There’s no easy way to say this so I’ll just be blunt: I’m obese. At least that’s what my people have decided, which is why I’m now on a diet. Personally I feel great and I love my voluptuous figure, but I have to admit I’m a little less agile compared to my more svelte days.
When I first adopted the Cross Family I weighed 8 pounds and was the Cindy Crawford of the feline world. After one year of being in this family, I’ve now developed a pendulous fat pad that swings from side to side when I walk. I now weigh 11.6 pounds. (Dramatic pause.) To some people, an eleven or twelve pound cat doesn’t seem that large, but if you do the math* you’ll see that I’ve increased by body weight by 45%.
How could this happen? Am I not cared for by a licensed veterinary professional?!?! I’m as appalled as you probably are, but before we cast the first stone I believe it’s only fair for me to own up to some of the tactics I’ve employed when it comes to being fed.
Here’s what I do (very well)…
- I beg like a dog. It’s humiliating but it works. My strategy for effective begging is to be as annoying as possible. So I meow, scratch at the door, roll around, stare intently while making eye contact. And I do this incessantly.
- I lie like a rug. I take advantage of the fact that the four people living in this family do not always communicate well with each other. I tell the new person entering the kitchen that I have not been fed, even though the previous person just fed me. And I don’t stop there. I imply that I haven’t been fed for days…oh the agony…
- I get up in my people’s business, especially if they’re holding food. I have no shame and will try to eat the cookie from their hairless little paws.
In other words, I beg, lie and steal. But the numbers don’t lie and the weight scale says I’m not just overweight, but OBESE.
1st Question: Why does obesity in cats matter? Being overweight puts cats at risk for developing arthritis as they age. They are also more likely to develop Type II Diabetes because extra body fat leads to insulin resistance. Fatty Liver Disease (hepatic lipidosis) may also occur if a cat becomes ill or stressed. Furthermore, cats may become spoiled with their “yummy” diets and later refuse a much-needed therapeutic diet. Obesity also causes respiratory compromise and increased anesthetic/surgical risk.
2nd Question: How do we Stop the Insanity? I have confessed my manipulative tactics, however it is ultimately up to the people to control the amount of food that their pets consume. As a cat, I say to people: Be strong! Wise up to a cat’s tactics! Stand up to your feline friend and tell him ‘no’. You will not hurt his feelings, but you may extend his life by helping him maintain a normal body weight. This means that some degree of organization and communication may be necessary to ensure that pets aren’t fed too much. Using a measuring cup to dole out exact amounts at designated meal times is essential to help pets lose weight. Free-choice feeding or feeding every pet together will not result in weight loss for the obese animal. There are also prescription calorie-restricted diets that can aid in shedding pounds. Monthly weight rechecks are helpful in determining whether to maintain or decrease the amounts that are being fed. In general, a 3% weight loss per month is a good goal to aim for. So for me, if you do more math**, that would equate to 0.35 pounds per month. And it will take nearly one year for me to return to my original Cindy Crawford self.
So what’s the plan set in motion for me at this time? My diet has been changed to Royal Canin Feline Satiety, 1/4 cup am and pm. I’ll reweigh myself next month and keep you posted on my progress.
*Here’s the math: (11.6lbs-8lbs) / 8lbs * 100% = 45%
**Here’s more math: 11.6lbs*0.03=0.348lbs