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What is Feline Obesity?

Obesity is anything above 15% more than ideal body weight (IBW). The average cat should weigh 8-10 lbs, so if your cat is 12 lbs or over, he or she has a good chance of being obese. That being said, your cat's weight is not what we look at as much as the body condition. This is why your vet will visually inspect your cat, palpate (feel) your cat's back, neck, and ribs, and observe his silhouette. In short, your vet will want to be able to feel the ribs and vertebrae without actually seeing these bony structures poking at the skin. You want to see a definitive waistline (hourglass figure) from the side and from above when your cat is standing.

What's Wrong With Feline Obesity?

Obesity in cats causes many of the same problems as in humans, ultimately leading to a shorter, less enjoyable life...and more trips to the vet - no-one likes that! Here is a list of medical issues that obesity causes in cats, many of which are common to humans, and many of which will lead to more inactivity and greater obesity.

Cardiovascular problems - plaque buildup and a cat too large for its heart cause too much work for the heart, causing an early death. A tired heart leads to more inactivity and greater obesity.
Compared with normal weight cats, obese cats have 4 times greater chances of diabetes, which leads to a great number of medical problems. Click here for more info on feline diabetes
Breathing difficulties - There is only so much space inside your cat, and with more fat, there's less room for her lungs, so she gets less oxygen, has to work harder to breathe and will spend all her time just laying around... causing greater obesity.
Decreased immunity to all types of infections - as in humans, extra fat has been associated with a less active immune system.
Difficulty cleaning themselves due to lack of flexibility. Because they can't clean themselves properly, obese cats have 3 times as many non-allergic skin conditions and infections as normal weight cats.
Higher incidence of lower urinary tract infections such as cystitis.
A greater weight causes stress on muscles and bones. This leads to pulled, strained and torn muscles and to arthritis. These conditions, in turn, lead to more inactivity and greater obesity.
Decreased liver function (the liver helps rid the body of toxins), and increased chance of a potentially deadly condition called hepatic lipidosis.
Stress and depression from a sedentary, lethargic lifestyle, especially if they are too large and inflexible to groom properly. A clean cat is a happy cat, and a fat cat can't get as clean as a healthy cat.

No Crash Diets!!!

It's very important that your cat be allowed to lose weight slowly. If you try to drastically cut your cat's food intake you could cause him to go into starvation mode which triggers hepatic lipidosis resulting in liver failure and possibly death. This, among other reasons, is why I cannot stress enough that it is important to consult your vet when considering major changes in your cat's diet. Your vet can be a great help in determining how much weight your cat should lose and over what time span. If your cat's able to get up and move, the first thing you should do is make them move around. This can be achieved using many different types of stimulating toys, some which dispense food, treats, or catnip to inrease kitty's stimulation and excitement. Below are some links to sites which can further explain some of these feline obesity complications

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What Can I Do About My Cat's Weight?

The Average cat should weigh about 8-10 lbs. Anything above 12 lbs is probably pushing obese. Although weight is important, your vet will tell you that what really matters is your cat's body condition. For a description of how your cat's physique should look and feel, click here. Your cat wants to be healty, and deserves a long, comfortable life...which is ultimately YOUR RESPONSIBILITY. Your vet's office should always be your first stop when drastically changing your cat's diet or when you are concerned about her weight. Your vet will be able to discern if your tubby tabby has an underlying medical condition causing weight gain (pregnancy, endocrine disorder) or if it's caused by the usual overeating/lack of physical exercise. I can't help you with your cat's medical conditions (well, if she's pregnant I might adopt a kitten) but I can help you feed and exercise her properly. Being overweight, unless caused by a medical condition (in 5% of obesity cases) is a result of too many calories being eaten and not enough calories being burned.

1. Decrease Her Caloric Intake

Your vet and I will tell you not to let your cat lose weight too quickly for risk of hepatic lipidosis, which can be deadly. Your aim should be to lose 15% of your cat's weight over 3 months. Most cats need about 30kcal per pound per day to maintain their weight (a kcal is a kilocalorie). Look at the nutritional contents on her food label and figure out how much kcals she's getting. If she's getting more than she needs for weight maintenance, then bring her servings down to 30kcal/lb/day. If she's already getting 30kcal/lb/day, then you can safely decrease her food be 10-15%. (In order for her to lose the extra weight, she'll need to lose the extra food - 30kcal/lb/day will only maintain her weight where it is). I'll tell you again to check with your vet when you decrease servings because when you decrease the amount of food your cat gets, not only are you decreasing calories, but you are also decreasing nutrients - things like fat and protein that your cat will need (they don't need many carbohydrates).

2. Get Her To Play More

There are many toys in the pet shop that will entertain your cat, and many household items they like to play with that are essentially free (like the plastic ring around your milk bottle top). Some cats will just sit and nibble at toys and some have the personality where they will push them around and puunce on them. If your cat's only a nibbler, then you need some toys that will encourage play. We have plenty of toys that our cats like to play with, but they all end up in small, partially digested pieces in the litter box. (By the way, they won't be able to eat our toy, but they can eat what falls out of it!). Maybe a companion cat to play with will give her a reason to play and perk her up a little while you are at work.

There ae plenty of stimulating toys for cats; the best ones make them expend energy, are non-repetetive, and will reward them for playing. In this case, when you have a tubby cat, or a lazy one, or simply one that gets bored while you're at home or away, or even anxious when you leave, puzzle feeders work great. Puzzle feeders, such as the Feeding Frenzy, combine food with play, which is what Mother Nature intended for cats. Cats will play with a crippled bird, mouse, or mole until it stops providing entertainment, which could be hours. They like to play with their food, which is why puzzle feeders work great. At feeding time or snack time you could simply toss dry food pieces across the room for your cat to run after and pounce on (they run a lot faster if there's another cat around). Combining food with play is much better than just plopping down a bowl of food that she can nibble at throughout the day when she's bored or lonely