Are you concerned about your cat’s weight? You’re not alone. Cats are the most popular pets in the United States, with approximately 58.3 million domestic cats living in homes according to the World Animal Foundation. As a result of this popularity, cats have become an integral part of the American home and family. Unfortunately, many of these cats are overweight or underweight.
A cat being overweight or underweight is an indication of the cat’s healthy status and the effect of the cat food. If your cat is underweight, it could also mean that your cat isn’t getting enough food. On the other hand, when a cat is overweight, it means the cat is eating more than expected leading to the accumulation of fat. Both health conditions are detrimental and can lead to serious health problems for your cat and make them less comfortable.
In this guide, you’ll learn about what makes a cat overweight and underweight, what causes these conditions, and how you can prevent them from happening in the future. You’ll also find tips for helping your kitty get back into shape if they’re struggling with their weight.
How To Treat Overweight Cat
Being overweight is a serious problem for cats. It can be hard to tell if your cat is overweight. They might have a little bit of extra padding that makes them look like they’re fine—but they could actually be at risk for some serious health problems if they’re not losing weight. It’s important to keep an eye on your kitty’s waistline, so you know what’s going on with their health and weight.
Here are some things to watch out for:
1) Check the scale. If your cat weighs more than 10 pounds, this could mean that they are overweight or obese.
2) Look at the waistline. Overweight cats will have a thicker midsection than normal cats do; this is because their body fat has grown too much for the rest of their body weight.
3) Don’t forget about the fur. You can also tell if your kitty is overweight by looking at their fur: if it feels thick or fluffy in places where it didn’t use to be before.
Here are some tips on how to make sure your cat stays at the healthy weight he or she needs.
1) Feed Less Food
Feed your cat smaller portions of food throughout the day instead of large meals once or twice per day. This will help them feel full more quickly and keep them from overeating later on in the day when they’re hungrier than usual after sleeping all night long (especially if they’re indoor cats).
2) Offer More Exercise
Cats need exercise just like humans do. If yours doesn’t get enough exercise from playing outside (if it’s safe), try putting toys around the house that encourage her to move around more (like cat tunnels). Or try taking her out for walks. Just don’t forget that cats can’t sweat as we humans do so she’ll need lots of water if you’re taking her on long walks in hot weather.
3) Ask your vet about medication if things aren’t moving along quickly enough after making these changes to their diet and lifestyle.
How To Treat Underweight Cat
In order to deal with an underweight cat, you must first identify the cause of its weight loss. There are three main causes:
-The cat is not getting enough food. This could be due to a behavioral problem or it could be due to the fact that your cat is not eating enough. If you suspect that your cat is not eating enough, you should contact your vet and ask for advice on how to get them to eat more food.
-The cat has a medical condition that is causing them to lose weight. This could be something like a thyroid issue or diabetes. If this is the case, then you will need to take your cat in for testing by a vet so that they can determine what’s going on with your cat and how best to help it recover from its condition.
-There is something wrong with the digestive system that prevents them from absorbing nutrients from their food properly and therefore leads them to lose weight even when they eat normally (such as if they have IBD). In this case, you will need to take your cat in for further testing by a vet so that they can determine what’s going on with your cat’s digestive system and how best to treat it.
Here are some tips for treating an underweight cat:
1) Make sure your cat gets enough food
Your cat should have access to food at all times, even when you’re not around. A good rule of thumb is that your cat should eat about 1/8th of their body weight per day. So if your cat weighs 10 pounds (4.5 kg), it should be eating about 1/2 cup (120 grams) per day (1/8 of 10 pounds is 5 ounces). If you notice that your cat isn’t eating enough, try increasing the amount of food you give them by 50%.
2) Feed high-quality food
If possible, try feeding your cat a high-quality diet with a lot of protein and fat in it—it will help them gain weight more quickly than other types of food. Low-quality foods often contain fillers like corn or wheat which can cause digestive problems in cats who aren’t used
3) Take them off any medications that may be contributing to their weight loss. Your vet may recommend some medications that can help with appetite or with other conditions like diabetes or thyroid problems—but these drugs can also cause cats to lose weight if they aren’t eating enough calories on their own. Make sure your vet knows about any medications you’ve given your cat so they can tell you whether it’s safe for them.
4) Get a vet check-up. If you think your cat is underweight, the first thing you should do is take them to the vet for a check-up. The vet will be able to evaluate their overall health and make sure there aren’t any underlying issues contributing to the weight loss.
Final Notes
Underweight and overweight are conditions every cat keeper must be wary of. The control of food and feeding patterns can greatly help mitigate any of these conditions. Taking a regular record of your cat’s weight can earler indicate the risk of any of these conditions. I hope the information provided here is helpful in overcoming any of these conditions.