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Feline
Obesity |
by:
M.
Nikole Hunn |
Does
your cat polish your floor with his stomach
as he walks? Is his food bowl bigger than
your head? Do you grunt when you try to
pick him up? Does he bounce when he lands
on the floor? Do you spend more on his food
bill than your own?
People see fat cats as subjects of humor.
They make cartoons with cute captions, manipulate
photos into amusing cards, and crack jokes
about their rotund companions. As harmless
as it seems, obesity in our feline companions
is not a joke. The health risks are very
real. For nearly 40% of American cats, their
lives will be shortened by years due to
this preventable problem.
All cat owners should know if their cat
is obese, what problems are associated with
obesity, what causes obesity, and how to
fix the problem.
So how do I know if my cat is obese?
Obesity is commonly defined as being more
than 20% above the ideal weight. How that
ideal weight is determined, however, isn't
always cut and dried. Unlike humans, who
have Body Mass Index and other various charts
to guide them, there isn't an established
chart of acceptable weights for cats due
to the large variations between the different
breeds. A Maine Coon will be much heavier
than a Siamese. For this reason, obesity
in cats is determined using body condition
scoring. Body condition scoring usually
ranges from 1 to 9, with 5 being ideal and
9 being grossly overweight.
So how can you tell if your cat's too fat?
Feel his sides. Can you feel his ribs? A
little fat covering is ideal. You should
be able to feel his ribs if you put slight
pressure on his sides, but you shouldn't
be able to count them just by running your
hand over his body. Look at him while you're
standing above him. Can you see his waist?
Yes, cats should have a waist. Look at him
from the side. Do you see his tummy tucking
in a bit? It shouldn't be wobbling around
in the breeze (in neutered animals, a slight
pouch of loose skin is normal).
For long-haired cats, it may be helpful
to wet down their fur in the bathtub to
judge their body condition. All that fur
can give the illusion that the cat is much
heavier than it really is, or provide a
great excuse to the owner for why her cat
looks fat.
(See the links following this article for
an illustrated chart to help you.)
So He's Fat. Is It That Dangerous?
The short answer: YES.
The long answer: a list of known risks.
Obese cats have a much higher risk of developing:
*diabetes mellitus (sugar diabetes)
*hepatic lipidosis / FLS (a form of liver
disease)
*arthritis or other skeletal problems
*lower urinary tract disease ('cystitis')
*breathing difficulties
*heart failure
*renal disease
*problems with anesthetic
*surgical complications
But He Doesn't Eat THAT much...
Excess weight is all about eating more calories
than the body needs. If your cat is neutered,
he uses less calories. If he's a barn cat,
he uses a lot more calories. The more active
he is, the more calories he needs. Most
of us have indoor cats that lay around much
of the time. They're not using energy to
stay warm; they're not hunting for their
food. They don't need to have a big bowl
of food laying around to munch on 24 hours
a day.
When humans diet, it is often recommended
to keep a food diary because we lose track
of how much we're really eating. You can
lose track of how much your cat is really
eating if you free-feed dry and toss treats
at him several times a day. Be more conscious
of what you're feeding him and remember
that an animal that weighs 12 pounds doesn't
need to eat all that much. Nor will he think
you don't love him anymore if you stop tossing
him treats every time you think he's being
cute. If you want to show him your love,
play with him. Give him some catnip. Spend
time interacting with him. Don't equate
food with love.
Getting the Weight Off
If your cat is more than a little overweight,
the first thing you need to do is make an
appointment with your veterinarian. There
are a few medical reasons for gross obesity
that require veterinary care to fix. Barring
a medical problem causing the condition,
your vet should monitor your obese cat's
health as you restrict calories. Strict
dieting can be deadly to obese cats. Do
not just drastically cut down on her food
and hope the weight will melt off. Obese
cats who are suddenly deprived of food are
prone to Fatty Liver Syndrome, which can
be fatal if untreated. Weight loss should
be a gradual process - the natural result
of a healthier diet and a more active life.
Most cats are not so grossly obese that
they need medical care to supervise their
weight loss. Most are simply the result
of an unhealthy lifestyle where they consume
too many calories, are too inactive, and
eat the wrong kinds of food (pretty much
just like overweight people). Addressing
these problems will result in the weight
gradually reducing to a healthy number.
Try these tips.
*Buy premium food. Many inexpensive brands
don't use quality ingredients and use far
too many fillers. The nutrients are not
as digestible, thus aren't bioavailable
(they just pass right through the system).
The cat eats more to compensate.
*Feed portioned meals at regular mealtimes.
Cats will eat out of boredom, just like
people. They may also compete for food in
a multi-cat home. Feed the portion recommended
on the food packaging, dividing into two
or three feedings daily (barring any medical
condition requiring a different feeding
schedule). Separate your cats in your multiple-cat
household if necessary. Leave the food down
for 30-40 minutes, then take it up. You
eat meals at mealtime. So can your cat.
*Feed wet food in addition to or instead
of dry. Cats are meant to eat meat. Dry
foods tend to have far too many carbohydrates
(not very digestible) and not nearly enough
water and protein. The wet food, high in
protein and fat, satisfies the cat's hunger
better and is used more efficiently by the
body. If your cat likes wet food, feed the
wet only. If she isn't all that crazy about
it, give her half her calories as dry and
half as wet. If you're just starting out,
even a quarter of her calories coming from
wet food is a start.
*Skip the treats. Food should not be equated
with love. Once your cat is down to a healthy
weight, an occasional treat is fine, but
until then, try using praise, play time,
catnip, and other rewards to show how much
you enjoy your companion.
*Integrate activities other than eating
into the routine. Your cat was made to be
an active being - one that hunted for food,
competed for territory, stayed safe from
predators, stayed warm in the winter, cool
in the summer, ranged for mates, and raised
young. Now that cats are kept as indoor
pets, they need activity to be provided
for them. Get some interactive and automated
toys for your cat. Play chase with her -
get her to chase you from room to room by
dragging a cat toy behind you. Get her a
big cat tree and hide interesting things
such as catnip pieces in it, especially
towards the top where she needs to climb
to get to. Plant a little container of cat
grass and secure it to the top. Be creative,
but get her thinking and moving. Playing
with your cat reduces stress levels - for
both of you!
Keep the Weight Off
Don't get lazy once your cat can actually
jump onto the couch without effort. A healthy
weight is all about lifestyle. Maintain
the feeding regimen, don't start feeding
a lot of extra treats, and keep up the activity
levels. Spending a little time to get your
cat to a healthy weight will help your cat
live a longer, happier life.
About the Author
M. Nikole Hunn is a freelance writer
in her spare time, in between coding,
tripping over cats, and cleaning hair
off the couch. Her main site can be seen
at http://www.ipwebdesign.net/. |
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