Help! My cat is obese.

[krazyaboutkatz]

Hi and welcome to PT. Since you've already stopped free feeding him, I would suggest trying a different kind of cat food. Many of them have a lot of carbs in them and very little protein which is what cats need.

I currently feed all of my cats Innova Evo which is a grain free cat food and you can buy dry and canned food in this brand. I don't free feed either and 5 of my 6 cats have lost weight while eating this food because it's a very high protein diet. It has a lot of calories too so they don't need to eat as much of it as regular cat foods. My 6th cat is on prednisolone which has caused him to gain weight due to drinking a lot of water. You can buy this brand at most independent pet stores.

Another great way to help your cat get more excercise is to buy him a laser light. You just sit on the couch and let him chase the laser all around the room. Most cats love it. Good luck.

[crg]

Do the cats like the taste of the Innova? Stewie is pretty picky about his food (odd for a fat cat, I know) and has utterly refused to eat the weight loss formula foods we've bought him (Iams and Science Diet to name a few).

For a while he wouldn't play all that much as he had gotten pretty lazy, but with a pesky little sister making him more active I'll try a laser. I could see him enjoying that.

Thank you so much for your time and concern!!

CRG

P.S. Stewie looks a little like Storm and the new kitten (lynx-point Siamese) resembles your Pearl. Beautiful cats they all are. And what incredible eyes Ziggy has!!

[krazyaboutkatz]

Yes, all of my cats love the Innova Evo. I think that most pets stores now have a return policy that if your cats don't like the food then you can return it for a full refund. I've done this before.

Thanks for the nice comments about my cats. Storm is almost 13 years old, Sunny is 8, Sky is 6, Starr and Pearl are 3, and Ziggy Stardust is 2. There's never a dull moment in my household. They keep me busy.

[crg]

Thanks! I will try the Innova. We are out in the boonies and only have one pet store within 60 miles of here, but if they don't have it, they can probably get it (or I can order it online). They have very good service, so I would guess that you're right - they will probably take it back if the 'kids' don't like it.

[Karen]

You could also try getting him used to walking on a leash - some cats will easily adapt, other do a great "fur-covered anchor" impression, but if you can get him used to that, you can enforce some exercise - and probably make new friends around the neighborhood. Exercise will always help. I am glad you are trying to curb his weight, for his health's sake!

[crg]

A leash is a great idea, thanks Karen! I love to go for walks, and he always enjoyed going out into the yard when we lived in the city. We're out in the country now, so I don't let him outside at all - too many things around that would love to have him for dinner - but on a leash it would be safe and fun. I could get the kitten involved too and train her while she's still young.

[krazyaboutkatz]

I hope that you'll be able to find something that will work for Stewie. Both of your cats sure are gorgeous and they do remind me of my Storm and Pearl. You should go over to cat general and post some more pictures of them. We all love seeing pictures here.