So The Vet said Your Cat Is Overweight…!
Overweight cats are an increasing problem in the UK.
A recent survey showed that out of every 100 cats in this country, 37 are overweight and another 15 are obese!
OVERWEIGHT CATS LIVE 2 YEARS LESS THAN CATS OF THE CORRECT WEIGHT!
Could you say goodbye to your best friend two years earlier than you should do??
Overweight and obese cats are at greater risks of serious problems such as
♦ ARTHRITIS: extra weight on a cat’s joints causes the cartilage to break down more quickly than in a cat of normal weight.
- Arthritic cats can suffer considerable pain and need daily anti inflammatory medication, which can cost hundreds of pounds each year.
- Arthritis which has become too severe is a common reason for euthanasia of people’s beloved pets. That sad day is much sooner in overweight animals.
♦ DIABETES: this is when your cat can no longer produce the hormone that controls their bloods sugar level and they will have massive sugar highs and sugar crashes. You may then need to give them daily injections. Could you cope with that? Blood tests that diagnose diabetes cost up to £100
- Diabetic cats lead shorter lives. Your friend deserves to live as long and happy a life as he can!
♦ INCREASED SURGICAL RISKS: If your cat needed surgery for any reason his risk of anaesthetic death would be increased, because the fat places physical weight on his heart and lungs.
♦ HEART PROBLEMS
♦ BREATHING PROBLEMS
And think of all that money you could be wasting on cat food!
I’m sure you can think of better things to spend money on!
Why Is My Cat Overweight?
Remember: only very clever cats can open the fridge themselves!
WE are responsible, as caring loving owners, for what our cat eats every single day!
On the face of it, it is very simple:
To keep a cat’s weight the same:
|
CALORIES EATEN IN FOOD AND TREATS |
= |
CALORIES BURNED OFF: EXERCISE |
A cat that is gaining weight:
|
CALORIES EATEN IN FOOD AND TREATS |
IS GREATER THAN |
CALORIES BURNED OFF: EXERCISE |
OK, I Get The Message … so What Do I Do?
Its simple….cut the food, increase the exercise!
IMPORTANT POINT: Feed your cat to the WEIGHT YOU WANT HIM TO BE NOT THE WEIGHT HE STILL IS! For example if your lab is 7kg, feed him to a target weight 5kg (for exact target weight for your dog ask your vet / vet nurse).
You can often find guides on how much to feed on the packet of cat food itself. If these are confusing, make an appointment with a vet or vet nurse and they can help you figure it out.
WEIGH your cat’s food out every time. That way you are 100% sure that he is getting only what he is supposed to get. If he has treats take these out and put them aside and feed what is left.
If your cat doesn’t seem to be losing weight on his normal diet, contact us and we can order in a special weight loss, calorie controlled diet for them.
Remember: TREATS ARE EXTRAS.
So:
- Bring in your cat to one of our nurse run weight clinics and we’ll help you with a personalised weight loss plan for your cat.
- Begin your calorie controlled feeding and increased exercise plan (don’t hesitate to ask a vet or vet nurse for advice)
- Bring the cat back in a fortnight and see the weight loss!!!
- Get the receptionist to record the new weight
- Carry on until the target weight is reached (to get advice on a target weight ask a vet or vet nurse)
- Give yourself a pat on the back
- Maintain your cat’s excellent slimline new figure!! (This is the tough part…now they’re skinny you can’t go feeding them all those treats again or all your hard work will be wasted!!!)
We are here to help every step of the way! Ask for advice at any time.
Hoylake Vets – For Peace Of Mind 24 Hours A Day
