Top Ten Tips for Your Overweight Cat

A Recent survey shows that 35% of all house cats are overweight, 20% of these obese kitties are in or starting their senior years. If your cat falls in that percentile, these tips are for you:

1. Consult your vet before putting your cat on any diet.  Some health issues can cause cats to be obese.
   Have the vet run a blood panel prior to the diet to rule out diabetes and other health concerns.
2. Weight loss needs to be gradual-no crash dieting for tubby kitty!
3. Avoid free feeding and cat treats!
4. Use interactive toys to encourage kitty to exercise i.e.  “Da Bird.”
5. Hide catnip in places high up to encourage your overweight cat to climb.
6. Avoid feeding table scraps
7. Feed small amounts on a regular schedule several times a day. If you work invest in a timed automatic feeder.
8. Provide cat grass for your cat- good for digestion.
9. Provide fresh water- suggest you invest in a Drinkwell  Pet Fountain.
10. Introduce new food gradually- otherwise kitty will become ill.

Unless your vet instructs you otherwise, these tips need to be done in moderation. No crash diets, excessive exercise programs or others means should be put into practice. You are your cat’s keeper and he is looking at you to make the right decision and execute that decision wisely.