Fat cats, skinny cats, long cats, short cats, fast cats, slow cats--a cat is a cat is a cat, right? Wrong. Cats are just as different as dogs, humans and every other species on the planet. They have different body types, different behaviors and, most importantly, every cat has a different need when it comes to eating.
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Chunky Kitty
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How do you know if your cat is overweight? There is no set number in pounds for cats, as cats vary greatly in body type. According to Purina.com the ideal cat should exhibit a minimal abdominal fat pad. In other words, if your cat's belly is sagging, or worse yet, dragging, perhaps it's time to make a visit to the vet.
The Vet Visit
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Your veterinarian knows whether your cat is in need of a diet, but it is up to you, the owner, to do something about it. Work with the doctor to determine exactly how much weight your feline needs to lose in order to become healthy. A good game plan is the best offense. Come to the vet's office with the following questions in mind: How much weight, how quickly and in what manner would work best for my pet?
Dry versus Wet Food
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There are avid naysayers on both sides of the fence. Dry food contains less fat, is easy to distribute, is cheap, but is often not rich in animal proteins. Wet food is high in fat, spoils quickly, is more expensive, but contains less grains and more meat. The best option available would be to feed your cat as you feed yourself--with a rich balance of raw meats, eggs, some grains and a handful of vitamins.
However, you may not have that sort of time, money or dedication to set aside for Fluffy. If that is the case, the best option is a combination of both dry and wet food in the appropriate amounts. The actual amounts can be determined by your veterinarian. Changing things up often entices the cat towards both food options. Per Iams' "The Daily Cat" blog, alternating between one type of food in the morning and the other type in the evening generally works best.
Fixing Felix
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Frisky Felix (your feline) is 5 pounds overweight according to his doctor. But if Felix starts eating less food--but not less often--and he eats dry and wet food according to the guidelines of the manufacturer and exercises 20 minutes to 25 minutes each day with the free milk top tabs you take off your milk cartons, then his wiggle will have a little less waggle. Felix's weight should shed faster than his winter coat, and he'll have you to thank, because you took the time to notice his weight and correct it.
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