A recent survey indicated
that 40% of America's pet population is overweight
If your Cat is over weight be sure your veterinarian evaluates
the Thyroid Gland function to rule out any extra
weight caused by a non active Thyroid Gland. Hypothyroidism is
very common in excess weight in pets and this should
to be corrected or your attempts to reduce your Cat's
weight will not be successful.
How to tell if your Cat is over or under weight:
There should be a slight
amount of fat over the ribs, but each rib should be
distinct. If you can see the ribs, your Cat is too
thin. |
You should be
able to feel a small amount of fat over the Cats spine,
hips, and shoulders. If these bones are easily felt or
visible, your Cat is more than likely too thin. If you
cannot feel the bones beneath the layer of fat, the animal
is obviously overweight.
The area
behind the ribs known as the abdominal tuck should be
smaller in diameter than the chest. If your Cat has not
abdominal tuck he is over weight. A Cat who is too thin
will have a very severe abdominal tuck.
There is no set time that a Cat will
become over weight, however most
weight problems develop slowly and often begin when a Cat transitions from a growing Kitten to an adult. The adult
Cat's appetite is often greater than his need. Cats can
also experience weight gain during the senior years when
activity level decreases. For some Cats, activity also
decreases during the winter months. Be ready to adjust
your Cat's calories and perform periodic weight checks to
avoid overfeeding during these problematic transition
times.
If you feel
your Cat is overweight you may want to try a 10 to
15 minute play time twice a day. This helps burn calories, and
tends to reduce the appetite.
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