Cats are known for their love of sleeping, but it’s not always easy to tell when your cat is hungry.
The best way to know when they need food is by watching how much they eat and whether or not they put on weight. If you notice that your pet has been gaining a little bit of weight, then it may be time to make some changes in the diet.
We live in a world of excess—and our pets are no exception. While cat obesity is a growing problem in the United States, it’s one that can be reversed with a little bit of effort.
Here are some tips on how cats can lose weight!
Being overweight is a major health risk for both cats and dogs. If your pet is overweight, it could lead to health problems, such as diabetes and heart disease.
It can also cause your pet to feel bad about himself, be less mobile, and less active. The good news is, even a few pounds can make a big difference for your pet’s health. It’s never too late to get your pet on a diet.
- If you feed your pet too much, cut back on the portions.
- Always measure out food so that it is an appropriate amount for your cat’s weight and activity level.
- Cut down the high-calorie foods from your diet such as tuna, salmon or chicken with skin. Give them more lean meats like turkey breast or white fish instead. Consider cooking in broth to help reduce fat content even further without sacrificing flavor—try substituting half of a can of condensed cream soup with one cup low sodium vegetable stock when cooking ground meat and adding some extra herbs to taste (fresh parsley, cilantro, basil). This will add flavor while reducing calories!
- Avoid giving table scraps – this contributes less than five
- Increase the number of meals and decrease food portion sizes.
- Have a cat-free zone in your home for weight loss cats so they don’t eat all the time when you’re not looking or have other animals to snack on things that are not theirs.
- Feeding them wet foods can help with weight because it’s easier for them to digest, reduces furballs, and increases hydration levels which helps reduce water retention (a common cause of excess pounds). It also means more fiber intake!
- Provide plenty of high-quality litter boxes – this will ensure they are using their bathroom regularly instead of snacking when they need to go. Cats who don’t use their litter box often typically experience constipation and gas.
Why does your cat need to lose weight?
Meowing, scratching, and purring—Cats have a lot of needs and wants. One of their most crucial is to maintain a healthy weight. The average indoor cat needs approximately 230 calories a day to maintain a healthy weight.
However, studies have shown that pet owners feed their cats approximately 500 calories a day, which is double the amount recommended by veterinary nutritionists.
Cats have a high metabolism, which means they burn up calories very quickly. They also need lots of protein to build muscles and maintain a healthy immune system. Cats need a high-quality diet, but formulas that are high in calories aren’t necessary to maintain a healthy weight.
Cats who are overweight often suffer from arthritis, diabetes, and breathing problems. This is because carrying around too much weight can put a lot of pressure on the joints and make your cat less to move around.
Obesity in cats can also lead to more frequent bladder infections which will need costly trips to the vet every time they occur.
It’s important not only for you but for them! They don’t want their belly either so help ’em out when they’re trying to get those pounds off.
Common Symptoms of Cat Weight Loss
There are many symptoms that can present themselves when your cat has lost weight.
Some common ones include:
- decreased appetite,
- depression,
- lethargy,
- dehydration and
- respiratory distress to name a few.
If they have started losing weight for no apparent reason or something changes in their regular habits (like food intake), it is important to take them to the veterinarian so an examination can be done.
Your vet may recommend some tests like blood work and urinalysis as well as other more invasive procedures if there doesn’t seem like a clear diagnosis. And even after diagnosing what’s wrong, you will need follow-up care with medications and dietary adjustments.
Causes of Cat Weight Loss
You may think that your cat is just getting thinner as he/she ages, but there are some illnesses that cause cats to lose weight faster than their bodies can replace it.
There are many diseases, such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes, hyperthyroidism, kidney disease, liver disease, pancreatitis, and some parasites, that can cause your cat to lose weight.
But even with the onset of an illness, like these, some pets still refuse to show any symptoms. So it is important to seek veterinary care if your cat has started to lose weight for no apparent reason.
Last Words
If you have a cat, you know that they tend to be highly sedentary creatures. A large portion of their day is spent sleeping, and while you may enjoy this activity, it’s not exactly a healthy lifestyle for them. While cats have natural instincts that they need to hunt and kill small animals to stay alive, this is a relatively rare occurrence for domesticated felines.
Some cats may lose weight with age, but there are many illnesses that cause them to show signs of rapid weight loss. If you notice your cat is losing too much weight quickly for no apparent reason, seek veterinary care as soon as possible in order to diagnose what’s wrong and follow up accordingly.