Archive for December 30th, 2009
Did you know that dog’s and cat’s obesity is the number one pet health problem that vets see today? Of course, you love your cat and want the best for it, but you have to make sure to treat them well and right. Just like humans, if a cat (or any other pet) takes in more calories than its body can burn, the cat will gain weight. If in the wild, a cat uses up a lots of energy to hunt down and catch its prey. A domestic cat though that lives indoors doesn’t have to hunt and fight for its food. Food is right there waiting for felines any time they want it - the perfect environment for a fat cat.
We tend to refuse to see the fact that too much food is the cause of our cat having weight problems. You may not be feeding your cat many treats, but you may be feeding them too much at one time and/or too often. Veterinarians suggest that you serve your cat two to four meals a day - and think in ounces, not cups. 0.6 to 1.0 ounces per serving is plenty.
Cats need a meat-based diet with high levels of protein. Research shows that diets high in fat and protein are best for carnivores such as cats, combined with plenty of exercise of course. Try to help your cat burn extra calories. Unfortunately, you can’t go for walks with your cat as you would with your dog. Some cats might take leash training, but it’s rare. If you really want to get your cat outside, consider a cat stroller in which they can sit comfortably and experience the out-world forgetting to sleep and eat, for a while at least. As we all know, a typical domestic cat’s day consists of sleeping, eating, sleeping, and then waking up to sleep some more. You need to provide your cat some toys that they love playing with or other interesting things to do, like looking forward to a stroll in the park.