Do you think that your cat may not just be fluffy...that she may be carrying on a little more weight than she should? Obese cats are less healthy than lean cats and are at risk of developing several conditions.
Keeping a close check on your kitty’s weight is a good idea to ensure that she’s healthy. In this blog post, we will help you answer the question, “Is my cat obese?” in detail.
How to Tell that My Cat Is Obese
Did you know that nearly 60 percent of all cats in the United States are overweight or obese?
There isn’t a tricky code that you need to crack in order to determine whether or not your cat is obese. If your cat is 20% heavier than her ‘ideal’ weight, she’s in the obese category.
How to Tell Your Cat is Obese at Home
Here’s a simple hack that can help you determine whether your cat is obese or is just fluffy:
- Place your hands on either side of your kitty
- If it is difficult to feel the ribs, your cat is most likely overweight
- Your cat should also have a waist. If it is wide as the chest, you’ve got an overweight cat
It is best to ask your vet if your kitty is overweight during her annual examination to be 100% sure.
Obese Cats and Health Facts
Obese cats are at higher risk for developing the following:
- heart disease
- diabetes mellitus
- osteoarthritis
- kidney disease
- liver disease
Obesity can also lower a cat’s lifespan.
What Can I Do?
Does your kitty need to slim down?
If so, there are several things that you can do to help your furry friend shed those pounds.
Changes in the diet: You need to determine how much you need to feed your cat and give her food at proper intervals of time. Switching to diet foods isn’t always the best solution
Increase in exercise: You’ll need to help your kitty burn that extra fat that she’s been carrying around. For that, you’ll need to include some light exercise in your kitty’s schedule
Have you ever owned an overweight cat? Tell us how you dealt with it in the comments section!
