Bobbi - since you're a vet...

dss62467

dss62467

Cathlete
Can you think of a reason my cat would be so fat? She doesn't eat any more than our other cats, actually less. We feed her high quality dry food (Nutro) and she doesn't have any interest in human food at all. She's a big fat lump!

She also doesn't seem to remember that she knows how to jump. We keep the cats' dishes on a wooden TV tray table in the kitchen, so the dog won't eat their food. We have to put a step stool next to the table so she can get up there. She's only 4 years old! She started getting fat and lazy when she was just under 3.
 
Is she the only one that eats Nutro? I'm not a vet, but have you checked the calorie content of her food? High quality pet food has a higher calorie content per cup than low quality food.
 
Ummmmmmm.... I don't think Bobbi IS a vet. I think that story she told in her thread was a story told by a vet, I don't think it was a personal experience. I could be wrong and she could be trained as a vet, but right now she's a SAHM.:)

Maybe your cat needs to start doing some CAThe workouts?
 
LOL Shelley - CAThe workouts! Oh boy - my cats have tried to participate in my workouts. They have this cool move they do - it's called "sit on mommy's tummy while she does chest flyes". They don't get a very good workout from it though.

I don't think Bobbi is a vet either. She posted the story as told by someone else.

However, have you tried any of the weight control cat food formulas? My kitties eat Nutro Natural Choice Weight Management, although I'm slowly switching them over to Natural Choice Indoor Cat formula. I free-feed them, because cats that are fed controlled portions tend to eat more than they need because they know the food isn't always available. You could try this approach, but know that if your cat is accustomed to specific feeding times, she may gorge herself at first, before realizing "Hey, there's always food here! I guess I don't need to eat so much." Some cats lose weight this way, others gain and need to go back to a feeding schedule. It just depends on the cat. A reduced-calorie food would be the first thing to try, if you haven't already.
 
My cat tries to participate in my workouts by putting her cold cat nose against the backs of my legs when I'm doing core work on the stability ball. It adds that extra little something, ya know?

I free-feed my cat as well, and it seems to work well for her. She eats a little at a time, when she wants to throughout the day. Doesn't ever gorge herself.
 
All 3 cats eat the same food. The other two will eat people food too, and they're very trim. I have thought about the weight control stuff, but it's almost impossible to give one cat a special diet and allow the others to eat the normal food. This is why our "baby" never had kitten food. I didn't want the 2 adults eating it and getting fat! They also are not on a schedule. They hop up and eat a few bites whenever they feel like it. And I don't see her eating any more than the others.

I was thinking that since she goes outside, maybe she has someone else feeding her. But during the winter, none of them go outside and she didn't have any change in her weight. Plus, of the 3 cats, she's the one who stays closest to home.

Maybe I should give her some of my thyroid medicine. ha ha
 
I would double check with your vet. Obesity can really shorten our pets' lives. Especially if she is so young. I know low thyroid is very common in dogs, don't know about cats tho.

Colleen
 
>I would double check with your vet. Obesity can really
>shorten our pets' lives. Especially if she is so young. I know
>low thyroid is very common in dogs, don't know about cats tho.


According to my vet, thyroid problems are one of the top 3 or 4 problems in cats (with diabetes, liver failure, and cancer: I've had to deal with all of these before, but so far--knock wood!---haven't had anyone with a thyroid problem).
 
As for why she's overweight, hard to tell. Some cats are genetically predisposed to obesity. It's not unusual in multiple-cat households for one cat will be overweight, while the others are normal weight.

Something that has recently become more popular for cat "diets" is more canned food and less dry food. This is because cats are obligate carnivores and most commercial dry foods have too many carbs. Canned food is higher in protein (and fat), but many cats can lose weight on canned food diets. Sort of the Atkins diet for kitties! (hmmmmm.......Catkins Diet!! I might be onto something!!) This would obviously require you to change your feeding habits, but in the long run, might be worth it.

Someone mentioned thyroid disease, but HYPOthyroidism in cats is extremely rare. More common in cats is HYPERthyroidism, which results in a skinny cat who is hyperactive and vomits all the time!

Anyway, hope this helps! Good Luck
(And I am a vet, btw)
 
Donna, I apologize for making you think I am a vet. I wish! I am such a dumbass sometimes! I cut and pasted that out of an email and failed to si†e the source. Sorry , to err is human! I have been busy so busy I have not been appropriately tuned in. Anyway, I have two cats, one very slim, one plumper but no† apt to be huge. We have never fed our cats (or dogs)table scraps. Have you? I think animals get fat when they eat like people, just as people do!:) My cats ahve me trained to feed them at 5:00 A.M. when I get up and again in the evening.I recently cut out the PM feeding and the cats are really mad but as long as I ensurte dry food is available they are aokay with one wet foods feewdingf.
Bobbi http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmilies.de/chicken.gif "Chick's rule!"

Tell me, what it is you plan to do with your one wild and precious life? Mary Oliver
 
Donna,

I recently posted about putting my dog on a diet, and many posters suggested I take him to the vet to make sure he doesn't have an underlying medical condition. I think you should consider doing this if you haven't already, especially since you said she can't remember how to jump. It could be the extra weight that's preventing the jumping, but it could also be something else. Don't want to scare you - she's still young, and I know you care for her well. Just have her checked out to be sure.
 
My indoor cat is pretty fat, too, 14 lbs! He doesn't get much to eat and the vet thinks he is prone to obesety because he got fixed too early. We got him from one of those humane shelters at age 4 months and he was already fixed. He is also a shorty and the procedure might have stunned his growth.
 
Hi

I am a pet groomer and not a vet. But I have recently been going through an educational process with some of the experts in the fields of animal welfare, breeding and training. Apparently one of the problems with most pet foods is that their primary ingredient is animal by-products. Since no one knows what that means except that it is unidentified parts of animals, its impossible to tell how much actual protein such by products have. Also I have heard (but I do not know if it is true) that even euthanised shelter animals end up being used in the pet food industry. I've even heard some dog trainers refer to popular pet food brands as the canine equivalent to potatoes, donuts and other junk foods.

I now make it a point to feed my cats foods whose ingredients and origins are clearly stated on the packaging. I have realised that reading labels on pet foods is as important as reading labels of the foods that we put into our own bodies. My eyes were really opened when I had to search hard for foods whose primary ingredients were quality protein from known sources such as fish or chicken. I've also learned to ensure that the only other ingredients that should go into my cat food are wholegrains or vegetables.

I use good quality wet food and put a little flax seed on top of it. I also minimize the amount of kibble I give as one of my fellows tends to get tubby quite easily. So far this is working well and I have seen such an improvement in their coats. My neighbour switched her cat to a wet food diet (she used Felidae) and it has worked for her kitty too. I will admit that the cost of feeding my cats has gone up quite a bit.

Although feeding dogs scraps can lead to behaviour problems, a lot of vets and trainers seem to agree that some raw foods in the diet, contribute to overall health (particularly dental health). I know that the grooming salon I work for has a lot of information on raw foods that can be used to supplement pet diets. I don't personally know enough about it. But I am beginning to realise that animal nutrition is not that different from human nutrition.

Also you could get the thyroid situation checked out by your vet. Its always good to have an overweight pet checked out for medical problems. Our tabby was eating a lot and was too skinny and we found out that he had an overactive thyroid. We had to rub this ointment on his ear and he immediately started gaining some weight.

As far as getting a cat who doesn't want to play to start jumping is no mean feat. Just keep trying out new toys. Sometimes they will take a fancy to something and concede to run after it for two or three minutes! Hope this helps.
 
Whew, after all these years I wondered how I didn't know Bobbi was a vet! Ha! Shelley, I'm with you...the cat needs to do Cathe tapes!


Your-Friend-In-Fitness, DebbieH (AKA "Den Mother Debbie")http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmilies.de/wavey.gif[/img] If You Get The Choice To Sit It Out Or Dance...I Hope You DANCE!!!
 
Thanks for all of this info! It's nice to have the input of someone in the know. I've been conscious about dog food ingredients, and I am not at all surpised that many well known brands contain tons of by products.
 
Thanks everyone for your suggestions. When I mentioned her thyroid, it was really meant as a joke. I will make an appointment with her vet though.

Edie - do you have a particular brand of cat food which is suggested? Like I said, she eats Nutro right now. Any food that I buy will end up being the diet of all 3 cats, I'm sure.
 
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