She's been getting a bit on the podgy side lately!
I've been a bit cautious about addressing the issue after she had her liver problems last year and lost so much weight - but now she's more than doubled in size since she was at her skinniest! She's always seemed to have a bit of a slow metabolism too - I don't overfeed her, and Sparkle's always eaten more than Motley but there's never been a problem with HIS weight (although he's quite a bit more active).

The easy way to do it would be to switch her food to a lower fat option - but with 3 other cats in the house at the moment it would be more or less impossible! The kittens are still on kitten food, and at the moment Motley and Sparkle have Iams (and I always follow the guidelines on the pack to make sure they get the recommended amount for their size).

Does anyone have any tips?

Here's some before and after photos:

Last September when she was recovering from her liver problems...


Last night.....


Her ideal weight is somewhere in between the two - but she shot past it and kept on going!

I put my kitties on indoor formula. They have all lost weight...their bellies look smaller. Especially Georgie & Milo...who needed to lose ;).

There are special formulas of cat food now for overweight cats. But since Motley has a metabolism issue, is the vet sure her thyroid is working right? If it is, great. If not, her metabolism will slow down and she will gain weight.

I was advised to put my cats on a low-ash, low-magnesium diet and not feed them fish (at least not the males -- Tomtat nearly died of FUS, and thank goodness we caught it in time). I also allow my cats to eat grass once in awhile -- they seem to know when they need it.

As for play and exercise... if you don't mind a redecorated home every morning, maybe Motley would like to do what any normal cat would do when presented with a ball of yarn -- weave it into and among the table and chair legs in impossible patterns (as in "how the !*$% did she do that?!"

Do you have any exercise equipment such as a treadmill? (I'm not kidding -- some pets will happily walk alongside their humans, providing the human is not running -- just walk casually, no faster than the pet can keep up. It'd be an activity for just the two of you, and Motley could smirk at the other cats, "See! I get to be with Mom and you don't!"

All of the above should of course be interspersed with massage, tummy rubs, and telling her what a wonderful kitty she is. :kittyluv:

:wave:

She may need to be checked out by the vet; especially if she had liver poblems before; could be her thyroid causing weight-gain. JMHO :wha:

Some say its not the fat but the carbs that can make a cat fat. Higher protein and lower carb foods, more excercise, no snacks.

Thought you might like a little update on this!

I consulted with the vet when I was taking one of the kittens in for their injections - he advised switching both Motley AND Sparkle onto a diet food, but letting Sparkle have extra (and sneaking him a few snacks when Motley wasn't looking!).

So on the vet's recommendation Motley and Sparkle both went on Hills Science Plan Light for about 3 months. I have to say, I really didn't notice much difference in Motley's weight (or Sparkle's!).

As it's quite difficult to get hold of that particular food here, they ended up getting switched back to the Iams (I felt a little bit guilty as it was for purely selfish reasons! To keep them on the other stuff, I'd either have to get two buses to the vets, or specifically order the food at the local pet shop).

But anyway, Motley's weight seems to have stabilised naturally! I suspect that as she lost so much weight so quickly it must have messed her metabolism up a bit anyway - and now she's got the kittens to keep her on her toes she's getting more exercise anyway!

Here she is about 20 minutes ago.....

Yay Motley!! :thumbsup:

Lookin' good, pussycat! ;)

I went through the same thing with Lilly... because Molly wasnt overweight. I had them on a calorie control this summer but they lost alot of weight and now I have the on a preventive forumula but Lilly is starting to get huge again. I dont think there is a happy/medium. Just make sure she is getting lots of exercise and cut back on treats.

Ooh, she looks great!! :thumbsup: