How to Keep Your Cat Healthy and Fit: 7 Tips to Prevent Obesity

The key to helping your cat live a long and happy life is YOU.

Obesity is a common and serious health problem that affects many cats. In the US, about 60% of all cats are obese or overweight. Obesity can lead to various diseases, such as diabetes, arthritis, and cancer. Therefore, it is important to prevent your cat from becoming overweight or obese.

Here are some tips to help you keep your cat healthy and fit.

1. Choose the best food for your cat

Your cat’s diet plays a vital role in maintaining a healthy weight. You should feed your cat a high-quality food that meets the nutritional needs of your cat’s life stage. For example, kittens need more protein than senior cats. You should also look for a food that has meat or seafood as the main ingredients, as these provide essential amino acids and fatty acids for your cat.

Some examples of high-quality foods for cats are:

• Hill’s Science Diet Adult Indoor Chicken Recipe Dry Cat Food
• Purina Pro Plan Savor Adult Chicken & Rice Formula Dry Cat Food
• Royal Canin Feline Health Nutrition Kitten Dry Cat Food
• Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein Grain Free Natural Adult Dry Cat Food

2. Avoid free feeding your cat

Free feeding means leaving food available for your cat at all times. This can cause your cat to overeat and gain weight. Instead, you should feed your cat at designated meal times, and remove the food after 10 to 60 minutes. This way, you can control how much your cat eats and prevent overeating.

Some benefits of feeding your cat at meal times are:

• You can monitor your cat’s appetite and health
• You can prevent food spoilage and contamination
• You can prevent food aggression or competition among multiple cats
• You can prevent boredom or stress eating in your cat

3. Consider a switch to canned food for your cat

Canned food has more water content than dry food, which can help your cat feel full with fewer calories. Canned food can also help prevent urinary tract problems and dehydration in cats. If you decide to switch to canned food, do it gradually and consult your veterinarian for advice.

Some tips for switching to canned food are:

• Start by mixing a small amount of canned food with your cat’s dry food
• Gradually increase the amount of canned food and decrease the amount of dry food over several days or weeks
• Offer canned food at room temperature or slightly warmed up
• Store unused canned food in the refrigerator and discard any leftovers after 24 hours

4. Measure the food for your cat

It is important to know how much food your cat needs per day, based on your cat’s weight, age, activity level, and health condition. Your veterinarian can help you determine the ideal amount of calories for your cat. You should use a measuring cup or a scale to measure the food accurately and avoid overfeeding.

Some examples of how much food to feed your cat are:

• A 10-pound adult indoor cat needs about 200 calories per day
• A 10-pound adult outdoor cat needs about 300 calories per day
• A 10-pound senior cat needs about 180 calories per day
• A 10-pound kitten needs about 400 calories per day

5. Avoid treats for your cat

Treats are often high in fat and calories, and can contribute to weight gain in cats. You should limit the amount of treats you give to your cat, and choose low-calorie or healthy options, such as fresh fruits or vegetables. You should also avoid giving human food to your cat, as some foods can be toxic or harmful for cats.

Some examples of healthy treats for cats are:

• Cooked chicken or turkey
• Cooked eggs
• Cooked fish
• Carrots
• Apples
• Bananas

Some examples of human foods to avoid for cats are:

• Chocolate
• Grapes and raisins
• Onions and garlic
• Alcohol
• Caffeine
• Xylitol

6. Encourage exercise for your cat

Exercise is essential for keeping your cat fit and active. Exercise can help burn calories, strengthen muscles, improve circulation, and reduce stress in cats. You should play with your cat for about 5 minutes several times a day, using toys, lasers, or feathers to stimulate your cat’s natural hunting instincts. You can also provide scratching posts, climbing trees, or tunnels for your cat to explore and exercise.

Some examples of fun toys for cats are:

• Catnip mice
• Feather wands
• Laser pointers
• Ball tracks
• Puzzle feeders
• Cat tunnels

7. Weigh your cat regularly

Monitoring your cat’s weight is important for preventing obesity. You should weigh your cat regularly, using a scale or a body condition score chart. A body condition score chart can help you assess if your cat is underweight, ideal, overweight, or obese by looking at the shape of your cat’s body from different angles. If you notice any changes in your cat’s weight or body condition score, you should consult your veterinarian for advice.

Some examples of how to weigh your cat are:

• Use a digital scale that measures in ounces or grams
• Weigh yourself first without holding your cat
• Then weigh yourself again while holding your cat
• Subtract the first weight from the second weight to get your cat’s weight

Some examples of how to use a body condition score chart are:

• Look at the ribs: You should be able to feel them easily but not see them clearly
• Look at the waist: You should see a slight indentation behind the ribs when viewed from above
• Look at the abdomen: You should see a slight tuck when viewed from the side

By following these tips, you can help your cat stay healthy and fit and prevent obesity-related problems. Remember that prevention is better than cure when it comes to obesity in cats.