How Can I Tell If My Cat Is Overweight [10 Signs]
Have you ever questioned whether your cat is obese? Given that cats are inherently good at hiding weight gain, it can be challenging to determine.
Yet, there are some warning signals to watch for, and being able to determine if your cat is overweight will help you keep them healthy and content.
This blog post will discuss the warning symptoms of overweight cats as well as what you can do if you notice them.
So let’s get started and learn how to determine if your cat is overweight.
How Can I Tell If My Cat Is Overweight
If your cat is standing, take a look at them from above to determine whether they are overweight.
Over the hips, there should be a small depression that resembles a waist that you can see.
In addition, you ought should be able to feel a thin layer of fat covering their ribs.
Seeing your cat from the side, you can also see if it has a rounded tummy.
Finally, you may examine your cat’s activity level in relation to the amount of food they consume.
Your cat is likely to be overweight if they are consuming more calories than they are expelling.
Let’s break it down further…
Here are some common signs your cat is overweight:
Lazy behavior: Being curious and lively creatures, cats may be displaying signs of weight increase if you observe your cat showing less interest in toys or playtime.
Destructive behavior or other types of bad behavior can also result from a cat being overweight.
Difficulty in jumping: The couch or a windowsill may be difficult for your cat to leap up or down from if it is overweight.
A cat who is overweight can find it challenging to get onto or off of your bed.
Loss of waistline: A cat that is overweight may lose its waistline, which is typically discernible from above.
Instead of having a tapering waist, the cat will appear to have a round and tubular body.
Struggles with litter box: The increased strain on a cat’s joints and muscles can make it difficult for it to enter and exit the litter box if such cat is overweight.
Accidents with the toilet or other problems with the toilet can result from of cat being overweight.
Reduced mobility: Cats with excess weight could be less energetic and have trouble jumping or climbing stairs which can lead to reduced mobility rate.
Excessive weight may prevent cats from playing and exploring their surroundings, which can cause boredom and drowsiness.
Bulging belly: A round, projecting belly is frequently developed in an overweight cat.
This bulging belly can indicate that there is too much belly fat accumulating.
Unable to feel ribs: There should be a thin layer of fat visible when you run your palm along your cat’s ribs.
Your cat may be overweight if you are unable to feel their ribs at all because it is covered with fat.
Difficulty grooming: An overweight cat could find it challenging to groom oneself, especially in difficult-to-reach places like their back or hindquarters.
Fur that is matted or unclean from this could become infected or irritate the skin.
Trouble breathing: A cat’s respiratory system might get stressed from carrying extra weight, which can cause difficulties breathing or panting.
This can be especially problematic when exercising or when it’s warm outside.
Lethargy and Excessive eating: A cat that is overweight may appear sleepy or drowsy most of the time.
They might not be very interested in playing, working out, or other activities that call for physical effort.
Cats that are overweight may be ravenously hungry all the time, begging for food or displaying a significant interest in any food that is offered.
They might also consume more food than is necessary or advised.
Causes of cat over weight
Cat overweight is typically brought on by an imbalance between the caloric intake and dissipation of the cat.
Cat overweight is frequently brought on by overeating, a lack of activity, advanced age, and a slowed metabolism.
Male cats who have undergone neutering, older cats, and indoor cats with little access to outdoor movement are more likely to become obese.
Cats who eat dry food or a diet high in carbohydrates may also put on weight.
Health risks associated with cat overweight
Many health issues, such as diabetes, arthritis, high blood pressure, and some types of cancer, are at risk in overweight cats.
Also, being overweight can make pre-existing diseases like osteoarthritis, heart disease, and bladder disease worse.
In addition, overweight cats may experience immune system impairment, an increase in skin fold pyodermas, and a higher risk of constipation, gas, and other digestive problems.
Learn more about signs of cat being sick.
How to help your cat lose weight
It’s crucial to initially discuss a plan for weight loss with your veterinarian so that it is specific to your cat’s requirements.
In order to guarantee that your cat is following the diet, you should frequently weigh your cat and reduce the amount of food and treats you provide them.
Consider moving to canned diet food supplied multiple times per day rather than leaving food down all the time, as well as looking for food with more protein and fiber and making sure the diet includes a quality protein source.
Playing with your cat and giving them active toys will help encourage them to exercise more.
To get your cat moving, you may also try using a laser pointer or a wand toy.
In order to keep your cat in good shape, set up a regular food schedule, make meals challenging by using a treat toy or feeding ball, and give them lots of exercise.
Learn more about why cats throw up.
When do you take an overweight cat to the vet
When your cat becomes lazy and overweight that it’s affecting your cat day to day activities you should take your cat to the vet.
Keep in mind that the earlier you take your overweight cat to the vet the better.
Because over weight cats are associated with lots of health concerns that can be controlled with early medical check-ups.
Learn more about abnormal cat behavior.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it’s critical to understand how to identify an overweight cat.
Despite the fact that cats are inherently good at hiding weight gain, there are some symptoms to watch out for.
They include of examining their eating and drinking routines, measuring their waist and ribs, and keeping an eye on their level of exercise.
There are various actions you can do to assist your cat reduce the extra weight if you discover they are overweight, such as changing their diet and upping their exercise level.
Knowing the symptoms of an overweight cat will help you keep your pet happy and healthy.
