Obesity is actually a condition that affects millions and millions of people all over the world… even animals actually. When I say animals, this includes our pets at home –just like our cats. It might be so easy to ignore your cat’s weight issue. However, always bear in mind that it might shorten its life span. Further, it may also make its days less enjoyable and more laborious. Give this article and learn how to help your cat lose weight effectively.
Cat Obesity: What is this?
Cat obesity or obesity in general, is a nutritional condition that’s defined by an excessive amount of fats in the body. Further, cats, which are over nurtured, have the capacity of retaining weight, or lack of the capacity to exercise, are actually at risk for becoming overweight or obese. Moreover, obesity may result in some serious opposing health conditions, like the reduction of the lifespan on cats, even though the cat is just abstemiously obese. Additionally, a lot of areas of the body gets affected by the excess body fat. This includes the joints and the bones, digestive organs, as well as the organs, which are responsible for the breathing capacity.
Moreover, in general, obesity happens in the middle-aged cats, and usually in those, which are in between the age of 5-10 years old. Further, indoor and neutered cats are at much higher risk of becoming obese because of physical changes or activities in the metabolism.
How do you know if your cat is obese?
In humans, various published charts might be essential in determining the ideal weight for a certain body size. Moreover, since our own pets depends drastically in the body shape and size, the charts are not that much beneficial. Rather, we tend to visually grade the pets using the BCS or Body Condition Score. Additionally, this is an important factor for you to consider in knowing how to help your cat lose weight.
So what is this Body Condition Score? Continue reading to know.
Body Condition Score
The body condition score is a somewhat biased rating, which is used in standardizing the level of the weight of a particular animal. Furthermore, in here, pets are being scored from 1-9, 9 being the highest score, with the score of 5/9 being the ideal body weight.
Furthermore, for instance, a very thin cat might seem to have a visible hip bones, spine, and ribs. Moreover, a very obese cat might have a layer of fat over its ribs, a swollen abdomen, and fat deposits near the neck and in front of the hips. Additionally, a cat that is at an ideal body weight may have ribs, which you may easily feel, even without pushing through the fat layer. Further, an abdomen, which is pushed up when seen from the side, as well as a visible last rib.
Why is a cat overweight?
Pets may become overweight when they tend to consume more calories that they supposed to be. Moreover, these extra calories are being stored into the body as fats. Furthermore, the amount of fat cells a cat has is actually determined when it is still a kitten. Further, each individual cell may become smaller or larger, varying on the amount of fat, which is stored in the cell. In the event that the fat cells are being formed, they are already permanent.
Moreover, for this particular reason, cats, which become overweight as kittens actually have more trouble in the maintenance or losing of weight. Additionally, they are also more likely to be obese in their adulthood. Therefore, it is so important to prevent obesity when it is still in its early stage.
How to help your cat lose weight?
Below are some ways on how to help your cat lose weight:
- Pay your vet a visit. The best first step for you to take on learning how to help your cat lose weight is to pay your vet a visit. Moreover, talk to him or her, so that he or she may help you in assessing the starting point of your cat, as well as any health concerns. Additionally, this may get in the way of the progress.
- Make your playtime more engaging. Do not expect a lazy cat to play on its own. Furthermore, laser pointers, foil balls, string on a rope –then may all make for a fun, quick playing session, as well as bonding.
- Consider using a feeding ball. In case your cat loves eating dry foods, use a feeding ball, which forces it to work for each of the food. It’ll for sure, have fun in pushing the ball all over, as well as get significantly more exercise as it is doing so.
- Make your cat hunt. You can more your cat’s food into a new location each time you feed it. This does not just thrill and excite your cat, it will also add some extra exercise searching the surroundings.
- Zilch the treats. We all know cats love treats. However, they can never hide a sneaky number of calories. further, most of the pet owners give them lots and lots of treats every single day. Exchange the treats for playtime. Additionally, do not even get started on giving a cat human food.
- Count the calories. The average indoor cat only needs about 20 to 3 calories per lbs. of body weight each day. You need to count the current cat food and see how it actually stacks up and begin measuring at each single meal.
The aforementioned ways on how to help your cat lose weight are just few, there are more on the internet. Search if you need some more information.