by Jessica Schneider

Created on: February 07, 2009

The best way to deal with your cat's weight is to feed them less. Plain and simple. Just like humans, they need to go on a diet. And just like humans they will likely grumble and moan about it (and even knock over the trash can at three in the morning in protest).

When I recently brought in my chubby cat for his yearly exam, my vet told me that losing weight was a must. Oscar has always been a larger boned cat, yet he was tipping the scale close to 22 lbs. Add on top of all that the fact that he's put on more than a pound in this past year, and you see where this is going. My vet recommended I try

prescription diet food. Hill's m/d comes in both canned and dry form, and since my cat has already been used to dry, I stuck with that. The key is to slowly wean your cat onto the diet food by mixing in the diet with the regular for the first few days. Make sure the cat isn't vomiting, and it's also a good way to "trick" him into learning to like it (which might take a while but if it's his only food option, he'll like it a lot sooner).

I expressed that I was concerned Oscar might develop diabetes due to his weight, as well as arthritis in later years. My vet confirmed that this was definitely a possibility if Oscar did not lose weight. Though he also informed me that too sudden a weight loss could be damaging to the cat's liver, so the best is to do it slowly.

So how do you feed your chubby cat less when you have other cats that do not need to diet? The best way is to have a dish designated to your chubby cat, preferably a Tupperware container with a lid. On the back of the bag, the dosage instructions are provided based upon weight, and according to the instructions, a 20 lb. cat should be given three-fourths a cup per day in order for weight loss to occur. (1 cup for weight maintenance).

I am the owner of multiple cats. So the non-diet cat food suited for the non-chubby cats is also kept in a Tupperware container, and not left out. The key is to keep the food covered so the odor stays strong and the food remains fresh. Cats are very sensitive to smell, and they're not going to eat something they cannot smell.

The first few days were rough. I had a number of grouchy cats that did not like the fact that their food dish was no longer an open buffet. There is much talk about how many times one should feed a cat, but if
you're trying to get your chubby cat to lose weight the best thing to do is just feed it less. Period. If you only feed the cat, say, once in the morning and once at night, this is fine as long as your cat is only eating the designated amount required for weight loss. Once that amount is done, then that is it for the day. I should also note that it is important to watch your cats while you're feeding them, so that way your chubby cat does not sneak in for a few nibbles on the non-diet food.

I recommend asking your vet about prescription diet food, which is loaded in protein and antioxidants designed to build muscle and burn fat. And if your cat is lazy like mine, exercise is (mostly) out of the question, so thus it becomes even more of a reason to restrict your cat's intake of prescription diet food. Stick with the amount the instructions state (according to your cat's weight) and feed accordingly. When finished, take the food away. They will learn they can only have so much per day. And if you can get them to wrestle with the other cats and chase some of their toys, this will not only help burn calories but get your pet's mind off food for a while.

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