I have an obese cat that really doesn’t eat that much

Our question this week was:

My cat eats no more than a 1/2 a cup of dried food a day, she is 16 yrs old and very fat. She is a tabby/Siamese mix. What can I do to get her to lose some of the fat? She is an indoor cat.

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Nancy Sierchio

Answer

Hi Nancy– thanks for your email. Your situation is tough. I know many clients that have cats in a similar situation. As they get older, their metabolism can change and it can be easier for them to gain weight (just like us)!

Weight loss is not easy – it is not easy for us and it is not easy for pets. But the principles are the same. Eat less, eat lower calorie food or burn more calories.

For cats, this is especially hard because you can’t play fetch or take them for a good long walk. However, you can still encourage them to play. You can engage them in various toys such as a feather flyer, fur mouse, or laser pointer. You can also feed slightly less food or feed a food that is lower in calories. Several companies make foods for obese pets or a “light” version of the food.

An article that might be helpful to you is Obesity in Cats.

Best of luck!

Dr. Debra