Is My Cat Overweight? Get Diet and Exercise Tips

Does your cat look a bit pudgier or are you wondering if your kitten is overweight? But, how do you confirm if your kitten is overweight?

If you are unsure whether your kitten is overweight, there is an easy way to check their size yourself, without any scale. It is a three-step process called the “Body Condition Score” according to the Cornell Feline Health Center. Here they are –

1. Rib Check: With palms down, touch both hands across either side of your kitten’s rib cage.
2. Profile check: Take a view of your cat from one side.
3. Overhead check: Stand over them and look down.

If you cannot feel your kitty’s ribs or see their waistline, then your kitty is likely overweight.

Once you confirm that your kitten is overweight, it’s time to consult your cat’s vet and make an exercise and nutrition plan for your kitten. A basic principle you can keep in mind while creating the weight-loss plan is “Eat well, play more”.

Choosing the Ideal Food for Weight Loss

Nutrients are essential for a weight loss meal plan. However, before you make changes to your kitty’s meal plan and especially before you cut down the portion of food you feed them —you should visit a veterinarian to avoid causing potential health problems.

According to the American Animal Hospital Association, “A crash diet isn’t healthy for anyone, but for cats, it can sometimes trigger a fatal liver disease”. Although it’s a worst-case scenario, any changes made to the cat’s meal plan will have an effect on their health, so make sure to consult their vet if you would like to adjust their food.

You can choose foods that will keep your kitty full and also support their health. You can study the ingredients of the packaged food and how they benefit the health and lifestyle. Foods that are tasty and give a healthy punch are the best options for you to reduce your cat’s weight. Vitamins, meat proteins, and minerals like magnesium, iron, and calcium all offer enough nutritional value. 

In some cases, the vet may suggest therapeutic foods that are specially made to help get your kitty to reduce weight. These also include foods that improve your kitty’s metabolism.

Lastly, if you have a habit of giving your cat table scraps and treats, it is best to stop feeding them these unwanted calories. It may seem like your kitty will hate you, but they’ll be just fine with getting the extra playtime and cuddles from you.

How Fitness & Exercise Can Help

Cats are normally idle creatures, but through the waking hours of your cat, get them moving! Healthy food alone will not help much in weight loss. You can become your cat’s personal fitness trainer. Throw around a little toy that they can chase or get your cat a nice cat scratching post. Or even wade-up a piece of paper and your little hunter will entertain themselves with it for a while. You can mix activities to keep them busy.