My cat is too fat!!! Dieting help needed!

[themarquis]

Today gf and I went to the vet with both our cats. We adopted a kitten a few weeks ago (named Emmett) and he needed a vaccination. The "big guy" (named Marquis) had an eye infection (transmitted to him by his new buddy Emmett thanks to the SPCA!) that we had treated a couple of weeks ago but hadn't gone away.

The big guy was examined and new eyedrops were dispensed; the vet then scooped him up to weigh him in the back room (she was a very tiny vet and almost looked dwarfed by his massiveness!). When she came back in, she seemed to be frowning. "15 pounds, 11 ounces" she said, shaking her head. She then proceeded to give us a stern lecture about how fat he is. During the lecture, it really seemed as though she was blaming US for his weight and acting as though we were bad cat parents to let him get so fat, didn't we know we were setting him up for diabetes or heart disease, blah blah blah?

Now this is a cat who has been on diet cat food his entire adult life... he REALLY likes to eat (he compensates for his diet by eating more or screaming until we give him more). He REALLY hates getting excercise. What exactly am I supposed to do or have done to fix this problem?

When we got back in the car, Marquis looked miserable and deflated. As if being hauled (trembling in a towel) to the vet, having been poked and prodded, and having stuff shoved in his eye weren't enough, he also got called fat! Poor guy.

Anyway, I thought I'd enlist your help. Do any of you have cats on a diet, and if so, how did you do it and has it been successful? Do you measure their food? Do they protest? The big guy has very well-developed vocal cords, bless his heart, and I'm afraid he'll start screaming every time he gets hungry (he used to do this in the middle of the night before we got the kitten). Any ideas or tips would be appreciated.

 

[Cool-Beans]

Due to allergies, I haven't had a cat in over 20 years, but I'm going to go out on a limb and say that cats lose weight the same way people do.

Less food, more exercise, or both.

Buy a toy the cat can jump around at. Get it some walnut to bat around hard-surface floors. Feed it less food.

Good luck!

 

[Nancy]

My one cat is fat too and I was given the same lecture, I am a bad cat mommy!

So, here is what our vet did. Put her on special food, low carb...she called it Catkins (ha, ha). Cat gained 1 pound, yes, I measured and what I gave to one cat actually was split between 2 cats. So, I went back to her regular food, Purina One healthy weight management. I give the 2 cats 4-5 1/4 cup servings throughout the day. 5 is the max. Vedt also recommended giving them canned food because it goes through the system faster. My cats were afraid of the canned food when I tried to give it to them. They approached the dish very slow...one cat hissed at it and ran. She said try kitten food...but I though kitten food is what made her fat? When we got kitty 2 I just fed them both kitten food and thats when Fatcat got fat. So right now your guess is as good as mine.

 

[FreshTressa]

I don't have the heart to put kitty on a diet.

Yes...I know it is healthier in the long run, but I'd rather he had a short healthy life than a long, miserable one where all he did was worry about and cry about his food.

One thing that works for my dog is putting the food in a kong toy or some other contraption so he has to work for it. He eats less. I know green beans and squash work for dogs, but I don't know about for cats. You might want to research it.

 

[megan4777]

My friend has a cat that she had to put on a diet. The cat gained 5 lbs. don't put the cat on a diet...

 

[ImarriedGrumpy]

We've had to put a cat on a diet in the past; she gained weight when we got a new cat because she was stealing the other cat's food. It is REALLY hard to follow the rules because the cats will protest, and they will bug you constantly for more food and you just can't explain to them that it is for their own good. So you MUST be firm and willing to deal with some annoying behavior from the kitties.

Basically, you switch to a weight control food (either from the pet store or the vet) and you feed the cats small portions at specific times of the day. If you have more than one cat, you have to feed them in separate rooms so there's no food stealing. If you can get your cat to play with toys, that's also helpful, but the biggest change is in the feeding habits. And yes, you can get some major cranky, whiny kitties in the process.

But it was worth it for us - our Tytania lost 5 pounds and became much healthier, happier, and more playful! It was like she was a kitten again. Good luck to you!

 

[Simba's Mom]

Today gf and I went to the vet with both our cats. We adopted a kitten a few weeks ago (named Emmett) and he needed a vaccination. The "big guy" (named Marquis) had an eye infection (transmitted to him by his new buddy Emmett thanks to the SPCA!) that we had treated a couple of weeks ago but hadn't gone away.

The big guy was examined and new eyedrops were dispensed; the vet then scooped him up to weigh him in the back room (she was a very tiny vet and almost looked dwarfed by his massiveness!). When she came back in, she seemed to be frowning. "15 pounds, 11 ounces" she said, shaking her head. She then proceeded to give us a stern lecture about how fat he is. During the lecture, it really seemed as though she was blaming US for his weight and acting as though we were bad cat parents to let him get so fat, didn't we know we were setting him up for diabetes or heart disease, blah blah blah?

Now this is a cat who has been on diet cat food his entire adult life... he REALLY likes to eat (he compensates for his diet by eating more or screaming until we give him more). He REALLY hates getting excercise. What exactly am I supposed to do or have done to fix this problem?

When we got back in the car, Marquis looked miserable and deflated. As if being hauled (trembling in a towel) to the vet, having been poked and prodded, and having stuff shoved in his eye weren't enough, he also got called fat! Poor guy.

Anyway, I thought I'd enlist your help. Do any of you have cats on a diet, and if so, how did you do it and has it been successful? Do you measure their food? Do they protest? The big guy has very well-developed vocal cords, bless his heart, and I'm afraid he'll start screaming every time he gets hungry (he used to do this in the middle of the night before we got the kitten). Any ideas or tips would be appreciated.

Try a different vet! Several months ago, when Tigger weighed 17 1/2 lbs., I took him in and got the big lecture about how he's really a "big guy" but kind of too big. And although he's only 3 yo, she insisted he already has arthritis, and is bound to get more medical ills unless we put him on a diet. Well, this week, he had to go for his regular shots, and visited with a different vet (it's a veterinary clinic so unless you ask, you never know who you'll get). First thing they did was weigh him-18 pounds-so I got ready for the big lecture. Well, this vet's only comment was how strong and healthy his heart sounds, how good he looks, how he's changed (this vet last saw him at 5 days old and 5 ounces), and why did I mention arthritis? So maybe I shouldn't take it so lightly, but I think for some vets, weight is their "thing".

 

[themarquis]

I do wonder a bit if a couple of extra pounds is as dangerous as this vet claims. I'm definitely willing to agree it would be *good* for him to lose some weight, but like ... how much is thiss going to shorten his life? Six months? Or five years? And will his quality of life decrease because he's always hungry or whining? (and will my quality of life decrease? lol)

Its one thing when a person goes into the dr's office and gets "the lecture" (and I've gotten a couple myself) -- a person can (if they're not completely turned off by being lectured!) potentially do certain things to improve their health. It's quite another when pet owners get "the lecture". Pet owners don't have total control over their pets' weight, as much as vets would like to believe they do. I can buy him the lowfat cat food and measure his food, but I certainly can't force him to exercise!!!! I crack up just imagining myself trying to get him to exercise -- he is NOT a playful guy (although the kitten has helped with that a bit).

Anyway, here's the plan so far (and thanks for your comments/suggestions):
a) feed him wet food as well as dry -- he seems more happy/satisfied when he gets the canned food b) Measure his food -- he'll get 1/2 can and 1/2 cup dry (Iams weight loss) per day c) keep him out of the kitten food d) transition the kitten to adult food asap (You wouldn't believe the hijinks the big guy gets up to in order to access forbidden kitten food!!!) e) try to get the kitties playing together as often as possible.

We'll see! Keep the suggestions coming!

 

[grlpwrd]

I adopted my 2 sweeties on August 20th and they weighed around 15 lbs each. When I recently took them to the vet they each weighed about 9 lbs.

I think part of it is because they were once caged in a kennel and got little exercise. Now they run free and I play with them a lot and with toys.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

We discovered when we gave up the diet food, the overweight kitties in our household lost enough weight to appease the vets (maybe a pound or two). They are bigger cats--so they won't be 10 pounders.

ONe of our kitties got sick--had a feeding tube and the whole shebang. He was 9 pounds last week when he had it removed after 3 weeks on it. You could still feel that he was very bony. But he's eating again and gaining and you can feel it on his body that he is getting to a healthy--but no overweight--size once again.

 

[smartestnumber5]

themarquis's GF here.

Thought I'd just post to let everyone know that we instituted the food schedule tonight--gave the big guy less food than usual and put the kitten in the other room with his food (the kitten is not happy about this--apparently he likes to socialize while he eats).

Well the big guy finished his food and screamed a bit for more (not unusual). A few minutes later we saw him in the living room seeming to eat something off the carpet. This is NOT usual behavior for him unless we have specifically put some treat on the carpet right in front of his nose. I said skeptically "Kitty, what are you eating?" GF and I look over and we see him eating the crumbs of GF's pizza off her almost empty plate! He has never showed interest in our plates or in pizza every before! The trauma of the diet is happening already! Next he'll be going in the freezer at midnight for some ice cream.

 

[Redbudlover]

Our 90 pound golden retreiver obviously is not a kitty, but he is true golden in that he loves food above all else. He is 11 and a year ago he weighed 106 lobs. The weight was maing him prediabetic and was hard on his heart and very hard on his old joints (most goldens live between 9 and 10 years) So we put him on weight loss dry food with half a can of wet lean food in the am and in the pm. He complained. He looked sad. He whined. He begged - and he is very good at it - we love him to death and can't bear to make him sad..... We also walked him twice a day. He is nows 16 pounds lighter. He is still alive and he is still able to run and play. We have now been able to switch him to weight maintenance dry, but still have him on lean wet food.

It is all a measure of how much you love him. And how long you want him to be around... IMO

 

[jenm2878]

Today gf and I went to the vet with both our cats. We adopted a kitten a few weeks ago (named Emmett) and he needed a vaccination. The "big guy" (named Marquis) had an eye infection (transmitted to him by his new buddy Emmett thanks to the SPCA!) that we had treated a couple of weeks ago but hadn't gone away.

The big guy was examined and new eyedrops were dispensed; the vet then scooped him up to weigh him in the back room (she was a very tiny vet and almost looked dwarfed by his massiveness!). When she came back in, she seemed to be frowning. "15 pounds, 11 ounces" she said, shaking her head. She then proceeded to give us a stern lecture about how fat he is. During the lecture, it really seemed as though she was blaming US for his weight and acting as though we were bad cat parents to let him get so fat, didn't we know we were setting him up for diabetes or heart disease, blah blah blah?

Now this is a cat who has been on diet cat food his entire adult life... he REALLY likes to eat (he compensates for his diet by eating more or screaming until we give him more). He REALLY hates getting excercise. What exactly am I supposed to do or have done to fix this problem?

When we got back in the car, Marquis looked miserable and deflated. As if being hauled (trembling in a towel) to the vet, having been poked and prodded, and having stuff shoved in his eye weren't enough, he also got called fat! Poor guy.

Anyway, I thought I'd enlist your help. Do any of you have cats on a diet, and if so, how did you do it and has it been successful? Do you measure their food? Do they protest? The big guy has very well-developed vocal cords, bless his heart, and I'm afraid he'll start screaming every time he gets hungry (he used to do this in the middle of the night before we got the kitten). Any ideas or tips would be appreciated.

Purina One healthy weight seemed to work for us. Also, our vet told us to only give our kids 75% of the amount they tell you to on the bag. He says that the cat food companies over inflate portion size to sell more food.

 

[Otto's Doll]

I have 5 cats, and only 1 is overweight. He is around 10 years old, and could stand a few pounds. We have always fed them Nutro Max, and we just leave the food out. TJ is the only one who will eat and eat. He will also complain quite loudly if there is no food in the dish, the others don't seem to care. I am not sure how to put TJ on a diet, since they all just eat whenever they want, and I would hate to have to keep him separated. He does love to chase the laser flashlight around, guess I will have to get DD to play with him more than we do now.

 

[vetrik]

My kitties need to go on a diet, but I haven't had the heart to do it yet. I know it's going to be a huge problem for one of them - he free feeds now and yet he still eats anything we drop off our plates accidentally (he loves baked Doritos) as well as the dog's food. He's going to be an nightmare when his food is restricted. It's also hard because one of them is on prescription food because of urinary problems, so we can't change foods or try diet foods at all.

We used to live on 400 acres of land in the country, so we could free feed them and they would always burn it off running, hunting, and climbing trees outside. They were always healthy weights (they are bigger cats - 12 lbs and 16lbs are their ideal weights). We moved to the suburbs last spring and they are not allowed outside anymore, which has caused this weight explosion.

 

[mtdevine615]

Both of our shelter cats were on diets and it's not easy at first. Both were over 15 lbs. and we put both of them on Hills science diet dry and took away the can food. It was hard for the first couple of weeks but actually it's a lot better now. They use to beg for food in the early morning, now they get a set amount in the morning, evening and just before we go to bed. No more waking us up early on a Sunday. And best of all they have both lost about a pound. Which is a lot weight for a cat. Don't blow it off thinking it's only a couple of pounds because for a cat that's about 15% over weight. Now our other cat a Maine Coon weighs in at a whopping 24 pounds and is still not over weight according to the vet. Also remember it's just one persons opinon.

 

[Tazicket]

I've posted pics of her before, but here is my overweight kitty:

We feed her Iams indoor weight control/hairball control and have been feeding her some form of weight control food for the last 3 years. She eats less than a cat smaller than her is supposed to eat to lose weight, and yet she maintains at around 20 pounds.

Maybe we should start a support group for those of us with overweight pets!

 

[vetrik]

Here's my fat kitty the first winter I had him. He slimmed down for a few years while going outside, but now he's back up to around this weight again.

I call him the Oprah of cats - his weight is always yo-yoing (? - I've never typed that word before...)