Complete Care for Your Aging Cat - Amy Shojai [118]
Although excess weight may not directly cause other health problems, overweight old cats are also prone to them. “Obesity definitely doubles, triples or quadruples risk for diabetes,” says Dr. LaFlamme. It is also an aggravating factor in heart problems, arthritis, and skin problems. “Pancreatitis is linked to obesity, and to increased incidence of lower urinary tract disease in cats. Feline hepatic lipidosis, fatty liver in cats, is very strongly linked to obesity,” says Dr. LaFlamme.
Long-term studies indicate that fat dogs don’t live as long as thin ones. One study of overweight cats reported an increased risk for dying in middle age, says Sharon Center, DVM, an internist at Cornell University. Researchers suspect fat cats don’t live as long as thin ones, so obesity becomes a longevity and quality of life issue.
Age-Defying Tips
Keeping your cat thin and svelte from kittenhood on will prevent health problems, help her live longer, and increase her enjoyment of life.
Make twice-daily play therapy part of your routine. This not only provides good exercise but also is a powerful bonding tool that brings you closer.
Reward with attention, not treats
Choose an age- and activity-appropriate diet. Pets that sleep on the sofa all day do not need the equivalent of rocket fuel.
Feed measured amounts of food two to three times a day instead of simply keeping the bowl full all the time.
Diagnosis
The normal weight range doesn’t vary much from cat to cat or from breed to breed. The breed extremes are represented by the Singapura, with a normal weight range of four to six pounds; and the Maine Coon and Ragdoll breeds, which can tip the scale at twenty pounds or more. For most cats, though (pedigreed or not), the average weight is seven to twelve pounds with males typically on the higher end of the scale.
A scale by itself isn’t the best way to evaluate whether or not your cat is overweight. A much better measure is a hands-on approach that checks the cat’s profile and palpates, or feels, the body composition. Weight gain can happen very gradually, and the owner of a fluffy cat can be surprised to discover she’s fat. Most people simply aren’t aware the cat falls outside healthy weight parameters.
Some breeds call for slightly different conformations—for instance, the Oriental-type breeds such as Siamese and Oriental Shorthair cats tend to have longer, thinner bodies than the cobby-type Persian breeds. In all cats, though, generally you should be able to feel the ribs but not see them. From above, you should see a decided break at the waist, beginning at the back of the ribs to just before the hips.
In profile, cats should have a distinct tummy tuck beginning just behind the last ribs and going up into the hind legs. Many adult overweight cats tend to carry a “pouch” of fat low in the tummy, but seem of average size otherwise. If you can't feel the cat’s ribs, and/or she carries a pouch on her tummy, the cat is overweight. To evaluate your cat's condition, compare her appearance to the illustrations in the Body Condition System chart. Remember to account for fur, which can hide pounds.
Yet crash diets for cats can be deadly. Overweight felines in particular are prone to liver problems, called hepatic lipidosis, and so care must be taken to ensure your cat loses weight in a safe, gradual way. Before beginning a diet, your veterinarian should examine the cat to rule out potential health complications. The veterinarian will calculate how much weight should be lost, and suggest a diet and exercise plan appropriate to your individual pet. Usually, the target