Cat Losing Weight Fast

Noticed your cat gaining a few pounds? Being overweight can cause a lot of health problems for so it’s important to keep them a healthy weight. Find out more about cat obesity in our guide.

Your cat’s ideal weight will depend on their individual circumstances, age, gender and breed. Your vet will be able to tell you what your cat’s ideal weight is, but as a general guide:

There’s no ‘one size fits all’ approach to what should weigh. The only way to know exactly how much your individual cat should weigh is by speaking to your vet.

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How to tell if your cat is overweight isn’t just about reading the scales. An easy way to tell if your cat is overweight can be by looking at them. If your cat is overweight, you might notice:

If you’re unsure, it’s best to ask your vet as they can weigh your cat properly and tell you how much they should weigh.

All will have an ideal weight, which is something your vet will be able to advise you on. There tends to be two categories when it comes to overweight :

Why Is My Cat Always Hungry?

It’s important to make sure you take your cat for regular check-ups with your vet so they can keep an eye on their weight. Adult in particular are more likely to become overweight or obese than kittens or senior , so regularly monitor their weight and make sure you are feeding them correctly. Find out more about feeding your cat.

If your cat is overweight or obese, it greatly increases their risk of certain health conditions, many of which can be life-limiting and require costly care going forward. It can also affect their ability to groom and general movement, both important for their natural behaviours.

If your cat is overweight, your vet will be able to give you tailored advice to help them lose weight. It’s important not to starve your cat or put them on an extreme diet that drastically reduces their food in one go as this can cause your cat to become very unwell.

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Another way to help your cat lose weight is to encourage them to exercise more. Try putting their food in a feeding toy or scatter it around the house to encourage their natural hunting behaviours, or schedule in more playtime with their favourite toys.

Get bored easily, so try to rotate their toys or treat them to a few new ones to keep playtime interesting.

If you have more than one cat at home, it may be more difficult to manage their weight if one of them becomes obese. Make sure you feed the overweight cat in a separate room and throw away any uneaten food from other in the home.

Reasons Your Cat Can't Lose Weight

If one of your is a grazer, try to keep their food out of reach of your overweight cat. You can do this by cutting a hole in a cardboard box too small for your overweight cat to get through but large enough for the other cat. You may need to help them learn the new location of their food. You can also use microchip feeders which only allow that cat to eat that food (you may still have to have separate feeding areas).

Are generally solitary, so living with other – even siblings – may be stressful. Stress may cause to overeat, while other may lose weight when stressed.The Association of Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP) found that 25.7% of cats were overweight and a further 33.8% of cats were obese in 2018. That means nearly three in five cats are overweight — and veterinarians are sounding the alarm. Although a chubby cat may seem cute and cuddly, those extra pounds can actually lead to serious health issues over time.

The good news is that you can help your cat lose weight with some simple diet and exercise changes. In this blog, we’ll explain why it’s so important for cats to be at their ideal weight and give you 10 vet-approved tips to get there.

Weighing Your Cat

Cats that are overweight or obese face an increased risk of a wide range of health problems. Tufts University Veterinary Medical Center warns that overweight cats are at higher risk for :

As you can see, weight is a big determining factor in your cat's health. Learn more about feline obesity and why your cat may be gaining weight so you can “tip the scales” toward a healthy weight for your cat.

The best way to help a cat lose weight is to help them consume fewer calories than they burn through exercise, and this will require some changes to their daily routine. But before you jump into a new feeding schedule and diet, make sure you and your cat are ready. Follow these best practices:

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Before tackling your cat's excess weight, you should make an appointment with your veterinarian. Every cat has a different physiology and different needs, and even making small changes to your cat’s diet, food amount, or feeding frequency can make a big impact, positive or negative. Your vet is the best source of guidance to craft a safe, personalized weight loss plan for your unique pet.

Before starting a weight loss plan, you need to determine how much weight your cat needs to lose. APOP estimates the average house cat should weigh between 8 and 10 pounds . That said, you should discuss your cat's ideal body weight with your vet, because factors like breed and age also play a role.

Weighing your cat isn’t the only way to assess their size and health. You or your vet can also examine your cat and give them a body condition score. Here’s how it works:

Reasons For Weight Loss In Cats

Before trying out tactics to improve your cat's weight, make a plan for how you’ll change their diet, and then slowly transition from their existing diet and exercise regime to the new one.

Many pet owners are guilty of overfeeding their cats and not providing enough exercise, and your cat is going to fight any sudden changes. Move slowly from your current feeding routine (food type, amount, frequency, etc) to your new one.

If you’re switching to new food , for example, you’ll want to take at least two weeks to transition. You can mix the foods together, gradually changing the ratio from mostly the current food to mostly the new one. This helps your cat get used to the change, and you’ll also be able to monitor whether they have any bad reactions to the new food.

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While diet is a major piece of the puzzle, physical activity helps burn calories and fat and improves your cat’s energy levels. So, come up with ways to add more exercise into your cat’s daily life. We’ll give you some ideas in our list of tips below.

For instance, extra playtime with your cat (break out the toys or laser pointers) will get your cat moving and help your cat's diet show results faster. Check out more exercise tips in our blog.

Finally, be patient. If you cut food or increase exercise drastically, you could actually make your cat sick. For example, cats that go two consecutive days without eating can develop fatty liver disease (hepatic lipidosis ). Left untreated, this condition turns into liver failure. This potentially fatal condition is preventable if you schedule a thorough health exam with your vet and create a good weight loss plan together.

Why Is My Cat Losing Weight Suddenly?

Just as weight gain happens slowly, weight loss takes time too. A cat can safely lose about 0.5 to 2% of their body weight each week , so use that as a guide for your expectations. Your vet should also give you a rough timeline.

Indoor cats often want little to do with exercise, and that contributes to their weight problems. Encourage more movement by moving your cat's food bowl and litter box around the space. Place them in a different location each day, so your cat has to seek it out and get some exercise along the way.

If your home has more than one story, you could place them on the floor where they spend the least amount of time, or on separate floors, so they’ll have to go up and down the stairs regularly.

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Cats aren’t afraid to work for treats. Buy or make treat toys and feeding balls that’ll make your cat trade some physical effort for a yummy snack. Not only do they turn mealtime into playtime, but they provide both mental and physical stimulation, too. Because these toys release food a little at a time, they also help slow down how quickly your cat eats.

If you're feeding your cat once per day, this schedule can contribute to overeating. Instead, consider spreading their normal amount of food over several feeding times. Multiple small meals over the course of the day will keep your cat from feeling so hungry at one time of day.

This strategy can also help if you’re gradually changing how much you feed your cat. If you’re cutting your cat's caloric intake, giving them more opportunities to eat will keep them from whining from

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