Causes of a Cat Putting on a Lot of Weight After Getting Spayed

Though weight gain after spaying is a concern to many people, spaying a cat has many health benefits as well. The process will reduce the risk of mammary gland tumors and uterus infections as well as help prevent unwanted pregnancy. Changes in a cat's diet can offset the effects of a lower metabolic rate and the absence of estrogen resulting from spaying the animal. However, even an un-spayed cat can become obese if they are inactive, are on a high fat diet or overeat..

  1. Lower Metabolism

    • Keep your cat active.

      Spaying a cat will lower her metabolism, which does contribute to weight gain. After surgery, it is important to adjust her diet to meet the new metabolic rate. Weigh her on about once a week after surgery to monitor her weight. If she begins gaining weight, slightly reduce the amount of food she receives with each meal and introduce more toys or activities that will persuade her to move more throughout the day.

    Estrogen

    • According to Dr. William W. Gillett, DVM, during a cat's heat cycle, she produces estrogen, which is a mild appetite suppressant. As a result, every three to four months during the heat cycle, she may eat less and concentrate more on seeking sexual gratification. After the spay procedure, she no longer produces estrogen. However, Dr. Gillett states that if an owner establishes good feeding habits early in a cat's life, the loss of estrogen will be a very minor contributing factor in weight gain after surgery.

    Overeating

    • Do not allow 24 access to food.

      Developing proper feeding habits will prevent overeating in spayed and un-spayed females. A cat should receive a meal two to three times daily according to the feeding instructions on the label of the selected cat food. She should not have access to food 24 hours a day. In addition, the food portions should contain only 5.5 grams of fat, 12.5 grams of protein and 20 calories per pound of body weight on a daily basis. Adjust these portions as necessary if weight gain occurs.

    High Fat Diet

    • A diet high in fat will cause weight problems even in an un-spayed cat. However, spaying her will reduce her metabolism, thus making a high fat diet contribute even more to obesity. Make sure she is receiving food with no more than nine percent fat in the nutritional contents of the label. A good cat food will have 20 percent protein, 35 percent carbohydrates, a maximum of 10 percent fiber and nine percent fat.

    Inactivity

    • Give her toys that move when she bats them.

      Many people feel their cats became lazy after spaying. Spaying does not affect a cats desire to hunt and play. A spayed cat may no longer have a desire to seek out a male, but her desire to play should remain intact. If she appears less active, find new ways to catch her interest. Find toys that move when she bats them or play ball with her. Take her for daily walks to help increase her exercise. These activities will help maintain a healthy weight.