Cat Weight-Loss

  • Losing weight can be particularly challenging in cats. The great news is that shedding excess pounds can improve your cat’s life expectancy and overall quality of life, making those additional years even more enjoyable.

    Excess weight in cats can lead to debilitating health issues, making weight management essential for their well-being. By partnering with your veterinary healthcare team and maintaining a healthy weight for your cats, you can help ensure a longer, happier life together.

    See more: Fit or Fluffy? 3 Tips to Tell if Your Cat is Overweight.

  • As little as two pounds above your cat’s ideal weight can put it at risk of developing some serious medical conditions.

    A cat with obesity is estimated to be approximately three times more likely to develop diabetes than a cat with a healthy body condition.

    Common feline weight-related disorders include:

    • Kidney disease

    • Hypertension

    • Bladder and urinary tract disease

    • Arthritis and osteoarthritis

    • Respiratory disease

    • Certain cancers

    • Chronic inflammation

    • Liver disease

    • Reproductive disease

    • Blindness from high blood pressure

    • Skin disease

    • Ongoing research continues to uncover the potential severity of extra adipose tissue in cats

    Studies indicate that overweight cats with obesity live shorter lives than their normal-weight counterparts.

    Cats suffering from obesity typically tend to interact less with their families and may exhibit less energy and playfulness.

    See more: Health Risks of Excessive Weight

  • Cats have a different physiology than humans or dogs. Helping your cat achieve a healthy weight and body condition requires medical supervision because of the risks of serious health consequences, including liver failure.

    If a cat doesn’t eat for as little as two consecutive days, whether due to stress, underlying illness, or changes to diet or environment, they can develop a life-threatening form of liver disease known as hepatic lipidosis (fatty liver disease).

    Hepatic lipidosis can be serious and potentially life-threatening if left untreated. Unfortunately, overweight and obese cats are at a great risk for developing hepatic lipidosis.

    Never put your cat on a diet without the assistance of your veterinary healthcare team. Rule out and/or treat underlying medical conditions and diseases before beginning weight-loss reduction in cats. A medical condition could be a possible cause or contributor to your cat’s weight issues.

    Steps to safe weight reduction in cats:

    • Have your cat examined by a veterinarian before beginning a weight loss program.

    • Rule out any underlying medical disease.

    • Determine your pet’s current Body Condition Score (BCS) and ideal or target weight.

    • Choose the right body condition and target weight for your cat’s Step Weigh Loss Plan (a gradual, safe reduction in calories over time). See your veterinarian for guidance. They can calculate calories for Daily Energy Requirements (DER). Feeding too much will result in no weight loss, and feeding too little can be harmful.

    • Determine how many calories are in your cat’s food and treats.

    • Feed a therapeutic weight-loss diet. It is important not to simply “feed less” of a maintenance diet. By reducing the amount of maintenance food, you also reduce the amount of essential nutrients your cat needs to remain healthy. Therapeutic weight-loss diets are formulated to provide adequate nutrition while safely reducing total calories.

    • Measure or weigh your cat’s food and treats to provide precise feeding portions.

    • Use low-calorie, healthy treats. For cats, small snacks of lean fish, egg, or poultry may help increase satiety.

    • Feed more frequent, smaller meals to increase satiety and reduce begging behaviors.

    • Use hunter-feeders and food puzzles to provide mental stimulation around feeding (“engage your cat’s inner predator”).

    • Engage your cat daily in two 15-minute exercise and play sessions.

    • Weigh your pet once a month and make changes and adjustments as needed.

    • Involve your family. Everyone needs to be aware of how much and how often you are feeding your pet during the weight-loss period.

    • Be patient. Most cats will only safely lose 0.5-1.0 lbs per month.

  • Providing your cat with a balanced and complete diet that meets their nutritional needs is essential. It’s best to consult your veterinarian to determine your cat’s daily caloric needs and energy requirements.

    Most cats will achieve their ideal weight within six to nine months. The typical minimum weight loss per month for a healthy adult cat is about 0.5 lbs (0.25 kg). Ideally, weight reduction should aim for losing closer to 1 lb (.5 kg) per month.

    Some cats may need to lose weight more slowly, while others may shed excess weight more quickly.

    Weigh your pet monthly. If you do not observe any weight loss within 30-90 days, some aspect of the weight reduction program likely needs to be changed.

    • Daily calories

    • Pet food formulation

    • Protein levels

    • Activity level

    For most pets, the secret to weight loss lies in the dedication, commitment, and care of their family members. It’s our responsibility to protect them from premature death or the development of debilitating diseases.

    With the guidance of a veterinary healthcare team, you can help your pet safely achieve weight reduction and improve wellness.

Behavior & Exercise

  • If you are changing your cat’s food, do it slowly to avoid any digestive upset.

    If you notice any vomiting, diarrhea, or other signs of digestive upset, slow down the transition process and consult your veterinarian.

    Gradually add the new diet over a minimum of a one to two-week period. Start by substituting one-quarter of the diet for two to three days, then increase to one-half of the total volume of food for another two to four days, then three-quarters of new food for a final three to five days before completely switching to the new diet.

    It is vital that you closely monitor and record calories when starting a weight reduction program and closely monitor. If your cat does not eat for 48 hours, see a veterinarian.

    Cats are obligate carnivores and often do better on a high protein, low carbohydrate diet for weight loss. For many cats, a canned prescription therapeutic diet fed up to 4 to 6 times daily is recommended.

    Do not use a manual gravity-dispensed self-feeder. While this seems obvious, these types of “auto-feeders” are nothing more than unlimited food dispensers. The same rule applies to community food bowls or indiscriminate refilling, “Just fill their bowl to the top, honey!”.

    Portion control and caloric restriction is the most effective and safe method to help your cat reach a healthy weight.

    Pet your cat or play with it when it begs for food. Many cats will be happy to substitute food for affection, so flip the equation, and you may find that playtime displaces chow-time.

    Try dividing the total daily food volume or calories into four to six small meals. Founder Dr. Ernie Ward frequently recommends a “Midnight Weight Loss Snack,” typically consisting of a small portion of a high-protein food or treat for cats that begin meowing in the middle of the night.

    When the bowl is empty, and your cat is asking for more, try adding a few kibbles of its therapeutic weight loss diet to the bowl. By a few, limit it to no more than five to ten tiny kibbles.

    Offer fresh water instead of food. Many cats love fresh water, so when they are eyeing an empty food bowl, try filling up the water bowl instead.

  • What about the cat that wakes you at four in the morning to be fed or the cat that meows incessantly or head bumps you until you feed them? Our cats have often trained us well.

    Here are some tips when dealing with a cat begging for food:

    Do not use a manual gravity-dispensed self-feeder. While this seems obvious, these types of “auto-feeders” are nothing more than unlimited food dispensers. The same rule applies to community food bowls or indiscriminate refilling (“Just fill their bowl to the top, honey!”).

    Careful portion control and caloric restriction are the most effective and safe methods to help your cat reach a healthy body condition.

    Pet, scratch, brush, or play with your cat when it begs for food. Many cats will be happy to substitute food for affection, so flip the equation, and you may find that playtime displaces chow-time.

    Feed four to six small meals, including a last evening feeding. A “Midnight Snack,” typically consists of a small portion of a high-protein food or treat. Give this Midnight Snack just before bedtime. This can help with unwanted feeding behaviors.

    Divide the total daily food volume or calories into four to six small meals. Whatever you do, don’t feed extra food simply because your cat asks you to!

    When the bowl is empty, and your cat is asking for more, try adding a few kibbles to the bowl. By a few, limit it to no more than five to ten tiny kibbles.

    Offer fresh water instead of food. Many cats love fresh water, so when they are eyeing an empty food bowl, try filling up the water bowl instead.

  • Cats need at least 15-20 minutes of exercise daily. Engage your cat for five to ten minutes of play and exercise two to three times each day.

    You can do this in short bursts. It doesn’t have to be all at once. There are many toys that move that your cat may also find interesting.

    Play “Find the Food.” Move the food bowl upstairs or downstairs and rotate it so that the cat always has to walk to get to its food bowl.

    Use indoor hunting feeders to simulate predation behaviors and movement.

    Use puzzle toys. Using puzzles can help cats with weight loss by promoting slower eating and portion control.

    These toys and feeders can encourage cats to use their natural hunting instincts to "hunt" for their food. It can provide mental stimulation and keep cats from getting bored.

    Make sure your play area is free of hazards and obstacles so your cat doesn’t get injured.

    Interactive play. Use feather toys, motion toys, boxes, paper bags or balls, or anything that your cat finds interesting to chase and play with.

    Try catnip. Catnip is an herb that contains a chemical compound called nepetalactone. When a cat smells or ingests catnip, it can stimulate its senses and make them more playful and energetic. However, not all cats are sensitive to catnip, and the effects can vary from cat to cat.

    Take your cat for a walk. Taking your cat for a walk can be a fun way to provide exercise and enrichment for your feline companion. However, it's important to keep in mind that not all cats enjoy being walked on a leash, so you should start slowly and be patient with your cat. Here are some steps you can take to get started:

    Choose the right harness and leash. Look for a harness that is specifically designed for cats and fits your cat comfortably. Avoid using a collar. It can be dangerous for your cat's neck. Also, choose a leash that is lightweight and not too long to maintain control of your cat.

    Before going outside, let your cat wear the harness around the house for a few minutes each day. This will help your cat get used to the feeling of the harness. Start with short walks around your yard or a quiet and safe area. Allow your cat to explore at their own pace and keep the leash loose. Reward your cat: Give your cat treats and praise when they do well on walks. This will help create positive associations with the experience.

    Be aware of your surroundings. Always keep an eye out for potential dangers, such as other animals or traffic. If your cat seems uncomfortable or scared, return to the safety of your home. If your cat doesn't enjoy walks, there are plenty of other ways to provide exercise and enrichment, such as playing with toys or creating a cat-friendly environment indoors.

  • What do you do if one cat is normal weight and the other is diagnosed with obesity? While there are countless creative solutions to this problem, here are a few we’ve found successful:

    Feed each cat separately. This is the ideal solution for multi-cat households. Feed the overweight cat in one room while feeding the other cat elsewhere. After a prescribed time, generally 15 to 30 minutes, pick up any remaining food until the next feeding.

    Try feeding the normal-weight cat on an elevated surface where the cat with obesity can’t easily access it.

    Do not leave food out while you’re away. Limit free feeding or grazing.

Latest Articles