Adult Cat Weight Control
Taking Nutritional Questions Off Your Plate
Extra weight may lead to a lot of trouble. When looking at her, you should be able to see her waistline. She should have a slight tuck at the waist, and you should be able to feel her ribs and back bone when petting her. If you can’t, your cat can stand to lose a little.
The most common cause of weight gain is from overeating – and overeating is typically due to overfeeding your cat. So while she may look up at you with those sweet, adoring eyes, leaving food out all day or constant treating and rewarding with table food can all add up — big time.
Obesity in cats can lead to some serious health problems:
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Joint problems
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Type 2 diabetes
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Heart problems
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Breathing problems
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Increased risk of cancers
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Skin problems
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Shorter life spans
“On average, veterinarians discuss nutrition with 55 to 60 percent of their clients.”
Have you taken the time to discuss nutrition with your vet? Like your doctor, that’s what they are there for. Fortunately, there are plenty of activities you can do to help your cat shed pounds before you visit the vet.
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Get your cat moving and grooving with toys or other activities. Hey, you may find yourself burning some calories too.
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Make your cat work for her food with food puzzles — they’re the perfect way to turn eating time into playtime.
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Simulate outdoor play opportunities to get your cat to “hunt” her toys that look like a rodent or bird.
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Feed your cat several small meals throughout the day instead of just leaving food out.
If your cat is overweight, don’t panic, there are many things you can do to help reduce her size. The first step is to feed a weight management food such as NUTRO® NATURAL CHOICE® Indoor Healthy Weight Adult or NUTRO® MAX® CAT Indoor Weight Control Food. Follow the feeding guides on the cat food package for weight reduction until the desired weight is met. When your cat has reached her ideal weight, feed her the appropriate amount for maintenance at her healthy weight.