Severe Overweight

[Snickismylife]

My love is over weight she is about 19 lbs . I keep making excuses on why she is that weight like all indoor cats are bigger, she is a senior , we live in a small apt and a lonely kitty ( which is why she is getting a friend). she is very senstive to any diet food so it leaves us with regular kitty food. She plays like a normal kitty I dont know what else to do .

[Karen]

It's simple, but not easy. Cut back her portion size. Prepare for complaining, and try to get her more exercise. It will be better for her in the long run.

[krazyaboutkatz]

Yes, free feeding or just not measuring the food can lead to obesity. I haven't free fed any of my cats in years. My 4 oldest cats are on grain free diets of both dry and canned and my 2 youngest are on a very good quality dry food that has some grains but no corn or wheat in it. I feed them 4 small meals a day. At first they didn't understand but now they know the routine and they finish everything. My Ziggy is still a very large girl. She gains weight very easily so I really have to watch her. Good luck.

[Freedom]

Switching to a grain free food will help, and this is a high quality food, much better to her. Then don't free feed. Limit the amount put out, and only put it out 2 or 3 times daily. (My vet insists cats only need to eat twice a day, however I have to remind him my cats have not read his books! Three times is required here.)

I switched to grain free 4 years ago, and all the pudgy ones slimmed down nicely, with no effort on my part. All except Crystal, who continues to expand. She currently looks like she swallowed a basketball. Since I have 2 with health issues requiring lots of food, I have yet to figure out how to get her less food. I have increased her exercise. I tried feeding her in the bathroom, door closed, and then picking up all the other dishes before letting her out. That worked for 4 days, until she started "feeling it," and then she refused to go in the bathroom!

With luck, your kitty is not like Crystal, and a few changes on your part will take care of the issue.

The food I use is Taste of the Wild. My cats love the Rocky Mountain formula (venison and salmon) and detest the Canyon River formula (trout and salmon). As a cat owner, I'm sure you have experienced their vocalizations when they disapprove of a food! LOL Here is a link:
http://www.tasteofthewildpetfood.com/products/

You can learn much about cat food by reading some reviews. You / your kitty may prefer a different grain free food. Read some reviews on this site:
http://www.petfoodratings.net/cattable.html

Good Luck! Hey, any chance of a photo? We LOVE pictures, here on PT! LOL

[Catty1]

There should be measuring directions on the cat food container. Use those.

I'm trying to get my two big guys down to a reasonable weight. It takes time. Just keep at it!

[Snickismylife]

Today is the first day I actually only gave her the right amount of food and I got stuck working a double so my poor girl could be home alone starving right now and I dont even know.
The picture will be up soon we were moving this week and had to get cable and internet switched over also. She is soooooo gorgeous

[Karen]

How is it going now? Any updates?