It is easier to prevent your cat from becoming overweight than it is to remove the excess weight after it has formed. To avoid gaining weight, we must feed our pets according to their activity level and age. Senior cats, whose metabolisms have slowed, will require more calories per pound of body weight than younger cats.
How to prevent cat obesity?
If your cat is overweight, its quality of life may decrease. Here on this page are some general suggestions for maintaining the health of your cat.
Proper Exercise
Regular exercise is required to maintain a healthy weight. Indoor cats may be more prone to obesity since they get less exercise. Indoor cats may also be stressed or bored, which can lead to overeating.
Filling feeding balls with food will encourage your cat to work for his or her meal. Make sure you put some of their typical ration of food inside the ball, and don’t accidentally give them more. Playing with your cat is also a good way to get some exercise and interact with him.
Choosing the Right Food
Cats require a variety of diets throughout their lives. Young cats require more calories, protein, and minerals than adult cats. Cats who spend more time outside in the cold have higher energy needs. Maternal cats have higher protein, mineral, and calorie requirements. Lazy cats, on the other hand, consume less energy. Even the most active senior cats may require fewer calories than kittens.
Some cats eat only what they see, while others eat everything. It is advisable to provide food in the form of meals rather than having a food bowl full of food ready at all times (free choice, ad. lib.). It’s easy to keep track of how much you eat, and the food doesn’t deteriorate. In a multi-pet household, providing food as meals ensures that pets consume the proper food.
If your cat is on a diet but still doesn’t seem to be losing weight, it could be due to a calorie deficiency. Despite their low-calorie content, many diet foods are heavy in calories. Consult your veterinarian for meal suggestions. Your cat may require prescription weight-loss food to get started and if you still don’t have a vet for your cat, click this link.
Keep an Eye on Your Cat’s Weight
We can easily put on a few pounds without realizing it until we try on something we haven’t worn in a long time. Small weight gains in pets are more difficult to spot. Regularly weighing your cat allows you to discover minor weight increase (or loss) before it becomes a severe problem.
Kittens that are overweight as kittens are more likely to be overweight as adults. We must provide adequate nutrients to growing animals while avoiding overfeeding. Excess weight in young animals can lead to problems later in life such as joint illness and weight problems.
Limit or Get Rid of Treats and Table Scraps
Treats and table leftovers are the worst culprits when it comes to weight loss. For teaching cats to ‘come,’ treats are preferable to table scraps (yes, you can teach them to come). However, indulging in too many goodies might lead to serious complications. When it comes down to it, most cats would prefer to have your attention than a treat. You’ll get more joy from playing or bringing them to the best pet grooming Stockton has to offer than from the treat, and you’ll also save calories.
Conclusion
Although overfeeding or under-exercising causes most weight gain in cats, medical issues can also contribute. Many of these disorders are treatable. If your cat’s hunger or weight suddenly increases, have your cat examined by a veterinarian to make sure an illness doesn’t cause the problem.