Overweight cat.

[Babyboonie]

My eldest cat Louie has always suffered with a weight problem...well according to the vet anyway. To us, he always looked "normal", but every time he went to the vet for vaccinations or general check ups they always said that he was quite tubby for a cat his size. They suggested exactly what Freedom said - cutting down on the amount of food and giving him time slots so that whatever hadn't been eaten in the given time slot, was taken away. This allowed us to supervise what he was eating and over time the weight fell off. Now when he goes to the vet they say he is within the normal weight range for his size.....personally speaking I think he looks too thin, but i'm no vet.

I think Freedom's advice is probably the best possible...and with that many cats, she should definately know what she is talking about!! Might be worth checking out the thyroid suggestion with your vet, just to be on the safe side.

Good luck and keep us updated on her progress.

[FatCat]

Thanks, everyone- Freedom especially, lots of great tips. I already started watching her feeding time and putting her bowl up when she's finished on top of giving her less food instead of completely filling the dish and leaving it out all day. I leave out her water, just not her food. I'll check out diet cat foods, and start feeding the cats seperately if this doesn't prove to be affective.

I don't plan on letting her outside, and she was just at the vet about a month ago for a cold- the vet checked her out for everything, so no thyroid problems!

[DonGato's Person]

poor kitty!

maybe she

a) has diabetes. I've heard that that can sometimes make people gain weight.
or
b) just feels like being a kitty couch potato.

Anyway, good luck!

[columbine]

I've been reading up on vitamin E in cats, and it turns out that in sufficient quantity it's something of an appetite suppressant. Try puncturing a vitamin E capsule and letting her lick it off your fingers (apparently it tastes really good - not to me, but my cat assures me it's delicious). See if she's still such a vacuum cleaner after a few days of that. At least according to this website, cats haven't been shown to be capable of overdosing on vitamin E.

Love, Columbine (who has a hard time rubbing it on Smudge's ouchies because he wants to lick it all immediately, and he's now refusing even his beloved CET Chews...)

[Babyboonie]

Hi Fatcat...how's she getting on?

[AvaJoy]

How old is she, and your other cat? You may want to consider giving them Senior food, as it is lower in calories.
Due to Cochise being overweight, that is the solution my vet recommended for my multi-cat household.