We all pack on a few pounds during the holidays, and its natural for our kitties to do so as well!
The holidays are my favourite time of the year. I love being surrounded by my family and friends, and enjoy indulging in my favorite foods and drinks. Of course, come January, I am a little more heavier than before!
But, I have noticed the same pattern with my kitty.
My cat tends ti get heavier in the winter and loses the weight in summers. However, I’ve been noticing that he’s been getting heavier even when he’s ‘lean.’
In this blog post, I will go over some tips to help your cat lose some weight after the holidays are over.
Let’s get started.
Is Your Cat Overweight?
Did you know that about 50% of cats between the ages of 5 and 11 are overweight?
Cat obesity has several health consequences. Your kitten can develop conditions like diabetes, heart issues, breathing problems, joint issues, etc. because of the increased weight.
In fact, overweight kitties have a shorter lifespan than healthy cats.
So, to keep your cat healthy and happy, you need to make sure it maintains healthy weight and lives a healthy lifestyle.
Here’s How to Help Your Cat Shed Some Pounds
If your cat is overweight or obese, it needs to go on a diet to lose the excessive weight and get healthier.
Your vet will help you figure out the right daily caloric intake. On average, an indoor cat needs 20 calories per pound of body weight to maintain its current weight. This depends on several factors like:
- Age
- Level of activity
- Health problems
- Medications
- Breed
Change the cat food
One of the best ways to help your cat shed a few pounds is to switch to homemade cat food. Some experts believe that commercial cat food isn’t the best for cats as it contains various additives, flavours, etc.
While making homemade cat food requires a lot of effort on your end, it is ultimately worth it as your cat gets far more nutrients and goodness from its food. Commercial cat food can never beat a healthy homemade diet.
Say Goodbye to Free-Feeding
Does your cat have access to food 24/7?
Instead of letting your cat eat whenever it wants to, you should switch to feeding it two meals a day. This will help control grazing and you’ll be able to monitor the exact amount of food your cat eats during the day.
Most of us simply top off the cat food when we feel the quantity has lowered. This enables free grazing. Your cat may be eating out of frustration, boredom, etc. instead of hunger.
Create an Exercise Routine
Your cat will need to work out in order to shed some calories and get healthier! One of the best things about cats is that they’re creatures of routine and like t d certain things at certain times.
Try to incorporate a simple workout routine to your cat’s schedule to help it lose some weight. As little as 20 minutes of exercise per day can help your kitty lose weight. You can take your cat out for a walk or play with her to help her burn some kcals!
Summing Up
Do you have a fat cat?
Pet obesity has become increasingly common in the recent years, and most people blame commercial pet food. Of course, a cat’s inherent laziness is to blame as well.
We hope that this blog post helped you assist your kitty is losing some weight.
Do you have any questions? If so, leave them in the comments, and we’ll get back to you soon.