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Unfortunately, feline obesity is a common cat health problem which can decrease their quality of life. So how can you prevent it?
A cat health issue such as feline obesity is easier and much more beneficial to prevent than to treat, like many other conditions. It’s been suggested that almost half of cats in the UK are fat, which decreases cat health levels and increases the risk of obesity and other serious diseases resulting from that such as diabetes, arthritis, and heart problems.
The good thing is that you can do something about it. Firstly, it is important to keep an eye on your cat’s weight. Cats are different so there is no set ideal weight for all cats. Get your vet’s opinion as well so that you know what a healthy weight level is for your cat, and then you will be able to tell if cat health deteriorates and your cat is at risk of becoming overweight. It is extremely important not to start a weight loss program on your own as loosing weight too quickly may cause serious cat health problems such as liver failure. Always talk to your vet before attempting to put your cat on a diet.
Another important thing to control is how much food you give your cat. Avoid giving your too many cat treats, especially fat and carbohydrates as these would not help your cat lose the weight and feeding excessive amounts of unhealthy treats would make cat health issues worse. Ensure that your cat receives a balanced diet of protein, fat, vitamins and carbohydrates, and feed it at the same time each day, once or twice a day. Discuss feeding with your vet before you decrease the daily dose significantly.
It is important for your cat to get some exercise to help shake those pounds and generally keep cat health problems at bay. One thing you can do is to hide you cat’s daily allowance of food in cardboard tubes or boxes in different areas of the house to make it hunt for it. Play with your cat with fun toys like laser lights, feather sticks and fishing rod toys to keep your cat active.
By preventing feline obesity in your cat you are helping it stay fit and healthy, and you can avoid serious and life-threatening cat health problems as a result.
For more information on feline obesity and other cat health issues visit Peat Health Info today.