Can cats get fat at a cattery for 2 weeks?

[Rollergirl1]

We are just back from holiday and picked up our 11 month old boy today. He looks absolutely huuuge! I am sure there is an element of not seeing him for 2 weeks and your mind playing tricks on you. Also there were 3 stray kittens in the hotel that we were staying at in Corfu that the kids fed that were very very tiny (and obviously malnourished) so I expected him to look big in comparison.

But putting all that aside he does seem like he's chunked out quite a bit. He has come back with a fair bit of the food that I provided so I know they haven't been over-feeding him. So could it purely be down to lack of exercise for 2 weeks? Would that have an affect so quickly?

I seriously doubt it, Rollergirl1. Maybe they were feeding him lots of titbits as well if he went all sensitive on them and turned his nose up at his ordinary food for the sake of attention? Otherwise - maybe you just forgot how big he really was.

PS - and even though you were only away for two weeks, he may have grown a bit. He's at that age.

When our cat Dotty was In quarantine for 4 weeks she came out fat. It must have been the lack of exercise & just sleeping all day. I don't think they over fed her either as she had food left & I told them to measure how much in a cup to give her.

How funny I just had this conversation with DH
My cats have put on weight being in the cattery. They are usually very very active, out chasing mice & running up trees. At the Cattery they don't have huge amounts of space so don't get the exercise but still eat the same. I think they are bored & eat anything going. The Cattery offer little cat treats which they would normally turn their noses up at, but when they are staying there, they eat them.
So you are not alone with your fatty puss.
Thankfully they loose it as quickly as they put it on.

My cats put on a bit of weight during their week in the cattery and slimmed down when they got home and were tearing up and down the stairs again.

Well there you go Rollergirl1. Looks like it's normal for some cats.

You all must have some seriously piggy cats! Mine stop eating when they're inactive.

One of our cats always gets fat at the cattery (as there is always dry food avaialble and he has no 'off' switch). He loses it really fast though, as soon as he is able to get out and about and get in fights