Category: Animal House
OK, cat people, I need some help here. So my cat Trinity is about ten years old, and extremely overweight. She's about 16 pounds, when the vet says that with her size, she should be 11.5 or 12 pounds at most. Her weight is really starting to effect her health, so it's vital that we help her lose it. But how in the world do I do that? She has a very sensitive stomach. We've tried her on several of the weight loss foods, both the kind you can buy in a pet store and the prescription kinds you get from the vet. Anytime we take her off the particular sensitive stomach food she's on, she throws up the new food. And yes, we are transitioning her to the new food very, very slowly, so it's not like we're making fast changes on her. We try to engage her in play, but she's lazy, and waits for the toy to come to her, rather than chasing it or going after it. Any tips on foods, toys, or any other ideas to help a senior kitty take off some pounds? Thanks!
One thing to do, if you're not doing it already: don't free-feed her. Give her a measured amount of food each day, and that's it. Beyond that, try to engage her in play, as you've been doing.
I can't think of much else, particularly if she won't stomach the other weight-loss foods.
Agreed, feed her maybe half in the AM and half in the PM what a kitty her ideal weight should be eating. Definitely no free feeding.
Agreed try to try her on different toys. Have you tried the feather toy, laser pointer, maybe try something different to what you've done so far.
Lastly you could try a puzzle toy for part of her food, so she has to work for it. I know this is big for dogs, not sure what's available for cats, but that would help her use energy if she's food motivated.
Good luck, keep us posted.
Oh no, I'm definitely not free feeding her. I learned very early on that was a bad idea, and stopped doing it. She does get measured amounts of food during the day, and only that. Sometimes it's hard to stick to, because she cries for food when it's not time, but I make myself do it. I do have various feather toys. Her problem is she waits for the toy to get close enough to her to attack it, rather than coming after it herself and chasing it. I'd love to get a laser pointer for her. my fear has been that I would hurt her with it. I've been told that if you hit a cat in the eyes with the beam, you can really hurt them. Given that I can't see exactly where the beam is aimed in relationship to where she is, I'm scared that's what I'd do. Do the rest of you guys use laser pointers with your cats? How do you do it and make sure you won't hurt the cat? If there's a way, I'd love to try it. I will look for one of those puzzle food toys, because she most certainly is food motivated. LOL. Thanks for the ideas. IF you have any more, keep them coming!
If she's big, then chances are she's not horribly quiet. Just try and point the laser-pointer away from her, that's all. Since you're trying to flick the beam and make her chase it, then the trick is to just try and keep it away from her.
I can't say to its efficiency for a blind user, but I've known over a dozen people who've used laser pointers for cats, some of them pretty stupidly, and not one has hurt their kitty in doing so.
Puzzle toy is a good idea. I know it's hard to not give in when she cries for food, but if her weight is that large of an issue, it's in the right cause. Mine will sometimes do that, and I will sometimes give him treats or whatnot, but then he's not overweight either, so I can sorta get away with it from time to time.
Yeah, it is hard not to give in to her, but I can't do it. I measure her allotted food for the day and set it aside, so that when that's gone, she doesn't get anymore. She drives us distracted sometimes, but giving in only makes the problem worse on two levels. One is her weight of course, but the other is that animals are like kids, and learn that their annoying behaviors often get rewarded. Feeding her when she cries would only teach her to do more of it.
Now, I have the opposite problem. Mine's too skinny. But, as I've said, it's her health. Have you tried "The Cats' Meow?"
I got Rachel even to chase it at 17. It runs itself, but it's good to watch.
My friend's pup TT, used to play with lights. When my dad and I played with him, Dad said to listen where he's moving. Now, it's harder for kitties. But, like Shepherd-Wolf said, the fatter the cat, the easier to hear. And, I've seen fat kitties.
I was friends with a 22-pound monster. That cat jumped on me, and I thought I was dying, or going to die. That was a monster! LOL He wore it well, but was very large, for a house cat.
Blessings,
Sarah
Sarah, never heard of the Cat's Meow. I'll go look that up. Also am getting a laser light this weekend and will see how it goes with her. Same thing with puzzle food toys. Going to go see what I can find.
Also those furry string toys, like poles for fishing. They love them. Also, I remember this from this morning, find a way for her to climb. Kitties do better when they climb.
Got one that climbs the matress I have stored. The funny thing is, I have a wall that's not all the way to the ceiling, and she climbs over it, sliding down to land on the bed.
That Cats' Meow is great! They think it's some rat or mouse, and chace it. It runs on it's own, but it's way fun to watch the kitty play and chase it. And, it's in one place, so you can be lazy, like me! LOL
Blessings,
Sarah