Weight Management
for your Cat

Obesity, defined as an excess of body weight of 20% or more, is the most common nutritional disease of domestic cats. On average, up to 40% of all adult cats are overweight or obese.

Obesity in cats is a known risk factor for diabetes mellitus, heart disease, breathing difficulties, arthritis and joint problems, and lower urinary tract disease.

Finally, obesity in cats is associated with hepatic lipidosis, a severe form of liver failure in cats. It typically occurs in cats that are obese and have undergone a brief period of “stress” which causes anorexia. The “stress” may be as simple as a change of house or a change in diet. Hepatic lipidosis previously was often a fatal disease in cats. Fortunately, with aggressive therapy about 80% of affected cats can now be successfully treated. However, because of the risk for this potentially fatal disease, treatment of feline obesity needs to be done cautiously and always under the care of a veterinarian.

Sure, he's cute, but Butch is overwieght
and needs some exercise!

What causes obesity in cats, and how should it be treated?

Many factors contribute to obesity in cats, and not all of them are clearly understood. Some are probably genetic, while others are clearly related to diet and environment.

 It is important for the cat owner and veterinarian to keep these factors in mind when treating the obese feline patient. Prevention is better than treatment, but this is not always easy.

Indoor cats are more prone to obesity, perhaps because they eat more out of boredom, but also because they have less opportunity to stay trim through exercise. Remember that everybody should run and play, including cats! 

Once a cat becomes obese, the challenge for owner and veterinarian is to safely promote weight loss and maintain optimum weight. In the long run it is better to set realistic goals for weight reduction rather than attempting to force the cat down to a “normal” weight.

Weight Loss Tips

• We recommend that your kitty lose no more than a half pound per month.
• Your kitty should visit our office once a month for a free “weigh in,” to be sure that his or her diet is working and your cat is losing a safe amount of weight. During these visits, adjustments can be made to improve your cat's diet plan.
• Kitty should also have regular check ups with us to ensure a healthy body condition.
• City Cats can create a meal plan/calorie count per day, based on the diet selected.
• Feeding 3-4 small meals a day can help in weight loss and keep kitty feeling full.
• Feeding “meals” is very important. Adult cats should not be allowed to free feed all day. Free feeding can also lead to stomache and bowel upset, caused by bacteria entering kitties food bowl. (After all, even dry food is made up of meat and dairy products that spoil easily.)

Rapid weight loss should be avoided, since it puts your cat at risk for development of severe liver disease. Weight that is lost slowly is more likely to stay lost!  There are no drugs or magic pills that can be used safely or effectively. Commercial “low-calorie” diets are available from veterinarians and provide the basis for a successful weight loss program. However, they are more effective when combined with additional exercise. This also has the advantage of providing more time for interaction between the cat and the family, which we know provides enjoyment and is beneficial for the health of both. With some patience and extra care, obese cats can be treated safely and effectively, with the ultimate goal of prolonging a healthy happy life!

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Diets available at City Cats
Formerly a low calorie, high fiber "cereal" diet was the only recommendation for weight loss in cats. Now there is an alternative: the "catkins" diet!
A high meat, protein-based diet can stimulate the metabolism to increase energy and burn calories! Safe for cats, this diet is more effective with them since they are "obligatory carnivores" (Unlike humans, dogs, and bears that are omnivores).

Hill’s Prescription Diet r/d is a short term, initial weight reduction diet. Its low calorie and high fiber formula is intended to help cats feel full by eating a moderate amount of food with far less calories per cup. ( cutting calories by giving a smaller portion of a higher calorie diet, may leave much to be desired!)

Hill’s Prescription Diet w/d is a moderately low calorie, high fiber diet used to maintain a desired weight, once the weight loss has occurred on r/d.

IVD HiFactor Formula – While the dry version of this food is very similar to r/d and w/d,  the canned HiFactor is different!
Canned IVD HiFactor is a meat based, high protein / low carbohydrate diet. Unlike humans, dogs, & bears that are omnivores, cats are obligatory carnivores & do very well on high meat based foods. This diet is intended to increase kitty’s metabolism and burn fat! Many of our patients who have not responded well to low calorie diets have tried this different approach and had success!

Waltham Coat Care is another great choice for cats on a high meat, protein-based diet.

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Toys and fun stuff for your cat

All cats need exercise, and toys are a great way to provide both exercise and interaction with you. Indoor cats never lost their instincts - anything that allows them to stalk or pounce is a great thing. House cats that don't get enough exercise will channel their energy in destructive ways, or act aggressively toward humans and other animals. Play among wild animals is a natural form of exercise, so check out our high-quality selection of cat toys and add a little excitement to kitty's day.

The simple-yet-effective Cat Dancer drives cats crazy! A three-foot piece of spring steel, tipped at each end by twisted strips of cardboard, the Cat Dancer has become the Nordic Track of cats, selling at the rate of 300,000 units a year. It's like Kitty Ritalin! You can just see the tip of the Cat Dancer at the top of the photo at right.

Fat Cat, Inc., makers of Kitty Hoots "activation toys," is a Vermont-based, family-owned company dedicated to the ultimate bliss of cats and dogs. With innovative products, creative designs, and the pet-passion required to fuel them, Fat Cat, Inc. creates products that go far beyond those boring toys of yesteryear. With Fat Cat toys in your house, who needs TV?

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back to care directory

causes of obesity

weight loss tips

diets available
at City Cats

toys and fun stuff
for your cat