Did you know 50% of cats are overweight?
A 2011 study by APOP (Association for Pet Obesity Prevention) found that over 50 percent of cats were either obese or overweight. A poor cat diet and lack of exercise are largely to blame. A fat cat can experience severe health problems including diabetes, urinary tract diseases, lameness and arthritis and shortened lifespan.
It’s important to get that a cats weight loss journey happens gradually and it starts with a nutritionally appropriate cat diet. Much like humans, fad diets can affect cats negatively, leading to skin, weight and behavioural problems.
We've outlined some ways to help a cat below. Use these tips to help kickstart a cats weight loss journey and take the steps towards seeing a happy, healthy cat.
#checkyourpacks the watch out signs for unhealthy cat food
Always check your packs for feeding guidance so that weight gain does not occur:
- Ensure you are feeding your choice of healthy cat food based on their target weight, rather than current.
- Stay away from low-quality foods which are often bulked out with wheat and grain as this increases the amount of stored body fat. A cat diet should consist of high-quality balanced ingredients- Choosing a healthy cat food is key!
- Cats are naturally carnivores, so any food should have a high meat content. The first ingredient in your cat's food should be meat. The meat should be ingredients that you recognise, not descriptions such as 'meat and animal derivatives'
- Have a look at most 'Big Pet Food' brand's pouches and you'll see "various sugars" in the ingredients. We all know that we should avoid unnecessary sugar and empty calories in our diet. We should definitely avoid feeding them to our pets. Our Purr and Miaow wet food pouches are 100% sugar-free, because cats don’t need sugar.
Tips to keep your cat active
- Make sure your cat has things to climb on such as a climbing tower. Make some time each day to play with your cat either with balls or feathers on a stick.
- If your cat is an indoor cat, it might be beneficial to walk your cat daily using a harness. Alternatively, you can allow your cat outside in an enclosed area for some fresh air.