How Do You Get A Cat To Lose Weight

[queenofmean]

My vet has asked me to reduce the weight of one of my cats.

Teddy is a timid soul so getting him to come out is a struggle. He only eats a small breakfast of us Urinary dry food a small sachet of Sheba with his meds in at tea and very little else.

He will occasionally play with the others but it is very rare. He has a feather stick but he only plays if he is alone and I bought a laser pointer but he isn't interested in moving...what else can I do? I have thought about popping him in the washer and using it as a giant hamster wheel but that would be mean...can you suggest ANYTHING that I can do to help him. He is a big lad anyways but the vet is concerned at his 800g gain in 7 months.

[queenofmean]

His not us

[wolf63]

Is he maybe stealing food from the others? My Frankie loves food - his food and his sister's food - he will eat it all. You can get diet foods but they don't seem to be very tasty (according to my two).

What about this idea?

http://tinyurl.com/hsm7tso I can just imagine my two sitting staring at it.

[TheChair]

This is all a bit vague. How small is a a "small" breakfast? What constitutes "very little else", and what meds is he on?

[queenofmean]

He doesn't steal from the others Wolf 9/10 out of ten they steal from him!

That looks AMAZING...heck even I could fit in that!

The Chair small is half a sachet of food IF that. Very little else - nothing. He's on Cistease and Metacam

[queenofmean]

I hate autocorrect that was meant to say 9/10 and not the bit afterwards

[hellywelly4]

Does he go out at night? There was a programme on TV which showed cats going into other houses through the cat flap and stealing other cats' food. Just a thought. Hope you're feeling better xx

[wolf63]

Does he get out? Might be snacking on the local rodents.

Frankie is on steroids which make him hungry and he has gained about half a kilo in the last few years. 800g in 7 months is quite a lot.


Have a look at this site for ideas http://icatcare.org/advice/feeding-your-cat-or-kitten

[queenofmean]

He's an indoor cat hellywelly so sadly not unless he can open two doors and reach the lock.

Miles better - see post Bout Time for details :)

[queenofmean]

Thank you Wolf...will have a look at that.

He's an indoor cat so he doesn't hunt - he did chase a mouse once but he decided to play with it thankfully rather than anything else.

[Old_Geezer]

You need the wheel but with transparent sides that fit on after he is in, and a motor to turn it at a comfortable speed. That'll get the lazy cat fit and slimline. Check how he's getting on, Sunday.

(I'm assuming the issue is laziness, not medical.)

[TheChair]

How old is he? Why is he on Cystease?

[Smowball]

Sounds mad but do cats have underactive thyroids like humans??

[Tilly2]

I think Metacam can make animals put on weight. Tilly has been on it for a couple of years and we really have to watch her weight. Then again, she isn't able to walk as far now as she did when she was younger.

[Patsy33]

I have same trouble with my 7 year old male cat QOM. He's on Urinary diet too for struvite stones which could have been fatal about 5 years ago. I've read on line from other people whose cats are on same special diet and all have put a lot of weight on. I did mention it to the Vet and he admitted it was true. I felt it was my fault up til then. He doesn't particularly like the diet wet food, he's not too bad with dry food. Also it's exspensive. I do give him bits of chicken and a little bit of ordinary cat food when I've run out of his food. He seems to be always hungry and is very demanding of my attention. He's 2/3rds a house cat. He doesn't get much exercise unless I play with him but am running out of ideas!

[queenofmean]

He's not Lazy as such OG...if you want Lazy I give you Lou...she is THE laziest cat I know! He wanders about the house of an afternoon so he is sort of active. Just not enough!

The Chair he is 3 and is on Cistease as he has a narrowed urethra and was having many accidents and it was possibly brought on when my mum whom her belonged to passed away.

They do Smow I have one here with thyroid problems...

I've heard that Tilly, he isn't on a high dose of Metacam it has been reduced. He gets check ups regularly but 800g in 7 months is quite a bit.

He didn't like the Special Diet food that we were told to try. So we reached an agreement with the vet. He can eat the Purina Urinary dry food but not any other form of dry food he will eat a small amount of wet stuff in which he gets his medication - which he will come and tell you it's time for..still got half an hour to go. He isn't a fan of things like Chicken or Ham etc.

[wolf63]

What about making him earn his food.

Here are some more

http://tinyurl.com/z3zrjsa

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DwUOdvJp-8

[queenofmean]

It's a good idea Wolf, but I worry about the other lot.

He doesn't eat much at all, if he does want anything extra he will tell you or if he doesn't get his meal because of one of the others - usually Phoebe he will tell you but I have learnt to wait for the others to eat and then give him his meal.

I've already cut out his Dreamies and treats.

[Tilly2]

I don't know why I'm on this thread. I don't like cats. (Runs for the door!)

[wolf63]

No Dreamies? That is pretty severe !!

I think that in the US they are called Temptations.

Tilly - I will send my girl cat to see you. In full fight mode she is terrifying.

[CrapAtCryptics]

buy it some speedos.