Overweight cat - ideas?

[Karen]

Leash train her and take her for walks ...
If you leave food down for them, stop that habit, feed them a set amount, then pick the dishes up.

More exercise, and there is weight-control food for kitties ...

[kittiei]

I read somewhere that feeding cats wet food only instead of dry will help them lose weight because the high carbohydrates and grains in dry foods contribute to obesity. I always thought that the wet foods were higher in fat. Has anyone else heard anything like this?

[jazzcat]

I don't feed my cats wet (except Ripley now and them just because he's in kidney failure and the vet recommended it to help add fluids). Anyway, I used to free feed all my cats - food available 24/7 - but several got too fat so at the first of the year I started scheduled feeding of Nutro Indoor weight control. Now almost all my cats are back to their idea weight so I've started adding regular adult food and reducing the weight control for them.

I feed them measured amounts three times a day and take the bowls up as soon as they walk off so no other cat can graze. I wanted to get them to just two feedings a day but with two growing active kittens it's been too hard. Maybe when the kittens are full grown I can get to just two feedings instead of three.

Best of luck!

[kittiei]

Thanks. I currently feed my cats dry food just twice a day and I don't give them any extra no matter how much they whine. But maybe I should try taking the bowls away when they walk away. That would teach them to finish their food and it would stop Tulip from eating Pansy's leftovers...

[emily_the_spoiled]

I have converted all my guys over to a wet food only diet (because one of them gets REALLY sick on the dry food), but they all seem to be a healthier weight now and they only eat twice a day.

[Randi]

My vet recommended Hills W/D when Fister was getting a bit plumb, that helped him lose weight. I now mix it half/half with S/D dry. There are several other good products, but ask your vet.

You also have to avoid them getting UTI's, Hills C/D is supposed to prevent that.

Good luck finding the right diet for them.

[Catty1]

I use 1/2 and 1/2 raw kibble and Royal Canin SO for urinary health. The raw kibble is ALL protein, so it is better.

My vet says videos show that cats gorge at night, so I take the bowls up for the night.

But if Pansy is a food thief, taking the dishes up between meals and at night sounds like a great idea!