How do I get my overweight cat to exercize?
by on May.07, 2009, under Large
He's nine years old, and we brought him to the vet last week, and she said he's overweight, and needs to loose five pounds. She suggested we switch him to low-cal cat food and encourage him to excercize more, but he won't eat the food, and when I try to play with him, he just gives me this "are you crazy?" look. Please help!
His twin brother died last month, and we just got him a new little kitten (6mo.) but all he does is hiss and growl at the cat.
May 7th, 2009 on 1:41 am
You're going to have to make him if he won't do it himself. For starters, just get him to move for 30 seconds twice per day. You can build on that. As for what to do, you need to find a toy that he loves above all others and play with him. Or make up a new game. For instance, Poppy is obsessed with string. I use a cat teaser and make her chase it around the house and make her jump for it. Or Sophie loves her laser pointer and will chase that around.
If nothing else, find some nice smelly food or a treat that you know he loves and make him chase that around - let him know you have it and make him come to you for it, and/or make him jump up on something to get it.
It may be best to do this prior to feeding, so he won't feel weighted down with food. Plus it mimics what they would do in the wild before eating - namely chasing down the prey!
Now as for the food, toss the diet crap. It's probably inferior food anyway and many cats don't like it.