The New Year is a time to look forward and look back. Just as we reevaluate our habits that have given us a little more “back” to look at, it wouldn’t hurt to take a look at our cats’ diets to see if there is any room for improvement. Here’s how to get started.
Check in with your vet
Cats come in all shapes and sizes, so it’s important to determine if your cat is actually in need of a weight loss. If you look at your cat from overhead and are unable to see a waistline it’s one thing, but if your cat is beginning to look very rotund, it’s time for a trip to the vet. Being overweight can cause your cat serious health concerns such as diabetes and arthritis. Losing weight rapidly can also be detrimental to your cat’s health. So, a visit to the vet should be the first thing on your to do list this year.
Change your kitty’s diet and routine
Consider switching your cat over to a higher quality wet food that have less fillers. Some ingredients aren’t as easily converted into energy in your cat’s body, so they wind up turning into fat. High quality wet foods are usually found in pet specialty stores, and the associates there are great to talk to if you’re feeling a little lost as to which foods are the best.
Even if your cat is on the highest quality food, you may be encouraging your kitty to overeat. Revisit the suggested portion sizes on labels of your cat’s favorite foods, and offer your cat several carefully-portioned meals a day instead of leaving dry food for grazing.
Get your kitty moving!
It’s a good idea to keep your cat active whether they need to lose weight or not. Start by increasing their play time. Fifteen to thirty minutes of dedicated play time is an effective amount of exercise. If your home has multiple floors, consider placing their food on one level and their litter box on another. This way, they can work lots of stair-climbing into their day, which means extra calories burned. You can even turn meal time into playtime by tossing kibble or making your cat work or “hunt” for his or her meal.
How much do you feed your cat? Our cat sitters are happy to follow your feeding instructions down to the letter. Book an appointment today!
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Candace Elise Hoes is a pet sitter and blogger at Katie’s Kitty. She is a graduate of the MFA Writing Program at California College of the Arts.
Photo by Kapa65 on pixabay.