Obesity problems are quite common in cats that are not fed properly. Cat obesity, which is quite common, can lead to health problems that can lead to death.
The first requirement to prevent obesity in cats is proper and balanced nutrition. In this article, you can learn how to understand whether your cat is prone to obesity and how to prevent this situation.
What Diseases Does Obesity Cause in Cats?
The ideal body weight of cats varies depending on the cat’s gender and species. While an average of around two kilograms is considered normal, if your cat is overweight, health problems become inevitable.
Obesity in cats causes many problems, including the following health problems;
- Hypertension
- Type 2 diabetes: Diabetes in cats is considered one of the most dangerous diseases because it greatly increases the risk of contracting other diseases.
- heart conditions
- Arthritis
- Joint injuries and pain
- some types of cancer
How to Tell if Your Cat is Obese?
Obesity in cats can be detected not only by measuring body weight, but also by examining certain parts of the body. It is important to remember that not every heavy cat is obese, as some cat breeds tend to gain more weight than others.
Although the best way to diagnose obesity is to consult a veterinarian, you can perform a preliminary examination on your cat by following the methods below.
- Examine your ribsIt is considered natural and normal for your cat’s ribs to be covered with a certain amount of fat. However, in cats with obesity problems, it will be difficult to feel the ribs when you touch them. If the fat layer is so thick that you cannot feel the ribs, this may indicate obesity.
- Examine the belly area: Cats with obesity problems have a more rounded belly area. In cats with normal body weight, a slight fold is seen at the end of the ribs. If your cat’s belly is round enough to eliminate the fold, it may indicate some health problems, especially obesity.
- Examine the waist area: When you look at your cat from below, check for growths in the middle parts of the body. While cats with a healthy weight have a slight indentation in the waist area, this indentation disappears in obese cats.
- Examine the back area: While looking at your cat’s back and seeing its spine means that it is extremely skinny, not being able to feel it when you touch it with your hand is also considered a sign of obesity. In healthy cats, when you touch the cat’s back area, you can feel the ribs under a light layer of fat.
How to Prevent Obesity in Cats?
Since the main cause of obesity in cats is nutrition, you must first make sure that your friend is fed the right food. By choosing foods with balanced content, you can ensure that your cat gets the calories it needs correctly and at the same time prevent problems such as obesity and overweight.
- Reduce the daily amount of food: You can help your cat lose weight by reducing the food and calories it consumes. However, you should do this in a balanced way to make sure your cat is getting enough nutrition.
- Reduce treats: Since treats may contain extra calories, they may predispose your cat to obesity. It would be a much better choice not to give treats to your overweight cats.
- Track your cat’s weight: Keep track of your cat’s weight by weighing it at regular intervals. It is recommended that you weigh yourself weekly and check whether she is gaining weight.
- Increase exercises: Remember that your cat will move less, especially with age. Since decreased activity will lead to obesity, it is recommended that you direct your cat to activities and games that it enjoys. It is also very important not to stress your cat while doing this.
Foods specially produced for obese cats will ensure that you get the calories your friend needs in the best possible way. With PRO-VET Weight Control Diet Cat Food, which you can purchase with the assurance of Profpetmama, you can feed your friend in a healthy way and ensure that he gets the vitamins and minerals he needs while maintaining weight control. You can help your friend live a healthy and long life with PRO-VET diet cat food produced by Dutch experts and veterinarians.
After How Much Weight Are Cats Considered Obese?
Cat weights are evaluated in two separate categories. Different treatment and diet methods are used depending on how much your cat is over its ideal body weight.
- overweight cat: If your cat is 10% to 20% heavier than its ideal body weight, then it is included in the overweight class. These weights, which indicate a tendency to obesity, can be treated more easily with a balanced diet, unlike obesity. Cats at this stage must start an appropriate diet under veterinary supervision and their weight must be kept under control.
- obese cat: If your cat is 20% or more heavier than it should be, then it is classified as an obese cat. Obese cats must be checked by a veterinarian quickly and lose weight with appropriate exercise and diet programs. Since obesity seriously affects cat health, it is recommended to start a rapid treatment program.
It is known that especially adult cats are more prone to obesity. With decreasing physical activity, there is a tendency to gain weight as calorie burning decreases.
What Should Be Done for Obese Cats?
If your cat has an obesity problem, it is recommended to start diet changes and exercises under veterinary supervision. Obesity in cats is a disease that should never be taken lightly and must be treated correctly.
Obesity, which almost always occurs due to improper nutrition, causes many diseases, especially joint problems. From the moment it is diagnosed, it is recommended that your cat be fed diet cat food and directed to more exercise and movement.
