Put my fat cat on a diet - when does the whining stop?!

4nnabella

Ok, so my cat has, over the past year or so, got a bit too fat! I feel really terrible about it as she is only four and at the end of the day, it's my fault as I'm the one feeding her! She's been checked over at the vets and is perfectly fine, apart from being overweight.

So, she's been switched on to a diet food and I measure her daily allowance etc (I think this is what caused the weight gain in the first place as I never used to weigh her food before) but I was just wondering if anyone else out there in forum-land had had experience of this and could answer a question...

Basically my cats whine A LOT when they're hungry. Obviously they are suffering a bit at the moment as they are on 'reduced' portions (well, normal portions really but reduced compared to what they were getting before). I know that when a person reduces their portion size, like when dieting, your stomach will shrink and eventually the reduced portions are enough, but does this also happen with cats? I'm really hoping it does as by late evening, when they've had their daily allowance and they're still whining for a bit more, it's really starting to get annoying!

It's also hard on my other cat as he isn't overweight and is also a lot more active than the fatter one, but I've put him on the same food and portion size to make it easier to keep Mollie on the diet.

princess

Our fatty of a cat is on a diet - and I am so proud of him today as he has gone from 7.2 kilos to 6.8 in three weeks. I know its still too much by a step in the right direction. The whining never stops imho!! Today he was licking the ground near where he is fed, looking for dropped debris (there wasnt any) and he just follows me about whining for food all day. We do feed him little and often tho, which seems to make it somewhat better and shuts him up for 15 mins or so at a time. Also he seems a bit less obsessed with food if he's outside, so with this better weather weve been letting him out more, to take his mind off the diet and also to get a bit more exercise.

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

About 3 months, I have found.

4nnabella

Thanks both

Mollie is 6.6 kilos and shaped like a barrel! I have also found that feeding little and often helps them through the day and also helps to prevent Mollie from eating her food then finishing Harley's as well. Although it's easier to monitor their eating this week as I'm off work. It will be more difficult come Monday when I'm not here all day.

I am considering putting them both outside for the day when we're not here but they're used to being able to come and go as they please so am going to hold off on that for now. I'm just going to see how it goes over the next few weeks and encourage her to play a bit more. I bought a laser pen the other day and they both go nuts over it!

paddypaws101

Cat weight loss should be very slow and gradual, otherwise the liver can be overwhelmed by the break down of fats and the cat can become very ill. Really your vet ( or often the nurse is better trained in diet ) should be over seeing this for you.
I don't believe that 'diet' foods are often that helpful...they are full of carbs and grains which do not nourish the cat and leave it hungrier than ever. Personally I would advise using a top quality wet food such as Bozita, and using careful portion sizes. Meat will keep the cat fuller for longer so if the cat will take a raw chicken wing this would be a great meal replacement and will take it time to gnaw to et the nourishment.
( oh, and I will admit to having tried every trick in the book with my 'fatty' who persists in being a real porker despite my best efforts )
4nnabella.....maybe sneak an extra portion to the slimmer cat, as he does not need to lose any more weight from what you say.

4nnabella

Thanks paddypaws

Once I get near the end of this bag of food I have now, I am going to wean them both onto a better quality food, either Orijen or Applaws I think. And I'm also going to see if either of them are interested in raw chicken.

juliebunny

I have got fat cats. They were never fat until I put them onto Biscuits which they love and so over eat. I am trying to wean them back onto wet food. They don't like it as much so eat less. Yes they paw my face in the night and early morning for food, I have to be strong and ignore them.

I tried the better quality foods and they turned their noses up at them! Good way to get them to eat less but more quality!

I heard a lot about Bozita and Applaus - I have several <ahem> cats - where can I get this cheapest?

4nnabella

I've been looking at Applaws over the past few days, and have found it at the following places:

£10.20 for the 2kg bag
http://www.pet-supermarket.co.uk/products-Applaws-Adult-Cat-Food-Chicken_CA3401.htm

£13.29 for 2kg
http://www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/pet_food/applaws_pet_food/cat_dry_food

£15.31 for 2kg
http://www.petsathome.com/shop/dry-cat-food-chicken-by-applaws-29204

The first two also have the larger 7.5kg bags which work out cheaper but Pets at Home don't.

gunsandbanjos

juliebunny wrote: »

I heard a lot about Bozita and Applaus - I have several <ahem> cats - where can I get this cheapest?

Have a look at www.zooplus.co.uk

I order from them regularly, any order over £19 is delivered free. I give my guy Orijen as a dry food and either Animonda carny/Bozita/Smilla as a wet food.

You can also get cashback from Quidco for zooplus:D

paddypaws101

I think if weight loss is important, the dry food should be kept to a minimum, or dropped all together. So many cats seem to over eat dry, and I am certain it is a major cause of weight gain. Feeding a good quality wet food such as Animonda carny, Bozita, Grau or Smilla ( all from Zooplus ) is much better for them. Natural Instinct also now do a complete balanced raw food for cats which is an excellent product and really does not work out expensive to feed as they need fairly small portions of it compared to tinned.
http://www.naturalinstinct.com/categories/Cat-Food/

purplepardalis

Overeating of dry was a problem with my fat cat too. Due to illness back in 2007 my cat ended up a skinny wreck so was fed ad lib when he got better to build him up. He was so bony. Then he turned into a fat cat. I started the food rationing with dry food and he hated it. Constantly whining. We then got 2 new kittens and as the kittens were on a wet/dry combination the fat cat started to eat wet too. That combined with the extra exercise of playing with kittens and the fact that he will let the kittens eat his food has made him a bit slimmer.

Wet food is good for fat cats but only if it has no added sugars. That will obviously not help with weight loss but it will also rot their teeth. I have discovered Classic cat food. It's is a very good price and only contains meat and jelly - no added cereals or sugars. Some of the more 'famous' brands aren't as good quality - they have to pay for their advertising somehow.

I tried fat cat on Origen for a while. It did get weight off quickly (it's like the Atkin's diet for cats) but it gave him a bladder infection due to the high protein and low water content.

I do believe dry is good for their teeth health so the combination in this house is Classic and Arden Grange. Fat cat is 7 years old and his teeth are almost perfect.