Cats on a diet
By bontheka
@bontheka (65)
Hong Kong
May 22, 2008 12:56am CST
We've got two cats. They're both street cats from Saudi Arabia but if you saw them, you'd think they're pedigrees.
A few months ago, my in-laws came for a visit. My mother-in-law who works at a vets, immediately commented that she thought one of our cats was overweight. A trip to the vets soon after, confirmed what she'd said.
Our cats are now on a diet. Although the second cat appears slim on the outside, she has got quite a jelly belly. Previously, the cats used to share 2 small cans of cat food and a constant supply of biscuits all day long. Now, it's a scoop of biscuits for each of them twice a day, and a small can of cat food shared between the two.
With this new diet, it seems the only thing on their mind, all day long, is food. Since I'm the one who usually feeds them, they follow me around everywhere in the house or just sit and watch me when I'm doing something, sending subtle 'feed me' messages telepathically. Everytime I head to the kitchen which is on the way to their room, they race ahead of me and into their room, as if I'm about to go feed them. It really is annoying as I go into the kitchen a lot. Late in the evenings, when I'm surfing the internet, the overweight cat will climb onto a chair behind me, and pat me on my shoulder with one of her paws as if to say 'hey, you need to feed us'.
Anyone else got cat(s) on diet?
1 response
@mcat19 (1357)
• United States
22 May 08
The best thing to feed cats is canned food. It has more meat and less fillers than the dry. Dry food is mostly grain, something a cat doesn't need. Grain adds empty calories.
When my cats needed to lose weight, I got French cut green beans and mashed some up into the canned food. The cats didn't mind, got filled up without extra calories. Start with a teaspoon full of mashed beans and increase it until it is half of their food. My cats eat about 3oz canned food morning and evening. They don't have food out all the time.
The next thing is to give them more exercise. Let them chase after a string you pull around the house. Use a lazer light, but be careful you don't shine it in their eyes.
Good luck.
@bontheka (65)
• Hong Kong
23 May 08
Thanks for your response, mcat19.
Where did you get the idea for feeding your cats French cut green beans? I think my cats would probably eat them since they seem to be hungry all the time now.
As for exercise, the slimmer cat is naturally the active one. Throw a ball to her and she'll chase after it. Fatty cat can't be bothered with most games. She used to be when she was a bit younger. Not that she's old. We got her in 2002 when she was a little kitten so she's about 5 1/2 years old now. She runs the fastest when she thinks I'm about to feed her. Oh, and at least once a day, they chase each other around the house.
@mcat19 (1357)
• United States
23 May 08
A friend of mine told me about the green beans. I don't know where she found out about it. I told my vet who said that it was a very good idea, but introduce the beans slowly and make sure they get some cat food with the beans. I found that I could get up to half cat food, half beans without rejection. Your cats may be different. I hope you try it.
