A balanced diet is important to maintain your cat’s health and improve her life expectancy. It is important to keep in mind that obesity is a disease that can have serious repercussions on your cat’s health. If your cat is overweight, there are solutions to help him regain his healthy weight.

It is not always easy to tell if your cat is overweight or not. Therefore, body condition index grids have been established in dogs and cats. In cats, this grid gives the animal a score ranging from 1 to 9 depending on its body condition as follows:

• Score from 1 to 4: the cat is considered to be too thin. We can see the ribs in short-haired cats and the hollow of the flank is marked (scores 1 and 2); or palpate the ribs with a slight presence of fat and a marked size (scores 3 and 4);
• Score 5: this is the ideal score, the cat is in its optimal weight. The ribs are palpable and covered with a light layer of fat, the cat is well proportioned and there is no fat in the belly;
• Score of 6 to 9: the cat is considered to be overweight. The ribs are difficult to feel because they are covered with a large layer of fat (scores 6 and 7) or even not at all palpable (scores 8 and 9). There is no observable hollow in the flank and there is fat in the belly. The abdomen becomes more and more rounded and fat is present in the back and limbs for the highest scores (8 and 9).

So, you can try to use this grid by observing and palpating your cat to determine its body score (full grid available on the WSAVA website. You can also take advantage of a visit to your veterinarian, during the annual vaccination visit, for example, to discuss it with him and ask him for his opinion on your cat’s body score, which can then help you in a potential weight loss process for your animal.

Choose the right food

In order to make your cat lose weight, it is necessary to start by giving him the right food. Indeed, the choice of food is made according to several parameters (age, sterilized or not, activity, presence of a disease, etc.). Your veterinarian can help you choose the food to give your cat based on these parameters. In addition, low-calorie, low-fat foods for obese cats are now commercially available.

Namely that neutered or neutered cats are more sensitive to weight gain. This is because their metabolic needs change and their appetite is also increased. It is therefore advisable to be attentive to the weight of your cat following such an operation and to opt for a food for sterilized cats in order to prevent weight gain.

Give the right amount of food

Once the food is chosen, it is essential to give the sufficient quantity and meet the energy needs of your cat. Thus, it is necessary to calculate the correct amount of daily ration to give to your cat. Your veterinarian can help you with this calculation. Indeed, depending on the body score of your cat and the evolution of its weight, the quantities to be given may vary. A specific food plan for your cat will therefore have to be established with your veterinarian.

Once the daily amount has been calculated, it should be divided into several meals throughout the day, at least 3 meals per day. Indeed, a cat needs fractionation of its food throughout the day. The quantities to be distributed must be rigorously weighed with a kitchen scale so that they are respected as well as possible. Indeed, several small amounts during the day can quickly be overestimated if they are attributed “to the eye”.

In addition, it is very important not to reduce the amount of food yourself, otherwise the nutritional needs of your cat will not be adequately covered. A calculation made by your veterinarian will allow you to know the right amount.

Physical activity

Physical activity is important for keeping your cat healthy. If the latter is rather sedentary, especially if he lives in an apartment, a gradual resumption of physical activity would be interesting to make him lose weight. Start with a few short exercises of a few minutes a day. Offer him a variety of games that allow him to exercise, such as ball games or chasing. In addition to making him lose weight, it will allow him to fight boredom.

treats

If your cat is overweight, it is also necessary to question the treats you are giving him and in what quantity. Indeed, the treats should not exceed 10% of the animal’s energy needs. So you can cut back on the treats if you give him too much. In addition, prefer low calorie treats for your cat. In addition, if the latter tends to be gluttonous, do not hesitate to offer him boiled zucchini in addition to his ration. Not only low in calories, they also help fill the stomach to get to satiety faster. They are obviously not to be given alone, it is a supplement to his daily ration.

In all cases, it is recommended to make an appointment with your veterinarian or even with a nutritionist veterinarian to establish a nutritional plan in order to make your cat lose weight.