Senior Cat Weight Control
Taking Nutritional Questions Off Your Plate
Extra weight can lead to a lot of trouble. As your cat matures, she’ll have certain needs that she didn’t have when she was younger. Her activity level will most likely decrease, and her nutritional requirements will also change. When looking at your senior cat, 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 mature 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:
-
Joint problems
-
Type 2 diabetes
-
Heart problems
-
Breathing problems
-
Increased risk of cancers
-
Skin problems
-
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 senior cat shed pounds before you visit the vet.
-
Get your senior cat moving and grooving with toys or other activities. Hey, you may find yourself burning some calories too.
-
Make your cat work for her food with food puzzles — they’re the perfect way to turn eating time into playtime.
-
Simulate outdoor play opportunities to get your cat to “hunt” her toys that look like a rodent or bird.
To help maintain the ideal weight of your mature cat, feed her food that’s specifically formulated for older cats, such as NUTRO® NATURAL CHOICE® Indoor Mature Health Senior or NUTRO® MAX® CAT Senior Roasted Chicken Flavor Food. The Nutro Company believes that natural foods are healthier, safer and tastier for your cat — and will help her achieve great heights, like that windowsill she’s been eyeing for the past year.