Have you noticed your kitty is getting a bit heavier lately? Does the thud Fluffy makes when she jumps off a chair shake the house? If so, you may have a pudgy pet on your hands! While we can’t deny that chubby cats are cute, your feline pal will be much healthier if she stays at or near her ideal weight. A Georgetown, IN vet discusses obesity in cats below.

Diet

Does your kitty wake you up when she wants breakfast? Does Fluffy have you trained to feed her on demand? We know, it can be hard to resist those adorable furry faces. However, kitties are experts at manipulating us, which can make it easy for us to overfeed them. Even giving your cat just a few too many calories a day can make her gain weight. Ask your vet for specific nutritional recommendations, including serving sizes and suitable treats.

Exercise

Keeping your kitty active is very important. Unfortunately, Fluffy doesn’t exactly see it that way. So far, we haven’t been able to successfully convince any of our feline patients to do laps around their kitchens. You may need to trick your furry buddy into moving by calling her to you, or just picking up a toy and tossing it across the room. Offer Fluffy lots of fun toys to smack around, and spend a few minutes a day playing with her. It’s also beneficial to get your kitty some pet furniture that encourages healthy activities like jumping and climbing, such as a cat tower. Every little bit helps!

Dangers of Obesity

Being overweight is very bad for Fluffy’s health. Cats that are obese have higher risks of developing several dangerous health conditions, including diabetes, respiratory trouble, arthritis, heart disease, liver and kidney issues, and even certain cancers. Chubby cats also have elevated risks of reproductive trouble and/or post-surgical complications. They even have shorter life expectancy!

Helping Fluffy Lose Weight

Crash diets are very dangerous for cats, and could make your pet very sick! If you know or suspect that Fluffy is, well, not just fluffy, ask your vet for professional advice on helping her drop those extra pounds. Just like people, kitties must lose weight slowly in order to slim down without endangering their health. Do you have a furry little butterball on your hands? We can help! Contact us, your Georgetown, IN animal clinic, today!