Obesity in Cats: Causes, Symptoms, Diet and Prevention

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Fat, Puffy - whatever we call our cute plump pets, giving them a touching smile. But is cat obesity really that funny? Do not feed your pets, because by doing so you are harming his he alth. If obesity itself is not so dangerous, then its consequences can lead to a number of ailments.

What is obesity?

Obesity in cats is a process of fat deposition in organs and subcutaneous tissue. This problem affects not only people, but also many animals. According to statistics, 25 - 40% of our four-legged friends suffer from a similar problem. Very often, obesity is associated with an improper diet, animal lifestyle and related ailments.

It's a shame, but very often the owners themselves become the culprits for the fact that the animal is gaining weight. Excessive care for a pet and the desire to feed him something tasty lead to negative consequences.

Causes of obesity

By nature, cats are predators. Under natural conditions, they are forced to get their own food,to hunt, while spending a lot of energy. Pets do not need to move as actively as their wild counterparts. They get delicious food on demand. Caring owners will not starve their pet. It turns out that with minimal physical activity, the animal receives food in excess.

If a pet gets more calories than it expends, then it invariably develops obesity. An unbalanced diet is a large amount of fats, carbohydrates and a very low protein content. A very important point is the diet, because it is difficult for an animal to control itself if it constantly sees a bowl of food in front of it.

It is worth remembering that some breeds are predisposed to obesity, which means that you need to be careful about food organization. Castration can also cause obesity in cats.

Do not forget that the appearance of excess weight may be associated with hormonal disorders. Most often this happens with diabetes, arthritis, liver problems and cardiovascular disorders.

Symptoms of obesity

What are the symptoms of obesity in cats? Pay attention to the behavior of your pet. One of the signs of being overweight is difficulty breathing. The animal refuses to play and active lifestyle.

The reasons for this behavior of the pet may be different. You should not self-medicate, because first of all it is necessary to establish why obesity has arisen incats. Causes and treatment are two inextricably linked concepts. One of them follows from the other. To understand how to treat an animal, it is necessary to find out the causes of overweight.

At best, it's all about the wrong approach to nutrition. But it is not necessary to exclude all kinds of diseases. From a veterinary point of view, obesity in cats needs to be treated. But what it will be, largely depends on the diagnosis made by the doctor. Therefore, at the first alarming symptoms, experts recommend contacting a veterinarian, and not looking for a solution to the problem in numerous forums. Only a professional can make an accurate diagnosis. In addition, for the diagnosis will have to pass tests. Obesity in a cat can be caused by serious illnesses, so diagnostics of the pet will help confirm or refute the assumptions.

Vet visit

At the first visit to the veterinarian, the animal will be measured, weighed and compared with the norm. To find out the causes of overweight, it is usually necessary to take a urine and blood test. If any disease is detected, the specialist will prescribe treatment.

But even in the absence of illness, the veterinarian will recommend a special diet that will normalize your pet's weight. Treatment of obesity in cats involves diet and proper nutrition. In addition, the animal should lead a more active lifestyle, in which you should help him.

Of course, it is difficult to fight overweight, it is easier to avoid obesity in a cat. Veterinaryas science deals not only with the treatment of ailments and their diagnosis, but also with the prevention of diseases. Therefore, the advice of veterinarians and the relevant scientific literature must be heeded. Many owners do not consider obesity a problem, forgetting that it leads to more serious diseases.

Therefore, immediately after the appearance of a pet in the house, it is necessary to establish proper nutrition for him. This will be the best prevention. Veterinarians will recommend relevant literature to help you understand the nuances of feeding.

Preventive measures

In order not to wonder how to treat obesity in cats, it is easier to prevent its occurrence. If you do not want your pet to gain excess weight, you must follow a number of rules:

1. It is necessary to provide physical activity to the animal. Do not be too lazy to play with him, chasing him with a ball or a fishing rod. It is good if the house has a play complex, thanks to which the pet has the opportunity to release its energy.
2. Diet plays a huge role in preventing weight gain. Food doesn't have to be in the bowl all the time. Otherwise, the animal may develop a bad habit of overeating from childhood. At the stage of constant growth and maturation, excess weight can still be overcome. But in an adult animal, overeating invariably leads to obesity. The cat needs to be fed 4 - 6 times a day in small portions. Nutrition should be correct and balanced. The diet should contain a lot of protein, not fats and carbohydrates.

Correctfood

When a pet appears in the house, you will be faced with the question of what type of food you prefer. You can opt for natural products or buy industrial feed. At the same time, ready-made meals must be premium or super-premium.

If you prefer natural feeding, then the following products should be on the menu of your four-legged friend:

1. Sea fish boiled.
2. Meat without bones and skin (rabbit, turkey, beef, chicken).
3. Low-fat dairy products (up to 5% fat).
4. Vegetables and fruits in moderation.
5. Offal is allowed no more than twice a week (peeled and boiled).

Don't forget about mineral supplements and vitamins. They must be present in the diet regularly. It is difficult to correctly calculate the volume of products offered to an animal. After all, all pets are different and lead a different lifestyle, so they need different portions of food. In general, by experience, you can learn to determine whether there is enough food for a pet. If the cat has not eaten a portion, the leftovers must be removed so as not to disturb the diet and prevent overeating.

With ready-made feeds, determining the norms of food intake is much easier. The packaging tells how much food the animal needs by age and weight. If the owner feeds more than necessary, the pet will begin to gain weight.

Pet treatment

It takes effort to get your animal lean. Choose a diet for your catobesity can only be a veterinarian. In the future, you will need to keep a journal in which you will regularly record the weight of your pet. It is worth noting that with obesity, a diet for a cat will be needed in any case.

If a pet is found to have an ailment, the veterinarian will add therapeutic measures. But diet is the foundation of any treatment. Usually, experts do not recommend feeding the animal with ordinary food, reducing portions. This method of weight loss is not effective. It is better to use a special cat food for obese cats that is balanced and contains everything you need so that your pet does not suffer from hunger. Which product to use, the specialist will recommend to you, taking into account the existing problems. However, you need to adjust your diet every 4-6 weeks.

It's hard to predict how quickly a pet will bounce back. Usually animals need up to 8-12 months. But the rate of weight loss largely depends on the underlying disease. In the event that obesity is caused only by malnutrition, the veterinarian will limit himself to prescribing a diet. If an illness is detected, the animal must be treated.

With diabetes, you will have to regularly visit the veterinary clinic to control insulin doses, with hypothyroidism, you need to control hormone levels and blood pressure. In general, the treatment of obesity is complex.

Diet food

Diet food for obese cats is the mainstay of treatment. Experts note that in no case should animals be given dietary supplements intended forhuman.

For pets who are used to eating canned food, Purina Veterinary Diets OM Obesity Feline canned food is recommended. They promote weight loss due to their low calorie content. This food is also good for pets suffering from diabetes, constipation, colitis and other ailments. Its peculiarity lies in the fact that it contains a lot of fiber and almost no fat.

It often happens that animals get used to one type of food, so the owners cannot change the manufacturer. As a result, an unbalanced diet leads to problems. And yet you have to change the usual diet. To make the transition less painful, you can use cat food for obese cats from a manufacturer that your pet likes. Dietary species are usually present in high-end feed lines.

Hills Presciption Diet Feline has proven itself well. It prevents the appearance of obesity, constipation, colitis. It is good even for diabetics. It contains a lot of fiber, fats and carbohydrates are significantly reduced, but L-carnitine is added. The food also contains vitamins A, E and D, minerals - phosphorus, calcium, potassium, sodium, magnesium, which help strengthen immunity.

Diet is the foundation of obesity treatment. But it is worth remembering that the pet must return to its normal weight smoothly and slowly, without compromising he alth.

Another good food for treating obesity is Royal Caninobesity. It has the right balance of nutrients to help you lose weight. Chondroitin and glucosamine have been added for the he alth of joints that experience extra stress when overweight. And for he althy skin and a beautiful coat, the food contains fatty acids (Omega-3 and Omega-6).

It is very important to remember one feature of diet food. All of them are contraindicated for pregnant cats. You can not give them during lactation.

Obesity in cats after spaying

Very often the consequence of sterilization is obesity and the appearance of uroliths in the urine. After the procedure, it is important to transfer the animal to a special food with a reduced energy value. They usually contain substances to prevent the formation of struvite crystals. Modern pet stores offer a wide selection of food for sterilized cats. However, do not rush to make a hasty choice. For advice, it is best to contact your veterinarian, who will prescribe the most appropriate option.

Obesity in older animals

At different stages of your pet's life, the need for certain minerals and vitamins changes. It is for this reason that food for kittens, adult and elderly cats can be seen on store shelves. In the diet of aging pets, it is necessary to reduce the amount of protein, phosphorus and sodium in order for the cardiovascular system to work well.

Vitamins E, A and B are needed to slow down the aging process (12 & 6). Lysine improves immunity, while zinc and fatty acids providethe beauty of the coat and the he alth of the skin. Aging cats are often diagnosed with obesity. This is due to the fact that the diet remains the same, and energy costs are reduced. Cats begin to move less and prefer not active games, but calmer ones. Therefore, experts recommend switching the animal to food for aging pets.

Delicious additions

If your pet has been prescribed a diet, then all treats must be completely excluded from his diet. Very often, the owners feed their favorite creation with goodies from their table. Sweets, sour cream, chocolate and other products are used. Most of them are very harmful to cats. It is these additives that lead to obesity. And during the diet, they are out of the question. Even treats from pet stores are banned. At the time of treatment, they will also have to be abandoned. It would seem that harmless additives can lead to undesirable consequences. Therefore, the diet must be strictly observed.

Additional events

Sometimes veterinarians recommend additional measures for complex treatment. For example, herbal medicine can be used. Herbal decoctions have not only a choleretic and diuretic effect, but also reduce appetite. Plantain leaves are often used, a decoction of which dulls the feeling of hunger. This tincture is also suitable for pets after sterilization.

Also effective is a decoction of bean leaves, oregano, birch leaves and dandelion. It allows you to efficiently remove slags ands alts from the fat burning process.

Instead of afterword

Obesity is a fairly common problem among domestic cats. With the appearance of excess weight, you can cope by preventing your pet from overeating. It is very important to think carefully about the diet. Don't be discouraged if your veterinarian has diagnosed your cat as obese. Properly selected food will allow your pet to lose weight without harm to he alth.