Help for a Fat Cat

Softasputty

We have a male neutered cat about three years old. This winter he has really started to put on weight. It's got worse since my OH has been at home during the day as our cat is constantly begging for food. He scratches at our bedroom door in the mornings, nearly trips us up on the stairs and nags all the time for more food. At the same time, he is quite fussy. He likes Purina Complete Dried Food and I usually feed him wet food once a day. He used to like Whiskas Simply Fish but now leaves it. I've recently tried Iaams wet - he licks the gravy off and leaves the rest. I've had more success with Hi Life and some trays of Sheba. I will give him left over cooked chicken or tuna if we are having it and he loves cheese. I rarely give him any; sometimes I shake the grater so small leftovers fall to the floor. Oh, he also loves Whiskas cat treats in the purple tub. I think he is having too much dried and too many treats as we all give in to him because of his constant meowing. We use a water spray to get him to leave the kitchen but he just comes back. It's driving us potty - HELP!!:eek::eek: I think he tries to scavenge food elsewhere too as neighbours have told me he is always in their houses!

paigesaunt

I was told it's not the treats cats and dogs love, it's the fact that you are giving him/ her something.

I have a rescue cat, and he cries for food every time he sets eyes on me, even if he's got food in his bowl, I shake a few of his biscuits in, and he's happy!

Iain_L

Softasputty,

I would consider a visit to the vet to see if there is any reason for his constant demand for food, as most cats will self regulate (note most, not all).

I would also try to cut the treats out completely, including the cheese. I know he will be meowing at you, but you just have to steel yourselves by acknowledging that what you are doing is in his best interest.

Consider also asking your neighbours not to encourage him into their houses, and not to feed him.

Iain

Softasputty

Thank you both. I have stopped cheese completely. Today I measured his dried food and put it in a container so we all know how much he can have. I think we are over feeding him for an easy life - half a scoop here and a few treats there.

I have wormed him fairly recently. Our last visit to the vet was for his booster injection. She said then he was a little overweight and gave advice. We followed this at first and he seemed to slim down but that was the summer when he goes out most of the day. He knows which cupboard his wet food and treats are in (his dried food is in a tin container with a scoop that I keep in the corner by his bowls). He will sit and scape his paw at the cupboard. When we eat, he begs like a dog so we've started to lock him in the conservatory (at night too as he wakes us up scratching our bedroom door - so much so, he has lifted the carpet).:mad:

Gold_Dust_2

If I were you I'd tackle this on multiple fronts, because a fat cat is at risk of diabetes.

I would change his food, as dry food by nature is very high in carbohydrates being that it is made of things like vegetables, corn starch, rice, maize and other such things that cats don't need. I know that most cats do very well on it, but you want to give your fat boy the equivalent of the Atkins diet. Wet food is better, because the water should keep him a bit fuller for longer. The Sheba tender terrine trays are low carb, so they're very good, and Bozita from zooplus (the tins) are even better. Raw keeps them fuller for much longer than any wet or dry food, and an added teaspoon of water will help as well - Natural Instinct do a commercial brand that comes frozen, making raw feeding much easier, although be warned - some cats can get a little constipated on this diet (mine didn't) so you could mix it with another wet food brand to help with that, as well as add water.

The treats should definitely be limited but not cut off completely, as they're a good way of getting him to move. A good low carb treat are Thrive treats, they're brilliant. Zooplus sell a cheaper version called cosma snackies, but I don't think they're as good consistency-wise (they're harder than the thrive treats). You can put the treats in a treat ball, which will mean that Fatboy has to earn them and will also keep him occupied for a longer time than he would be if you gave them straight. Another good treat for him is a raw chicken wing. It'll keep him occupied for a longer time and will also help to clean his teeth. Some people have to get their cats used to raw chicken first before giving it on the bone, so don't be disheartened if he needs to be weaned onto it (sounds like he's hungry enough to eat anything though!).

About his constant pestering - you're doing a good job with not giving in all the time. Smaller, more frequent meals may be another thing to try. He'll not be long from any meal at any time of the day, which may mean that he bugs you less because he knows it's coming. You could also try a timed feeder to help him dissociate people and food. The beauty of a timed feeder means that you could also set it to run at night, which should mean that less time is spent at your door.

Lastly, he needs to be more active. A treat ball as mentioned above will utilise his food-centric mindset to get him to move, and you could put less treats in, and he'll still be occupied for a while. Playing with him is a good idea too, but don't expect miracles overnight. If he's just awake and watching you shake something at him, that's progress. You can ramp it up from there, as you know which toys he'd like.

Feel free to adjust that any way you want to. That's is how I'd do it and how I believe would be the best way to go about it, but obviously people have differing opinions and can only do what they can within their limits.

Failing all of that, though (or maybe beforehand) I'd get him checked out by a vet for hyperthyroidism or anything else that the vet deems to be necessary, if you haven't already communicated the nature of his food obsession to them already.

Softasputty

Gold Dust - what a fantastic reply! I will get onto this straight away. I have done a little reading on here about dried verses wet. I was going to get a lazar pen as well as I've read that cats live them. Fat boy's name is Jazz. I think he will like all your suggestions. I sometimes give him some left over raw chicken so I will try chicken wings. Will let you know how we get on - many thanks :T

Gold_Dust_2

Jazz, what a nice name! I look forward to seeing how well it works for him, and please do let me know if any of the suggestions don't work after a few tries, as feedback is always good! I really hope something in there helps you, as I know what it's like to be bugged by a hungry kitty (had three of them stalking me when I changed their feeding routine, it was unnerving to say the least!)

Pictures would be nice, too

sniffles

He probably has worms. If he is fed well enough he will look fat, as it is compensating for the nutrition the worms are taking from him.
Just mix some worming meds with his favorite food and that will sort it.

Softasputty

Can you recommend a tablet as I have tried powder and he refused to eat food. Less than a month ago I treated him with a liquid wormer that you put on the skin like a flea treatment. Any good?:D

paddypaws101

You can buy Drontal very cheaply from Animed online....I can get mine to take it hidden in a piece of Webbox most of the time.