and to notch health, less feeding is required. 

Mark Perissinotto has been a practicing veterinarian for over 20 years, 14 years of which he was the owner and principal of a busy multi-vet mixed animal hospital. One of the two co-founders of Vet Shop Australia, graduated from the University of Queensland with Bachelor of Veterinary Science and one of the best retailer of pet supplies Australia.