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Cat weight loss diet

Cat Diet for Fat Loss

Nutritional disorders like obesity and being overweight are now very common in cats.



Severe cat obesity can easily be identified, but it may take a while to detect mild and moderate obesity.

As the weight and sizes of cats can differ, a “body condition scoring” can assess if a cat is overweight or not. This assessment can be done by an experienced cat-owner or a vet, following a combination of palpation and visual inspection guidelines.

Like human beings, fat cats are usually less healthy.



They also may have a shorter life-span. This could be because overweight cats usually don’t get much exercise. In case these cats are not put on a diet that reduces their daily calorie-intake, they will gain more weight.

The weight loss procedure should be gradual.



Pet owners should not put their cats on any crash diets, because cats have a peculiar metabolic reaction to fasting. If the quantity of food in a cat’s diet is reduced drastically, the cat could suffer from a liver-disorder called Hepatic Lipidosis, a serious disorder that can also be fatal.

Cat weight loss diet


  • You can adopt one of two methods to reduce your cat’s calorie intake. You can either reduce the amount of food that your cat is currently being fed, or you could go in for a weight loss diet for fat cats. The first thing to do in both methods is to reduce kitty-treats and table scraps.
  • You will need to ensure that your cat receives enough nutrition, even when he is on a diet. You could use the following guidelines to help you:
  • Fat: As this nutrient contains the most calories, fat needs to be decreased (not eliminated) in a fat cat diet. Adequate amounts of fatty acids should be given to the cat to prevent dry skin.
  • Calories: The amount of calories consumed by the cats should be less that the calories used, so that their bodies start utilizing the fat, which helps them to lose weight.
  • Protein: Your pets need adequate protein in their meals, to prevent the loss of muscle when they are on a diet.
  • Fiber: A diet that is high in fiber will help in - increasing metabolic energy, improving the body’s sensitivity towards insulin and stabilizing levels of glucose in the blood. High quantities of fiber in a cat’s diet will create the “satiety effect” which will make them feel full for longer.
  • Minerals and vitamins: A good and balanced diet should consist of adequate amounts of minerals and vitamins.
  • A cat following a diet, should have a lot of fresh water available to drink. Once your cat reaches his ideal weight, you may need to change his diet again and get him to exercise regularly to ensure that his weight remains stable.
 
  Submitted on May 7, 2010