Diet Advice for Your Overweight Cat

You have bought your adorable chubby companion to the vet for his normal checkup. Everything is good; he is healthy, does not have worms and is flea-free. However, the vet delivers the grim diagnosis: F. A. T. While you do not see this as a major problem, your vet explains that your cat can develop health problems such as high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes. Now you are concerned; your cat is like a child to you. After talking things over with the vet, it is determined that your cat is overweight from eating too much food and some of it is the wrong food. All you have to do is to make some changes to your cat's diet.

You have been using a large feeder to keep the dry cat food in. This is convenient for you and your cat. When you are at work, you do not have to worry about your cat running out of food. He can eat whenever he wants. However, your cat does not eat only when he is hungry; when he is bored he tends to eat as well. This and the high in carbohydrates food caused him to gain weight.

What you have to do is to provide smaller meals for you cat throughout the day. When you have to leave for work, set a small bowl for food and one for water for your cat. Even if you use strictly dry food; it is better to give him wet. This way he is getting enough oil and protein in his diet.

You do not have to give him only wet food, since the dry helps remove tartar from his teeth. Just a spoonful or two of wet food mixed with the dry will do. When you feed your cat smaller portioned sizes, he will not be a picky eater. He will be hungry when you give him the next meal.

When you set the times to feed your cat, stick to it. Do not let your cat tell you that it is dinnertime. If you go into the kitchen and your cat follows you begging you for food, ignore him. Continue what you are doing and your cat will get the hint and leave you alone.

When you are done feeding your cat, put any unused food away. When he does not see the food, he does not think about eating.

Ask your vet about prescription diet food. They have more protein and antioxidants than the food that you can buy at the grocery stores. You have to read the instructions and, based on how much your cat weighs, give him the amount suggested. You may have to try different varieties of diet food until you find one that your cat likes. Once you find the ideal food, stick to it. Only change it if your cat seems to get bored with it. However, do not change the food constantly; it may make vomit or have diarrhea. Changing the food back and forth can disrupt his digestive system.

If you cat wants to snack when it is not his scheduled feeding time, consider giving him pieces of fruit or vegetables. Apples and carrots are good for him. However, avoid raisins, tomatoes and grapes. Ask you vet for other types of food that would be safe for him to consume.

If you are worried that your cat is not getting enough nutrition with his smaller meals, here are some things you can do to ensure that he is eating healthy:

1. Add a teaspoon of wheat grass to his food. This helps his digest his food better.

2. Add a teaspoon of olive oil to his food. This will provide him the oil he needs for better digestion and gives him a healthy coat. Fish oil and garlic oil also works just as well.

3. Ask your vet about different vitamins that you can give you cat.

Do not think of your cat as just a pet. Think of him as a companion. When you are sitting down in your favorite chair with a book, have your cat with you. Your cat will be happy, contently purring, as he lies in your lap. Thought of food will be far from his mind.