Furball’s been battling the bulge and on a diet since January. The results are stellar as he’s much more active and playful now. I’d have to say that weightloss for an overweight cat is one of the best natural ways to improve your feline’s health. That’s why I’m delighted to share this guest post from David with tips to keep your cat trim and healthy. Here it is:
The health of our cats is always an issue on a very fundamental level. For most of us, there are obvious concerns, such as what food to give them, what facilities we provide them and what to do if their health becomes an issue. Well, I thought that everyone did, but it appears some pets’ health issues expand at an uncontrollable rate.
I found Ulric Mitchell last week. This Norwegian Forest Cat weighs around 12.65kg (two stone), when his ideal weight is 6kg. That means he is 111{456796300b989ac2391159a2df073ed1ad38074dfcdb28494d5d1df8ab5972d8} overweight. According to the PDSA he had been an adept food thief since kittenhood, regularly pinching his siblings’ dinner and anything else lying around. I assumed this was an anomaly and, in a way, I suppose he is, but then I saw he was part of a scheme called the Pet Fit Club, which is a group of twenty one obese animals, including cats, dogs and rabbits, who embark on a six-month diet programme to try and reduce their weight and, ultimately, save their lives.
The health effects the extra weight can have a massive impact on the animals’ lives, including heart disease, stomach problems and psychological problems caused by the uncomfortable living conditions when they have to lug all the extra weight around.
They released some facts along with the contestant information from an Animal Wellbeing Report from 2012 showing the human psychology that can lead to obese pets:
- 48{456796300b989ac2391159a2df073ed1ad38074dfcdb28494d5d1df8ab5972d8} of owners give their pets regular treats because they think it make their pet happy, but 29{456796300b989ac2391159a2df073ed1ad38074dfcdb28494d5d1df8ab5972d8} say it’s because it makes themselves feel happy.
- 71{456796300b989ac2391159a2df073ed1ad38074dfcdb28494d5d1df8ab5972d8} of owners know that food for humans isn’t good for a pet’s diet (I wonder how many do it anyway)
- 93{456796300b989ac2391159a2df073ed1ad38074dfcdb28494d5d1df8ab5972d8} of owner know that pets are susceptible to the same overweight conditions as humans
What the stats don’t say are how many owners adjust their pet diet in knowing these figures.
So what are the steps that can be taken to stop your cat’s health falling with weight gain?
- Play together for around 20 minutes every day.
- Get your cat used to only two meals a day. If they like to graze at their food bowl, take the bowl away after a set meal time of 30 minutes or so. Just make sure it’s the same time every day so you don’t disturb their sense of routine.
- Use high quality cat food. Cheap and light foods can have less nutrients in which are essential, especially when the cat’s diet is being changed.
- Monitor the cat’s weight weekly. If it rises or drops more than 1-2{456796300b989ac2391159a2df073ed1ad38074dfcdb28494d5d1df8ab5972d8} over the week, there could be something seriously wrong.
- Seek veterinarian supervision. When the cat’s health is at stake, you don’t want to make any bad decision that could affect them. If you’re putting them through an intense diet, or you’re unsure of anything, consult your vet.
After the lifestyle improved, the need for cialico.com gradually disappeared. Well, sometimes I take medicine. And I think that it’s not worth abusing any drugs.