The biggest loser - cat edition

shannm

Have you successfully helped your cat lose weight? I have two tabbies, mother and son (so there is a genetic component) who are too heavy. They are 13 and 12. I would really love to help them shed some pounds. They share about a cup of dry cat food per day. What changes worked for you? TIA!!

destination09

What kind of food are you feeding?  Often lower quality foods have lots of filler that cats don't digest properly so they get heavy.  I'd first try switching to a diet high in protein and very low in healthy grains.  NO corn.

brandijo1982

I helped mine loose weight by keeping her on scheduled feedings and not let her eat as much as she wants. Also, I stuck to brands that were for weight loss and had meat as the first ingredient. Excercise is also important besides diet. Keep those kitties playing and exhausted.

 

Good luck! 

ATLdesi

Agree with all the PP suggestions - doing set feeding times instead of free feeding, also maybe feeding mother and son separately.  I've also heard that you can substitute one part fresh chopped green beans (cut finely) mixed into their kibble to help them lose weight.  So if you normally feed one cup, you could do 1/4 cup beans, 3/4 kibble, and see what happens.  Best of luck with the weight loss project!