Firstly, do they look overweight? Does their belly sag in any way or are they visibly different in appearance to other cats? If this is hard to spot because you see your cat every day, ask your friends or family to see if they can notice a difference.
If your answer to these questions is yes, your cat is likely at a healthy weight. If the ribs, spine and shoulder bones are overly visible however, there is a chance your cat is underweight. Cut down on treats and avoid feeding them human foods altogether. Make sure your cat is on the correct diet for their life stage. If appropriate, a neutered or senior cat diet will provide better calorie control. If your cat is obese, speak to your vet or registered veterinary nurse about weight loss diets: these provide all the required proteins, vitamins and minerals while reducing calories.
Remember, when changing any diet, introduce the new food gradually over the course of about a week. Puzzle feeders can also be a great help. Read more: 5 enrichment ideas for cats! Try some good old-fashioned exercise! Increased activity, which you can bring about by playing games with your cat, will help your cat burn calories and will strengthen the bond between pet and owner too.
Cats like to play before eating because this mimics natural hunting behaviours. They will be able to conduct a proper weight check and to give advice on diet and exercise that is tailored to your specific cat. Find your nearest vet using our Find a Vet page, or speak to a vet online using Online Vets. We use cookies on our website to make it easier for you to use. You may need to switch the type of food you are feeding and cut back on the amount of treats you give your cat.
In addition to diet, make sure your cat regularly goes outside for some exercise. You can also buy food puzzle toys to encourage your cat to indulge their natural hunting instincts whilst indoors.
Cats can be underweight for a few different reasons. Sometimes adopting a high-calorie diet can be enough to help them put on some weight. Menu Menu. The average weight of a cat Although a rough estimate for most domesticated cats is around 10 pounds, or between As there is more to health than weight alone, the Body Condition Score BCS is a more accurate way to determine if your cat weight is healthy.
The BCS encourages you to get hands on with your cat and get to know their actual size underneath all the fur. FIrst off, look at your cat from every angle to get an all-round view.
Be gentle with your cat as it may be used to you touching it this way. The ideal healthy cat weight is leaner than you may think. Most owners will underestimate the weight of cats.
Oftentimes, factors like body shape, size and breed play an important factor when it comes to healthy cats. No two cats are the same. Different cats require different food, different meal sizes and different degrees of exercise. Therefore, although two cats weigh the same, it is highly possible that one cat would be overweight and the other underweight. Use your eyes and your hands to get a proper feel and look at the weight of your cat. The ideal weight for cats is of course, between 3 and 5 on the BCS scale.
You have to view your cat from above as well as on the side to find out whether it is healthy, overweight or underweight. At the ideal cat weight, a clear waistline can be seen and a visible tummy tuck is available. You will feel its ribs although you may not see it as a small layer of overlying fat covering it is healthy.
The first thing you have to realize is that your cat needs to lose weight if it is an obese cat. You can start by making your cats exercise and feeding them the best diet cat food. It is best you do your research so that you can find out what causes cats to gain weight too!
0コメント