Overweight Cats: Determining How Fat is Too Fat

The problem is that most of us won't admit our cat is too fat. Or we think it's too hard to control our cat's weight. Or most of all, we think our cat will drive us crazy with howling and yowling for food if we do try to control our cat's intake.

Veterinarians say that about 25 percent of all cats are overweight. And when it comes to middle-aged cats, five to 10 years old, 50 percent of felines are too fat.

How much should your cat weigh? The optimum weight varies from one breed to another. A Maine Coon is a big cat and will generally weigh more than a light furry Persian. Today, say vets, we concentrate more on body condition instead of weight.

This is how you can assess your cat's body condition: First, feel your cat's ribs behind his shoulder blades and run your fingers lightly over his sides and chest. You should feel your fingers slightly fall in the gaps between the ribs.

Using your right hand as an example, slide the fingers of your left hand across the metacarpal bones of your right hand. Your cat's ribs should feel the same way. Now, make a fist with your right hand. Slide the fingers of your left hand over the knuckles of your right hand. If your cat's ribs feel like this-too prominent--then your cat is too thin and may be losing weight even if he's eating a lot. Finally, turn your right hand over and rub the fingers of your left hand over the heel of your right hand (under the thumb). If your cat's chest feels like this-with no ribs at all-then your cat is too fat.

This is the same conditioning test vets do with dogs. But with cats, you also need to feel for the abdominal fat pad. Cats will often carry weight in the abdomen even if their ribs feel OK. If your cat carries a pouch which almost drags across the floor, that's extra fat--not extra skin or fur (unless your cat has loose skin after losing a lot of weight).

So feel your cat's lower abdomen; you shouldn't feel a pouch with fat in it. The abdomen should feel taunt. Do both tests with your cat. Some cats will pack fat over their ribs, some over their abdomen and some in both areas," say experts.

Check your cat's conditioning once a month. Weight can creep on over time, so if you catch it early, you can take steps to reduce it early. Here's a fact that may surprise you: If your cat eats just ten calories more a day than she needs--that's a teaspoon of dry cat food--your cat will gain a pound of body fat at end of one year.

Don't delay; start now to get your feline into shape for spring. And by the way, it's also not a bad idea for you.

Resource:

Kathryn E. Michel, DVM, Associate Professor of Nutrition at the University of Pennsylvania.