Normally, a cat’s weight can vary from 3 to 8 kg depending on the breed, but some breeds can weigh even more and be perfectly fit! The difficulty lies in understanding whether our cat’s weight is excessive or not.
But how do you understand?
- Observe the change in the cat’s body over time: weight gain can be seen simply by lifting it
- Observe the cat’s body : if you touch its back, do you immediately feel its spine or do you feel “padding”? If you touch the abdomen, do you feel any softness before touching the ribs? Can you notice the waistline, or does it look pretty round all over the body? Does your cat’s belly rock when it walks?
Based on the answers to these questions, we can understand if our cat is overweight or not. But if we realize that he is quite a bit chunky, how to deal with the problem?
What to do if the cat is overweight
If you have noticed that your cat is overweight, the thing to do is to correct both the feeding and the food portions . Check when you feed him and how much he eats, so you can control portions. Avoid foods full of fats and sugars, such as ready-made ones: instead, choose the most natural foods possible.
A valid alternative to ready-made foods in cans can be LifeCat Natural with chicken , which is excellent as a low- calorie meal because in addition to being natural and without added preservatives, it is low in fat, carbohydrates and rich in protein .
You can change his diet by giving him low- calorie food specifically for overweight cats, asking your trusted veterinarian for advice.
Another important thing is physical activity : unlike Fido, however, your cat may not madly love walking on a leash. The ideal thing would therefore be to stimulate him to move and make him play with toys, such as a ball, or a laser pointer (they love it).
Change your habits and attitude towards your cat : avoid giving him food as a reward, for example when he behaves well or while playing with it. We do it as a gesture of affection towards our animals, but instead of doing them good, we do the exact opposite! if your cat is a sweet tooth and you really don’t want to give up snacks, then you have to be careful what to feed him. Opt for a snack that is as light as possible but at the same time satisfying enough.
Be careful that the cat does not go to eat elsewhere . Make sure no one else feeds him but you. A tip could be to put a collar that says “do not feed me” .
These are small tips and tricks that, if followed consistently, can improve our cat’s life. Even if we like soft cats, paying attention to our cat’s health is very important if we want her to stay with us as long as possible!
