Why Is My Cat Gaining Weight? Best Cat Food For Overweight Cats

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Cats are thought of as stealth creatures who leap from floor to counter in a single, liquid move. They know how to run as fast as lightning to catch a ball, a mouse, or a bird. And when it’s time to go to the vet, your kitty can squeeze herself into the smallest, tightest space imaginable to hide from all sight.

But when kitty-cat gains weight, the moves become a little less stealth. She prefers the floor to the counter, gives that ball a brief glance before yawning, and finds she had fewer hiding spots to accommodate that puffy body. Before you start researching the best cat food for your overweight cat, you’ll want to find out the reason behind her weight gain.

Some of the reasons why your cat can gain weight include:

Lower Activity Level – less activity means that your cat is still consuming calories, but not burning them off enough to control weight.

Neutering or Spaying – a cat’s metabolic rate changes when they are no longer capable of reproduction, so they require fewer calories.

Genetics – as in dogs, there are some breeds tend to become overweight. In cats, it’s the mixed breeds that cause more weight gain than purebreds.

Age – beginning at age 2 and peaking around age 6, cats can become overweight. This will usually decrease after age 12 and as they get older.

Social Environment – cats can get stressed and eat more, kind of like we humans do. Plus, in multi-cat homes, some cats will see feeding time as a competition as to who can eat faster.

Medication – several types of medications can cause weight gain in cats when they are exposed for a long period, such as steroids, barbiturates (often to control epilepsy), and stress-reducing drugs such as valium.

Hypothyroidism – when the cat’s body produces less of the thyroid hormone, your cat can have a slower metabolism and lower energy levels, causing weight gain.

Cushing’s disease – when kitty’s adrenal gland produces a higher level of glucocorticoids, appetite can increase as can fat deposits.

Pregnancy – this one seems pretty obvious, but some pet owners have no idea that kitty is pregnant until she is ready to pop!

Parasites – these critters can lodge themselves into the abdominal walls and intestines and cause a buildup of fluids that can cause the appearance of weight gain.

Fluid Retention – heart disease, organ disease, tumors, and feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) can cause fluid retention in your cat.

Food (type, availability) – if food is available at a constant feeding station, some cats will overindulge. Plus, cats who are given table scraps and treats at a high rate can gain weight, as can cats who are fed a high-energy food.

If you notice that your cat seems to be gaining weight and you just can’t figure out why, take him to the vet for a good checkup. You vet should be able to determine the cause and help you get your kitty back on track.

Make It Better

If your cat has no underlying health issues, start looking at lifestyle factors to determine if there is anything you can do in your home to make things better for your furry friend. If possible, remove stressors from your cat’s environment to make her feel more comfortable. If there seems to be a dinnertime competition, try feeding your overweight cat in a different area of the kitchen to avoid a rushed feeding session. And by all means, provide your cat with lots of toys, perches, and scratching posts to keep her active. And take 10 minutes a day to engage her in activity that can boost metabolism.

What If it’s All About The Food?

Sources say that over 25% of domestic cats are obese and it’s mainly due to a high caloric intake. Keep your cat from taking in more calories than they can burn and avoid free-feeding. Feeders that are stocked to the brim, or bowls that are filled to the top, allow cats to eat as much as they like, whenever they like; this can be the number-one source of obesity. Instead, find out how many calories your cat needs in a day and provide her with the proper serving size.

For example, an average cat weighing 10-pounds needs about 280 calories per day. You can put half of the amount in the bowl in the morning and the other half in the evening so that he can still feel like he has the freedom to graze, but he’ll take in less.

The Best Food For Your Overweight Cat

Many cat foods on the market today are full of carbohydrates, like corn meal and fillers, or flour and sugar, which are supposed to keep dry kibble from falling apart. It is also full of preservatives that keep it tasting fresh for longer. Cat’s bodies cannot handle high carb intake and it leads to weight gain and sometimes, diabetes.

The best food for your overweight cat includes food that is high in protein with a little fat. Carbs should be limited to those with fiber, such as barley or brown rice. This is sufficient fuel for your carnivore cat and will lead to better health and a slimmer frame. Consider the following foods that are high-quality and full of protein to keep your cat healthy:

Just because it’s a cat food for an overweight cat doesn’t mean that they should be allowed to free-feed. They’ll just eat even more of it! Instead, be sure to limit the caloric intake to the proper amount each day to keep your cat on the path to staying slim and living to tell the tail.