Our Miss Kitty has put on too much winter weight. Even though she doesn't wear a swimsuit, she needs to get her wasteline back.
We do know is that...
Obesity is a big issue for cats, affecting almost half of those seen in US vet clinics. Just like in humans, too many calories and too little activity lead to excess fat. But it's not just about looks - obesity can cause serious health problems like diabetes and arthritis, shortening a cat's life.
The good news? It's preventable and treatable! First we will assess Missy's ideal weight using a Body Condition Score (BCS) scale. First view looks like a 7-8 of 9 being the heaviest size.
She now weighs 14.5 lb. She needs to lose at least 2.5 lb. For health reasons, we will aim to lose about 0.5-1.5% of body weight per week.
We have measured how many calories she was getting per day. Basically way too many calories for her activity. We will reduce her food intake by 25% and feed smaller, more frequent meals.
Increasing Missy Kitty enrichment activities with toys and playtime will also help her burn more calories. We shall keep a daily log of activities with the calorie intake each day.
Once Miss Kitty reaches their ideal weight, we will need to stick to a plan to keep her healthy. We will weigh her monthly and measuring out her food each day. We just can't be so overly generous.
It might take some time for Missy Kitty to adjust to this, but I know we can do this. Like Yoda said, "no try, just do!