Healthy cats / Overweight cats
Pet Care

Overweight cats

A guide for

  OVERWEIGHT CATS

OVERWEIGHT
CATS

‘Guide for overweight cats

Obesity affects around one in three cats in the UK. Usually, it’s down to being fed too much of the wrong food, or because they’re not taking enough exercise, so being overweight can be a particular problem for cats who are indoor only pets.

WHY IS IT A PROBLEM FOR CATS TO BE OVERWEIGHT?

It’s important to prevent your cat gaining too much weight because obesity puts cats at increased risk of developing a wide range of health problems including arthritis, heart disease, urinary tract disorders, constipation and metabolic problems such as diabetes.

“IF YOU ARE IN ANY DOUBT AS TO WHETHER YOUR CAT IS A HEALTHY WEIGHT, THEN SEE YOUR VET”

HOW TO SPOT IF YOUR CAT IS OVERWEIGHT

It can sometimes be tricky to tell if your cat is overweight - especially if they’re long haired or a stocky kind of breed. You might perhaps notice that your cat is reluctant to move around, or perhaps they’re not very agile and are unable to jump up into previously favourited high spots.

These signs can be caused by other things, of course, so if you are in any doubt as to whether your cat is a healthy weight, then see your vet. They’ll be able to examine your cat, check their body condition, weigh them, and advise you on whether you need to make any changes to your cat’s daily routine or diet.

Cat obesity assessment
Cat obesity assessment

HOW TO HELP MANAGE YOUR CAT'S WEIGHT

Fortunately, there are lots of ways you can easily help to prevent your cat from becoming overweight. Firstly, you can monitor their weight and body condition regularly at the vets. By checking on a regular basis and paying attention to any tendencies to an increased weight, you’ll be able to change any feeding habits or increase your cat’s activity level before they gain too much.

“PROVIDING YOUR CAT WITH AN INDOOR JUNGLE GYM, SCRATCHING POST OR CLIMBING TOWER, ENCOURAGES THEM TO GET ACTIVE”

EXERCISE

To help your cat to be more active, (especially important for cats that live indoors), you can play with them using cat toys such as a feather on a string or a ball. Providing your cat with an indoor jungle gym, scratching post or climbing tower, encourages them to get active - and may help keep them off your favourite curtains!

DIET

By choosing healthy, wholesome cat food with a high digestibility and high meat content, and only feeding the recommended amounts, you can help to control your cats weight.

Another important way of helping your cat to feel nourished and well fed is to feed your cat several small meals a day, rather than one or two large meals, as this mimics their natural feeding patterns of eating little and often.

Instead of offering titbits, try offering portions of your cat’s daily quota of food (easiest to do with dry cat food), as treats. And, if you are feeding several cats it’s a good idea to feed your overweight cat separately, to avoid them stealing any leftovers from the others!

Lily’s Kitchen could be an ideal choice of both dry and wet cat food to manage your cat’s weight. Delicious, naturally wholesome and made with proper ingredients, our nutritionally complete recipes are full of goodness, to help lay the best foundation for a healthy diet and happy weight.

MEATY GREATNESS

Cats thrive on meat and offal

HEALTHY HEART

Taurine is essential for a healthy heart

HEALTHY EYES

Taurine is also essential for healthy eyes

OPTIMAL NUTRITION

Look for chelated minerals that helps absorption

PROPER MEAT

Steer clear from meat meal or processed meat

GRAIN FREE

Look for grain free recipes

MEATY GREATNESS

Cats thrive on meat and offal

GRAIN FREE

Look for grain free recipes

PROPER MEAT

Steer clear from meat meal or processed meat

HEALTHY HEART

Taurine is essential for a healthy heart

HEALTHY EYES

Taurine is also essential for a healthy eyes

OPTIMAL NUTRITION

Look for chelated minerals that helps absorption

Remember, always speak to your vet before you make changes to your cat’s diet or start them on any weight loss regime. It’s important to rule out any underlying conditions, or reasons for the weight gain, that may require treatment. Never withhold food or put your cat on a diet without consulting your vet first.

TRIAL PACK
FOR CATS

Our Trial Pack for Cats contains nutritious recipes that are full of top notch, natural ingredients. This is proper food, bursting with goodness and we think you’ll notice a positive difference… right from the very first meal.

Shop now

TRIAL PACK
FOR CATS

Our Trial Pack for Cats contains nutritious recipes that are full of top notch, natural ingredients. This is proper food, bursting with goodness and we think you’ll notice a positive difference… right from the very first meal.

Shop now
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