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Are you part of the problem?
Your cat's appetite might have ballooned out of
frustration. Did you feed him every time he cried or ran to the food dish?
If so, you unwittingly contributed to a food obsession. The next time this
happens, distract your cat with a game or toy. It may be your cat merely
needs more contact. Affection is a terrific substitute for food. But it may
take a while to change his routine. Remember, this obsession didn't appear
overnight. You must be constant and sincere in your efforts. Your cat is
what he or she eats, and you're in control of the food. Love your cat with
affection - not food!
It's not uncommon for cats to selectively eat food containing nutrients they
may be deficient in. This instinctive act sometimes alerts their people to
the particular deficiency. But, like people, cats can also eat more than is
good for them. However, weight gain can also be a sign of illness. If you
suspect you have a pudgette, rule out any medical problems for the weight
gain with a complete physical exam.
Changing your cat's eating pattern
Once your vet has determined that your cat is
healthy, you'll need to start changing your pet's eating patterns. A bit of
extra flesh can be cute or a lifesaver in an emergency. Some cats are born
to be big. But if your neutered male resembles a pregnant female or your
spayed female resembles a blimp, you have a genuine pudgette. You don't want
your cat's excess weight to stress the heart or cause other physical
problems. The following tips will turn the fat tide.
How to slim down Pudgette:
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Curtail your cat's snacking habits and make
sure his daily feedings aren't overgenerous.
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Divide four and a half ounces of food into
three feed- ings a day if your cat's acceptable weight is in the range of
nine to eleven pounds. The extra feeding should persuade Pudgette he's
eating more.
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Feed Pudgette some melon or vegetables that are
low in calories if he pesters you for more food. But re- member, calories
do add up, so don't overdo!
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Take Pudgette for a walk in the hall or toss a
few favorite toys for him to chase - a cat in motion burns more energy
than a resting cat. Remember to be enthusiastic, and mean it. A game
before feeding should create a pleasant association, such as that food is
preceded by fun.
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Play with animal friends will also help.
Perhaps you can arrange play dates with a neighbor's dog if Pudgette is
the only cat around.
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Adopt a feline friend for Pudgette to step up
his metabolism. If Pudgette inhales all of your second cat's food, feed
the new cat separately. If he needs company, stay with him. There may be a
food that Pudgette abhors that you can feed the new cat.
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Try one of the special prescription foods for
over-weight cats that are available from the veterinarian or try a
commercial cat food formulated to be low in calories. Be sure not to
triple up the low-calorie portions and defeat the purpose.
The Complete Guide to
Understanding and Caring for Your Cat
contains more detailed information, diagnostic suggestions and
reconstructive therapy approaches. Buy it from
Carole's Cat Store.
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