ArtsAutosBooksBusinessEducationEntertainmentFamilyFashionFoodGamesGenderHealthHolidaysHomeHubPagesPersonal FinancePetsPoliticsReligionSportsTechnologyTravel

How to Keep Your Cat from Getting Fat

Updated on April 20, 2015

Cat Information: Cat weight control

Cats are prone to being overweight just like their humans. A cat that is fed too many treats and isn't exercised can start to gain weight, eventually developing health problems. Keeping your "muggie" in shape is quite simple. Here is how I keep my cat's weight under control.



So what does a cat require food-wise?

According to the Complete Encyclopedia of Cats by Michael Pollard, a healthy adult cat requires: 31 percent protein, 41 percent fat and 28 percent carbohydrates. That is a lot more fat than humans need!

Kittens and growing cats need different proportions and so does an elderly cat.

His recommendation is to buy a good quality, commercial food that is "complete" nutritionally and pick a food that is "age-appropriate"...so you have to read the label!



  • How to Know if Your Cat is Overweight...

A cat is overweight if they, like humans, have a big gut and have a difficult time moving around or reaching certain parts of their anatomy, especially while grooming. I was going to say this doesn't apply to humans, but if your arms don't reach to comb your hair, well, I am just sayin'.


  • How to Determine the Correct Amount of Food for Your Cat:

To get your cat's serving right takes a little effort. If a portion of the food is left-over every day then scale the portion back until the food is consumed. However, remember cats don't gulp the food down like dogs do... cats are slow eaters and expect to come back later to finish their portion.


  • Fresh water daily is part of the healthy cat's requirement.

Seven oz. or (200 ml for us Canadians and other "metric people"). ..is the absolute minimum... so always provide much more. My cat drinks more and I supply a large dish of water and replace it every day to be sure he never goes without since he eats a mixture of dry foods.

I prefer a bigger dish of water because my cat will spill a small dish! He also plays in his water, so it stays cleaner, longer!


My cat is very partial to treats and expects to sample my food, which is very much my fault. He only gets a tiny sliver and usually turns up his nose, but he has indulged in Cheesies, multigrain bread, some cheeses and strangely, banana bread and OLIVES! Oh, yes did I tell you he loves ice cream? Bet your cat does as well! (remember the fat?)


  • Mealtimes should be twice a day, and because cats are sticklers for routine, preferably same time every day in the same place!

That said, I suppose it depends on your pet...I move everything around and he has never gone off his food and manages to find it no matter where I present it! So know your pet. A more shy animal may need the routine. Oh yes, some cats are real fussy and will only eat a brand they like. I see that in Coco with commercial foods, but sometimes I think he would eat a turnip, if he saw me eating one!


Everybody has those "fat" days!

A photoraph puts on five pounds!
A photoraph puts on five pounds! | Source

Cats Need Exercise

So you think cats do not need exercise? Think again!. That lump of fur sleeping on the couch, turns into a speedball, careening over vases and into closets given half the chance or incentive.

I would say giving your cat exercise gives you "peace of mind",

besides helping to keep him trim and fit! . If you don't entertain the li'l varmint; it will entertain itself, usually at your expense. Mine has done jumping jacks on the door frame making nice gouges for me to patch. Just because he felt like seeing how high he could jump straight up in the air!


Once in a while, in my house, we go on an "organized" chase.

I clear the rooms of any objects he might knock down and chase him...well if I turn my back he tears after me...but the idea is to work the living daylights out of the moggie so he retires to the couch and hopefully sleeps the night and more importantly, lets me sleep mine! Since cats are not endurance animals, the game is usually short, but the cat is contented after.


Watch the video and do the diet by the numbers as told to you by an expert! Video at the end!

Professional cat weight loss advice

working

This website uses cookies

As a user in the EEA, your approval is needed on a few things. To provide a better website experience, hubpages.com uses cookies (and other similar technologies) and may collect, process, and share personal data. Please choose which areas of our service you consent to our doing so.

For more information on managing or withdrawing consents and how we handle data, visit our Privacy Policy at: https://corp.maven.io/privacy-policy

Show Details
Necessary
HubPages Device IDThis is used to identify particular browsers or devices when the access the service, and is used for security reasons.
LoginThis is necessary to sign in to the HubPages Service.
Google RecaptchaThis is used to prevent bots and spam. (Privacy Policy)
AkismetThis is used to detect comment spam. (Privacy Policy)
HubPages Google AnalyticsThis is used to provide data on traffic to our website, all personally identifyable data is anonymized. (Privacy Policy)
HubPages Traffic PixelThis is used to collect data on traffic to articles and other pages on our site. Unless you are signed in to a HubPages account, all personally identifiable information is anonymized.
Amazon Web ServicesThis is a cloud services platform that we used to host our service. (Privacy Policy)
CloudflareThis is a cloud CDN service that we use to efficiently deliver files required for our service to operate such as javascript, cascading style sheets, images, and videos. (Privacy Policy)
Google Hosted LibrariesJavascript software libraries such as jQuery are loaded at endpoints on the googleapis.com or gstatic.com domains, for performance and efficiency reasons. (Privacy Policy)
Features
Google Custom SearchThis is feature allows you to search the site. (Privacy Policy)
Google MapsSome articles have Google Maps embedded in them. (Privacy Policy)
Google ChartsThis is used to display charts and graphs on articles and the author center. (Privacy Policy)
Google AdSense Host APIThis service allows you to sign up for or associate a Google AdSense account with HubPages, so that you can earn money from ads on your articles. No data is shared unless you engage with this feature. (Privacy Policy)
Google YouTubeSome articles have YouTube videos embedded in them. (Privacy Policy)
VimeoSome articles have Vimeo videos embedded in them. (Privacy Policy)
PaypalThis is used for a registered author who enrolls in the HubPages Earnings program and requests to be paid via PayPal. No data is shared with Paypal unless you engage with this feature. (Privacy Policy)
Facebook LoginYou can use this to streamline signing up for, or signing in to your Hubpages account. No data is shared with Facebook unless you engage with this feature. (Privacy Policy)
MavenThis supports the Maven widget and search functionality. (Privacy Policy)
Marketing
Google AdSenseThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Google DoubleClickGoogle provides ad serving technology and runs an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Index ExchangeThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
SovrnThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Facebook AdsThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Amazon Unified Ad MarketplaceThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
AppNexusThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
OpenxThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Rubicon ProjectThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
TripleLiftThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Say MediaWe partner with Say Media to deliver ad campaigns on our sites. (Privacy Policy)
Remarketing PixelsWe may use remarketing pixels from advertising networks such as Google AdWords, Bing Ads, and Facebook in order to advertise the HubPages Service to people that have visited our sites.
Conversion Tracking PixelsWe may use conversion tracking pixels from advertising networks such as Google AdWords, Bing Ads, and Facebook in order to identify when an advertisement has successfully resulted in the desired action, such as signing up for the HubPages Service or publishing an article on the HubPages Service.
Statistics
Author Google AnalyticsThis is used to provide traffic data and reports to the authors of articles on the HubPages Service. (Privacy Policy)
ComscoreComScore is a media measurement and analytics company providing marketing data and analytics to enterprises, media and advertising agencies, and publishers. Non-consent will result in ComScore only processing obfuscated personal data. (Privacy Policy)
Amazon Tracking PixelSome articles display amazon products as part of the Amazon Affiliate program, this pixel provides traffic statistics for those products (Privacy Policy)
ClickscoThis is a data management platform studying reader behavior (Privacy Policy)