View Full Version : Assassin Cat- Weight Watchers?
Ok.. Shes gotten big. And I mean BIG! Lol.
Mojo, our insane little assassin cat has stretched her tiny body to the limits. She was recently fixed, only a month ago or so, and has started gaining MAJOR weight! She used to be the small kitty that was super skinny and lean, her long body stretched out across the top of the couch as she stared out the bay window.. and now we get comments from people we know who drive by like, " Whoa.. what happened to Mojo?" And I ask them what they mean, and they reply by saying that they saw her in the window the other day, and she looks like an elephant. LOL!!! Get this.. she has THREE chins!
She has alot of toys, she has a Whippet that gives her daily, maybe even hourly excersize, and is fed daily... but she meows constantly when her food dish still has food in it- but it is getting low. Kind of like a reminder " Hey, guys, I'm almost out of food, and uhm.. *Burp* I am going to be hungry.. so you should fill it up, - you know, top it off or somethin'!"
And she races you to the bottom of the stairs EVERYTIME because she thinks she is getting food. She is an addict, I swear! You find her counter surfin', and that used to mean she is out of food, but now she does it just so that you chase her in a mad rage to the bottom of the stairs- which gives her a better chance of having someone top of her dish! Lol. She is honestly addicted to the 'whiskas meaty selections' food. I need to switch her to something that has a weight watchers approval sticker on it or something.
She has a hole in the wall to get her to the laundry room where her litter box and food are- and she CANT fit through it anymore! In ONE month, she gained enough weight that she has to drooop her back and slowly slink through the hole so that she doesn't get stuck- when it seems like just days ago she could run through it with no problem at full speed. ANY ideas on how to get an evil fat cat to lose weight?
KatzNK9
04-24-2007, 03:28 PM
First thing I'd change is to get her some higher quality food. Whiskas isn't the best quality food & likely has lots of fillers which probably don't satisfy her. I'd buy her two kinds of cat food & feed her some of each daily (one regular adult variety & one reduced calorie diet). Make sure to measure how much food she's getting & make a significant cut in her caloric intake. To start, I'd give her 60% regular calorie & 40% reduced calorie foods & decrease her overall caloric intake by 20%.
A vet check is in order to test for thyroid problems but it may just be a slower metabolism causing the weight gain. I'd try a change of foods & see hows she does with that first.
Since she likes to counter surf, I'd quit feeding her a full bowl of cat food (put 1/3 of your measured amount it in the bowl) & would certainly quit topping it off for her. Instead, I'd consider cutting back on the amount in her bowl & giving her a hunting game to find her kibble food (either in a treat ball similar to what you'd use for a dog or hide it in different locations around the house).
If you're like me & she's like my cats, they're going to get on the counter & I'm going to continue to allow it. If so, I'd hide the low calorie kibble bits on your counter & let her "hunt" for it. If you keep her off the counters, hide it elsewhere (show her a couple of locations & she'll return to them daily ... cats are smart ... very smart ... the hunting game will work if she's a chow "hound" & she'll get more exercise).
Get some new cat toys & get her running & jumping over and above the exercise she already gets with Busa chases. Cat toys are easy to make yourself. But here are some ideas:
Teaser Wands (http://www.petsmart.com/global/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=84552444178 1306&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302033745&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374302023690&bmUID=1177442453790&itemNo=5&In=Cat&N=2033745&Ne=2)
Teasers (http://www.petsmart.com/global/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=84552444178 1304&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302033745&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374302023690&bmUID=1177442453920&itemNo=7&In=Cat&N=2033745&Ne=2)
More Teasers (http://www.petsmart.com/global/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=84552444178 1427&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302033745&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374302023690&bmUID=1177442454038&itemNo=10&In=Cat&N=2033745&Ne=2)
Cat Fisher (http://www.petsmart.com/global/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=84552444181 0167&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302033745&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374302023690&bmUID=1177442454613&itemNo=23&In=Cat&N=2033745&Ne=2)
Satin Danglers (http://www.petsmart.com/global/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=84552444177 9930&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302033745&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374302023690&bmUID=1177442577602&itemNo=32&Nao=24&In=Cat&N=2033745&Ne=2)
NOTE: THESE TOYS CAN BE DANGEROUS ... Only use these toys when you're playing with the cat. Put them away when you're not actively playing with her.
Hope this helps.
*Sniffle* Amazing advice. I honestly thought no one would be able to even give me a comment better than, goodluck! Lol
Well, we stopped topping her off almost a month ago, and tried feeding her one scoop a day. But she still scrreeeaammmss that she wants more, so you go downstairs to check on it.. and there still is some, and just having you in the basement, she will start eating at top-speed! She either just likes having company when eating.. or I think she just likes getting the fresh stuff right out of the bag.
The counter surfing is a no-no. We never leave food on the counter, and the last time I did (By accident) she tore in to a brand new bread bag and just threw pieces of bread Everywhere! I think she thought the bread was just there to deter her, and that there HAS to be something better than that in the cool looking bag! So she dug and dug and dug deeper and deeper .. until she hit the other side.. and then chewed out that side of the bag as well.. Just to find nothing but the countertop again.
This was done in less than ten minutes!
And she is a very super active cat. Heck- you ever seen the Matrix? This cat can run up a wall and do a backflip and be on the otherside of the house in no time. OR.. if she is turning a corner, she can use the wall as a brace, run along it for a few steps and then drop back to the floor and go in another direction. Lol.
It has to be the food. I know it wasn't very healthy for her.. but she likes it sooo much! When given a choice, she will eat it over almost any other kind of catfood I have tried. Lol, and I cant argue with her happiness.. or at least she doesn't think so. I will try looking around for one that is low-calorie.
KatzNK9
04-24-2007, 03:42 PM
If you really feel like she's super-active already, I'd have the vet do a thyroid check just to be sure.
OK, if she likes her Whiskas so much & you don't want to change that ... get the highest quality reduced calorie diet you can find & mix it in with the stuff she loves so much. In this case, I'd give her 40% Whiskas & 60% low calorie stuff. Mix it into a large container & hide the mixed kibble for her in the hunting game.
KatzNK9
04-24-2007, 03:47 PM
P.S. I'd love to see pics of her showing off her "fat self" ... I'd like to see how fat she is (front/side/standing/sitting shots) to confirm the percentages of the different foods were good choices. What I told you as far as percentages go is pretty standard for your average "fat cat" ... but might need some adjustment.
When I get home tonight, I'll snap a few. I'll give you a before and after type of thing. She may not look fat to you.. but Ill remind you that she used to be super skinny. Her mother is a very small cat, and her mothers mother was as well. Very short, skinny cats, and so we thought she may follow suit- but looks like we should have a name change from Mojo to Rollie Pollie.
If you really feel like she's super-active already, I'd have the vet do a thyroid check just to be sure.
yeah - I'd wonder about that, as well. OTOH, would she still be active if her thyroid is low? My mother and daughter both have hypothyroidism. Before treatment my mum was fighting constant fatigue to an extreme.
it's different in children though and maybe so in cats. My daughter's level of activity didn't change. In fact, we always considered her a bit hyperactive. But she had minimal appetite and was very skinny and wasn't growing. People accused me of underfeeding her and then accused her of being anorexic. Once we discovered the thyroid problem and she went on medication she began eating normally (for a teenager) and growing quickly.
So - all that to say - I'd at least check it out though I have no idea how low thyroid would affect a cat since it affects humans in such a variety of ways as it is. :P
Bayta was my Dalmatian dog. She was like your cat - constantly asking for food and associating a host of things with food retrieval. She'd practically break her neck flying across the tile to get to the kitchen if we opened the pantry door or opened the bread package. She really did bruise herself a few times in that process. I don't know how to uncondition that sort of thing.
KatzNK9
04-26-2007, 11:13 PM
yeah - I'd wonder about that, as well. OTOH, would she still be active if her thyroid is low? My mother and daughter both have hypothyroidism. Before treatment my mum was fighting constant fatigue to an extreme.
I really don't know how to answer that since I've not had a cat with this condition. I wouldn't expect a high level of energy either. She may simply be eating too many calories for her super-active energy level. It is possible to get fat even with lots of exercise by eating too much.