Betty's journey from fluffy to fit...

MireyGal76
MireyGal76 Posts: 7,334 Member
in Motivation and Support
So... I have a sweet in my life whom I love dearly... But I'm worried about her.
Her name is Betty, and she is my fur baby...

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Thing is she is huge. I used to free feed her dry food and saw her gaining weight. So I moved to three small meals a day and she didn't lose any weight. I fed her what was recommended but no luck.

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I've since tried switching to wet cat food. Started with Iams and again no difference. Now she is on Friskies and may even be bigger.

Has anyone had a fat she-cat and managed to get her healthy?
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Replies

  • 1ConcreteGirl
    1ConcreteGirl Posts: 3,677 Member
    I suggest walking your cat at a moderate pace.

    The MFP database has an entry for "dog walking," so just choose that one, but take your cat instead.
  • Lone_Wolf70
    Lone_Wolf70 Posts: 2,820 Member
    all i see is abs.
  • lacurandera1
    lacurandera1 Posts: 8,083 Member
    Do you have a treadmill? Or, you can do as others have suggested in other threads and start actively engaging her in your weight lifting. Maybe she will love it and take up the habit on her own.
  • MireyGal76
    MireyGal76 Posts: 7,334 Member
    I suggest walking your cat at a moderate pace.

    The MFP database has an entry for "dog walking," so just choose that one, but take your cat instead.

    I tried that, but as soon as I put her harness on she falls over and lays there.
    Its kinda funny actually.
  • EmilyOfTheSun
    EmilyOfTheSun Posts: 1,548 Member
    lmfao!
    I seriously had to put my cat on the Blue weight control food. He was a biggin.
  • MireyGal76
    MireyGal76 Posts: 7,334 Member
    lmfao!
    I seriously had to put my cat on the Blue weight control food. He was a biggin.

    Is it wet or dry? Did it help?
  • ChristieisReady
    ChristieisReady Posts: 708 Member
    I switched to grain-free dry food for my cats. (Merrick Before Grain). They got leaner and one stopped throwing up all the time. They're still fat, tho. The hubs does not exercise cat portion-control. Plus, I mean, my self esteem can't really take my cat being thinner than me.
  • UsedToBeHusky
    UsedToBeHusky Posts: 15,228 Member
    <<<< Fluffy was fat... but now she lifts!
  • MireyGal76
    MireyGal76 Posts: 7,334 Member
    <<<< Fluffy was fat... but now she lifts!

    But but what if she gets bulky?
  • prwhicks
    prwhicks Posts: 32 Member
    Try the MyFitnessCat app.
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,458 Member
    Have you tried this?

    iekaj41.gif
  • BurtHuttz
    BurtHuttz Posts: 3,653 Member
    It's called MyFelinePal.

    So - OP - - are you letting the cat eat after 8:00pm??? Any food she eats after 8:00 turns into fat because cats don't burn caliories while they're sleeping. Also, make sure you give her food in the morning right away to kickstart her metabolism.
  • PomegranatePriestess
    PomegranatePriestess Posts: 2,455 Member
    Have you tried this?

    iekaj41.gif

    I doubt this will get your cat to shred. You, on the other hand... you will get SERIOUSLY shredded.
  • _SABOTEUR_
    _SABOTEUR_ Posts: 6,833 Member
    Go Paleo and make your cat hunt for itself. It'll thank you in the long run.
  • quirkytizzy
    quirkytizzy Posts: 4,052 Member
    I suggest walking your cat at a moderate pace.

    The MFP database has an entry for "dog walking," so just choose that one, but take your cat instead.

    I tried that, but as soon as I put her harness on she falls over and lays there.
    Its kinda funny actually.

    AHAHAHA! One of my cats does the exact same thing! Just plays dead! :laugh: Another lady in another thread said that following the serving sizes on pet food labels usually results in too many calories for a cat's general needs. As I've got a fattie for one of my cats, I'm going to keep that in mind.
  • MireyGal76
    MireyGal76 Posts: 7,334 Member
    It's called MyFelinePal.

    So - OP - - are you letting the cat eat after 8:00pm??? Any food she eats after 8:00 turns into fat because cats don't burn caliories while they're sleeping. Also, make sure you give her food in the morning right away to kickstart her metabolism.

    Oh good. I'd have blushed if you'd said it was called myfitnessp****!
  • schaapj2
    schaapj2 Posts: 320 Member
    In all seriousness,

    1. Keep her on the wet cat food-cats are carnivores-the wet cat food contains higher amounts of crude protein instead of the carbs found in the dry food.
    2. Science diet makes a great light canned food.
    3. Feed according to weight loss. If the cat is 25 pounds and should be 15 pounds. Feed at thr 15 pound level. May want to try an intermediate goal of 20 pounds first (like humans, you can't starve your body into weight loss)
    4. Consult your veterinarian.
  • veggiesnyoga
    veggiesnyoga Posts: 19 Member
    I suggest walking your cat at a moderate pace.

    The MFP database has an entry for "dog walking," so just choose that one, but take your cat instead.

    I tried that, but as soon as I put her harness on she falls over and lays there.
    Its kinda funny actually.

    AHAHAHA! One of my cats does the exact same thing! Just plays dead! :laugh: Another lady in another thread said that following the serving sizes on pet food labels usually results in too many calories for a cat's general needs. As I've got a fattie for one of my cats, I'm going to keep that in mind.

    My cat does that too when I put the harness on him :)) Too funny

    A friend of mine just told me about a website called www.catinfo.org
    I haven't had a chance to really read through it yet, but she says it's very helpful. Hope you find it helpful as well!
  • tameko2
    tameko2 Posts: 31,634 Member
    I think Betty is lovely and has a nice curvy figure!! Why can't we just celebrate her curves!? She's almost the same size as Meowilyn!
  • junip1977
    junip1977 Posts: 111 Member
    Try the weight control kibble from Science diet and try to get her some exercise. Any little bit will help. You don't want an animal to lose weight to quickly or it is bad for their kidneys, etc.
  • amyoliver85
    amyoliver85 Posts: 353 Member
    Hi, you should speak with your cat's veterinarian. There are MULTIPLE weight management cat food formulas on the market. Also, your cat could have something else going on with her health that is causing her to get chunky. Trying to manage your pet's health on your own is a guessing game and you are likely doing more damage than good by continuing to guess. Also, restricting your cat's food intake could be giving her fatty liver disease and actually be making things worse, and even killing her. Take her to the vet and get recommendations for a low calorie formula so you don't keep starving her with tiny meals.
  • nygrl4evr
    nygrl4evr Posts: 196 Member
    My cat got big while living at my Mom' house. Since we moved I have switched her to Purina for Indoor cats that are fixed. It says on the bag that it helps them burn more fat and I have thrown lots and lots of cat toys all over the house for her to have easy access to. Plus I have decreased the amount of food she gets and she is only fed twice a day. She has been on this plan for about a month and has made noticable difference in her size. She is still big but before she couldn't reach her back end to clean and now she can comfortably take care all by herself.
  • MireyGal76
    MireyGal76 Posts: 7,334 Member
    Hi, you should speak with your cat's veterinarian. There are MULTIPLE weight management cat food formulas on the market. Also, your cat could have something else going on with her health that is causing her to get chunky. Trying to manage your pet's health on your own is a guessing game and you are likely doing more damage than good by continuing to guess. Also, restricting your cat's food intake could be giving her fatty liver disease and actually be making things worse, and even killing her. Take her to the vet and get recommendations for a low calorie formula so you don't keep starving her with tiny meals.

    Thank you so much for this info. I will make an appointment to take her in.
  • Keylarakat
    Keylarakat Posts: 11 Member
    My kitty babies are in the same boat. The Vet had me put them on Pro Plan Weight Management (supposedly they don't have the crude fillers in it).
    On Pro Plan WM, because of their size (18 lbs and 15 lbs) are supposed to get (each) just under a cup a day of food. So I split it, 1/2 at 8am and 1/2 at 8pm. They get a replacement meal of the pro plan wet food (1/2 can each) once a week.

    It was a bit of an adjustment for the first week or so, because my cats were used to having food down all the time. They would run out of food before the next mealtime and I think they get a little freaked out and gorge themselves when I would put food down.
    (I imagine in their little heads the dialogue was like this "OH NO!! Mom might take it away again! Quick! Eat it!") The first week they threw up food a few times.

    My boy has lost a 1lb in a couple of months and my little girl, about 3/4. They both have a ton more energy too.
    We also play with string, wands and laser pointers more too, for the stimulation and exercise.
    Remember, losing a pound to us humans in 2 months is ridiculous, a pound in kitty size is a HUGE difference - so it takes a little while longer :)
  • iceey
    iceey Posts: 354 Member
    It's called MyFelinePal.

    So - OP - - are you letting the cat eat after 8:00pm??? Any food she eats after 8:00 turns into fat because cats don't burn caliories while they're sleeping. Also, make sure you give her food in the morning right away to kickstart her metabolism.

    I see this as good advice but a potential problem, since most cats sleep at least 18 hours a day. This gives you a small window of opportunity to makes sure she gets her macros in. Try force feeding and heavy lifting but be fast before kitty falls asleep again and the food turns to fat.
  • Meggles63
    Meggles63 Posts: 916 Member
    Just break up!
  • Keylarakat
    Keylarakat Posts: 11 Member
    Also, one more thing - definitely get her a vet check up to rule out any other possible issues, if you haven't already. We'd all prefer that its just a food thing!!
  • Faye_Anderson
    Faye_Anderson Posts: 1,495 Member
    Dry food, wet food, it's all processed, have you thought about cleaning up her diet, maybe kitty paleo :smile:
  • rachelrb85
    rachelrb85 Posts: 579 Member
    Try this!

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vm0R7CvNpPY
  • The_Enginerd
    The_Enginerd Posts: 3,982 Member
    No diet food for my kitties, they practice moderation. We started using my food scale to measure the food and they have slimmed back down. We do meal feeding twice a day. It helps with them stealing food from each other.
    It was a bit of an adjustment for the first week or so, because my cats were used to having food down all the time. They would run out of food before the next mealtime and I think they get a little freaked out and gorge themselves when I would put food down.
    (I imagine in their little heads the dialogue was like this "OH NO!! Mom might take it away again! Quick! Eat it!")

    LOL, so true.

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