My 9 year old male cat seems pretty healthy, but his tummy drags the floor. Does anyone have any ideas how I may help him lose a little weight without hurting his health? Thanks in advance!
No one has mentioned keeping your cat active if you can. Just like people, pets need exercise. Try tom play with your cat-have him chase things, jump around, etc, climb if he can. It may be hard getting him to move, tho, if he is that heavy! Do use a reduced calorie cat food, and feed him set amounts at set times of the day-apparently feeding on demand or having food avaailable all the time is a problem for him (Just like people!)
Once you've ruled out a tumor or other health problem, I'd feed the cat Purina One Mature Cat formula. Cat food especially made for older cats doesnt have as many calories because older cats dont move around as much as younger ones. If this cat is outside much of the time, you're going to need to be especially careful with the approach of winter. Outdoor animals need more calories to keep warm. Also, it may get wounds from dragging on the ground.
I work for a Veterinarin. Please take your little fur baby to your veterinarian so the vet can get an exact weight on him. Your Dr., will put him on a diet if necessary. I don't advise you put him on a diet without your Vet examining him first. There are special foods that your Vet can prescribe for him. As far as his tummy hitting the floor...this needs to be checked also. You would not want him to cause a wound to himself from his tummy hitting the floor.
Have you had him checked by your vet? If he is that overweight, you may need additional guidance. I would also be concerned about the possibility of a tumor that has enlarged. If cost is a problem, if you have a veterinary school in your city, they can usually provide excellent care at a lower cost. Best wishes to you and your kitty!
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