Overweight Help

It is much easier to prevent excess weight gain than to implement a weight loss regiment. This can be achieved by measuring food at meal times, restricting the consumption of human food and ensuring your cat gets regular exercise. If your cat does have some weight to lose, our staff will work with you to implement a weight loss routine.

How do I know if my cat is overweight?

Most Veterinary professionals follow a guideline chart called body condition scoring. Looks can be deceiving. That is why the veterinarian or veterinary technologist will run their hands from the cat’s shoulders to the hips and feel the ribs. They are checking how much fat they can feel under their skin and whether they can prominently feel the ribs, spine and hip bones. The body condition score goes from 1 to 9. A score of 4/9 and 5/9 is ideal. We recommend putting your cat on a weight loss regimen if they score anything over a 5/9. Even 5-10 extra pounds increases their risk for other diseases such as diabetes, arthritis, etc. Our staff can help you with any questions or concerns you may have.

How can I help my cat lose weight?

Our staff can help create a weight loss regimen. First, the veterinarian or veterinary technologist will figure out your cat’s body condition score to determine how much the target weight loss would be. We will work with you in selecting a diet and daily feeding amount for your dog to start their weight loss. Losing weight slower increases their chances to keep the excess weight off.