How to log exercise calories when grooming cats?

SRH7
SRH7 Posts: 2,037 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
I have nine long-haired cats that I love dearly and they love nothing more than to be groomed.

The thing is, I spend two hours a day grooming them and always feel exhausted when I finish. My arms ache and I usually break out into a bit of a sweat.

I see that other people log things like food preparation as exercise, can I log grooming my cats as exercise? If so, how many calories do you think it burns?
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Replies

  • MrsSWW
    MrsSWW Posts: 1,585 Member
    It depends how feisty they are. Do you have to climb curtains to catch them? :huh:
  • SRH7
    SRH7 Posts: 2,037 Member
    It depends how feisty they are. Do you have to climb curtains to catch them? :huh:

    Two of them are fairly placid but the other seven won't sit still. I was thinking the actual action of moving my arms while doing the grooming would burn calories?

    Would it also count as lifting weights/strength training as I'm sure my muscles are getting bigger while doing it?
  • 2essie
    2essie Posts: 2,861 Member
    Happy April Fools day to you too lol
  • IzzyBooNZ1
    IzzyBooNZ1 Posts: 1,289 Member
    Lol wink wink

    Log as strength training .
  • casy84
    casy84 Posts: 290 Member
    Why would you do that every single day? I groom my semi-long hair ragdoll 1-2 times/week and her fur looks great.
  • MySlimGoals
    MySlimGoals Posts: 754 Member
    Why don't you shave them. Cats look so great with all their fur shaved off.
  • SRH7
    SRH7 Posts: 2,037 Member
    Lol wink wink

    Log as strength training .

    Thanks for this :flowerforyou:
  • SRH7
    SRH7 Posts: 2,037 Member
    Why would you do that every single day? I groom my semi-long hair ragdoll 1-2 times/week and her fur looks great.
    They just love it so much! They jump up and down on me and nudge their grooming brush towards me until I give in.
  • IzzyBooNZ1
    IzzyBooNZ1 Posts: 1,289 Member
    Everytime i pick up my dog's turds i am going to do it as a squat and then log this. My rottie always does 3 poos per walk. Then i pick up the poos on the garden, i have 3 dogs , so it will be a good few squats.
  • IzzyBooNZ1
    IzzyBooNZ1 Posts: 1,289 Member
    Why don't you shave them. Cats look so great with all their fur shaved off.

    Lol I see what you did there
  • MummyMikaela
    MummyMikaela Posts: 130 Member
    April fools
  • Iron_Feline
    Iron_Feline Posts: 10,750 Member
    I'm on TDEE -20% so only log as 1 calorie maybe compare it to something that gets you equally out of breath?
  • Alatariel75
    Alatariel75 Posts: 18,230 Member
    People need to remember to eat back extra calories when they give blood, so if your cats rip you up while being brushed remember to eat back your bleeding cals. Otherwise count it as low impact strength/resistance training. Holding them down and brushing gets you both tensing AND releasing.
  • casy84
    casy84 Posts: 290 Member
    Why would you do that every single day? I groom my semi-long hair ragdoll 1-2 times/week and her fur looks great.
    They just love it so much! They jump up and down on me and nudge their grooming brush towards me until I give in.

    I get it now, you just can't say NO to your furballs <3
  • _SABOTEUR_
    _SABOTEUR_ Posts: 6,833 Member
    I'd log the grooming itself a strength training and the chasing cats around at heavy housework.

    I'm glad mine is short-haired and just needs to lick herself.
  • squatsandlipgloss
    squatsandlipgloss Posts: 595 Member
    Happy April Fools day to you too lol

    Was thinking the same. This can't be real. If so: where do you get the time??? I need to get me a job like yours!
  • lacroyx
    lacroyx Posts: 5,754 Member
    http://www.caloriesperhour.com/index_burn.php
  • cynd56
    cynd56 Posts: 2
    Time how long it takes for each cat. Total it. Divide it into minutes. Then multiply the total minutes by 8. That's it. I got that off a website and use it for my cardios, including climbing up and down stairs. Works for me.
  • Iron_Feline
    Iron_Feline Posts: 10,750 Member
    Time how long it takes for each cat. Total it. Divide it into minutes. Then multiply the total minutes by 8. That's it. I got that off a website and use it for my cardios, including climbing up and down stairs. Works for me.

    That's a great idea. :flowerforyou:
  • MireyGal76
    MireyGal76 Posts: 7,334 Member
    Why not wear an Hrm while doing it? (grooming the cats that is)
  • ihad
    ihad Posts: 7,463 Member
    I usually log it as light housecleaning, including all the time spent vacuuming up the fur.
  • perfekta
    perfekta Posts: 331 Member
    Why don't you shave them. Cats look so great with all their fur shaved off.

    This.
  • darrensurrey
    darrensurrey Posts: 3,942 Member
    I spend two hours a day grooming them

    can I log grooming my cats as exercise?

    Do you state your activity level as sedate? If not then no logging. If yes, then I might equate it to food preparation.
  • ZoeLifts
    ZoeLifts Posts: 10,347 Member
    People need to remember to eat back extra calories when they give blood, so if your cats rip you up while being brushed remember to eat back your bleeding cals. Otherwise count it as low impact strength/resistance training. Holding them down and brushing gets you both tensing AND releasing.

    This is great advice and I can't believe it hasn't been responded to just yet. Thank you for this reminder!
  • Dark_Roast
    Dark_Roast Posts: 17,689 Member
    I usually log it as light housecleaning, including all the time spent vacuuming up the fur.

    I bet she didn't even factor the vacuuming in! That burns some calories, especially if you have shag carpet!
  • Admiral_Derp
    Admiral_Derp Posts: 866 Member
    Why not wear an Hrm while doing it? (grooming the cats that is)

    This. I wear my HRM everywhere!
  • Iron_Feline
    Iron_Feline Posts: 10,750 Member
    I usually log it as light housecleaning, including all the time spent vacuuming up the fur.

    I bet she didn't even factor the vacuuming in! That burns some calories, especially if you have shag carpet!

    That's true - fur is very hard to get up, I bet its a great cal burner.
  • WinnerVictorious
    WinnerVictorious Posts: 4,733 Member
    when grooming, does your heart rate ever enter the "optimal fat burning zone"?
  • ILiftHeavyAcrylics
    ILiftHeavyAcrylics Posts: 27,732 Member
    I just estimate. It takes about half an hour per cat so I log 300 calories.
  • Dark_Roast
    Dark_Roast Posts: 17,689 Member
    I just estimate. It takes about half an hour per cat so I log 300 calories.

    If this is a daily activity, you should bump up your TDEE activity level.

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