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FAT
CAT? NOT IF IT GETS ENOUGH EXERCISE AND THE RIGHT DIET, SAYS K-STATE
VETERINARIANS
MANHATTAN
-- If your cat is packing a few extra pounds and you worry it may
be overweight, a Kansas State University veterinarian says a change
of diet or an increase in activity may be a good idea.
Check
with a veterinarian before taking any action to promote weight loss
in cats. A veterinarian can recommend a proper diet and exercise
routine to avoid any unnecessary changes to a cat's regular diet
or activity level.
The
first thing to determine is whether or not your cat is overweight.
Determining if your cat is overweight is often difficult because
normal weight varies for different breeds of cats. A cat's breed,
frame, height and length are all factors in a cat's appropriate
weight.
Cats
who are overweight often look well-groomed about halfway down their
ribcage, but then their coat looks unkempt with mats and dandruff.
This happens because cats are too heavy to reach and clean that
area.
Cats
who are overweight are more at risk for heart disease and diabetes.
Arthritis problems may also begin earlier than they would if the
cat wasn't overweight.
If
a cat is overweight, it is a good idea to have a veterinary assessment
to make sure there are no underlying health problems, such as arthritis,
before starting an exercise program with your cat.
It
can be difficult to get cats to exercise. Unlike dogs, cats may
not want to go outside on a leash to walk. More subtle methods of
encouraging exercise may be necessary, including using a laser pointer
to shine the dot around the room or bouncing a ball downstairs and
getting the cat to chase it. This may not be successful for older
adult cats or extremely overweight cats.
If
food is a cat's motivation, making the cat work for its food would
be a way to get them to exercise without knowing it. Place small
amounts of food on several plate and place them throughout the house.
The cat has to move around the house, and therefore exercise, if
it wants to eat the food.
The
main benefit of a regular exercise program is weight loss, but it
can also help a cat with diabetes to improve control of the disease,
Gaughan said.
Although
exercise is one option for weight loss in cats, the best way is
a diet change. A veterinarian can calculate a cat's dietary requirements
and determine how much food it needs to be fed. If a cat is not
satisfied with the amount of food it is currently receiving, then
it may be reasonable to change to a different food with lower calories
so it can eat more and feel full.
Most
cat food brands offer a light version and there are also prescription
diets for cats. These diets require a prescription by a veterinarian
because they are severely restricted in calories and may not be
appropriate for every cat.
Owners
need to remember to be patient when attempting to get their cat
to lose weight -- it's a gradual process.
Updated
July 2005
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