“Fat” rescue cat

[bettydraper31]

I’m wondering if some of you can help!

We rescued our cat from Battersea last January so had him a year now. When we rescued him he was 4kg, took him to the vets back in Oct last year and they said his weight had increased to 4.3kg and we should try and get it back down. So we cut his dreamies and also a lot of dry food as well (realised we were over feeding him). Still 2 pouches per day.

Fast forward to a few weeks ago follow up appt he’s put on another 0.2kg! Vet said he’s probably helping himself to another cat’s food so I put a msg on our villages fb page asking people (kindly) not to feed him if they were.

We have also reduced his wet food to 1.5 pouches per day instead of 2. My problem is now he just pesters me for food all day!!! Constant meowing and running around at my feet all day. I’m a stay at home parent and 7 months pregnant so we’re home with him most of the day and it’s starting to drive me mad bless him. He even tries to eat any food my daughter drops at mealtimes, jumps up at the counter/table and will even lick anything from the kitchen floor that could be food. He’s worse than our old dog!!

Sorry for the ramble! Any advice anyone?

Thinking I may have to take him back to the vet and get him checked over to make sure there’s nothing more sinister. He is nuetured and does go outdoors but he’s an ex stray so doesn’t venture too far.

Cats must surely be like humans in that they come in different builds and what may be ‘healthy’ for one may be over/ underweight for another’s?
My cat was from a rescue (18 months when I got him) but had previously been living with a family so we had his old records. His weight recorded at 9 months was nearly 5kg!!! When I took him to his first check up he weighed in at 5.6 kg and I was immediately told he was overweight but that was before they’d got a proper look at him- he’s a big cat with long legs and a long body and on the picture chart he’s in the healthy weight range and still looks ‘sleek’ so I was told not to worry (as long as he doesn’t continue to get bigger 🙀) . He only eats dry food and seemed to be hungry all the time but since I’ve changed it to a high protein one he is definitely less hungry between meals (if given the opportunity though he will still eat anything that is there so I’ve become very strict about weighing it out) I’ve also changed his treats from dreamies, which are now only for VERY special occasions (or getting him into his carrier for the vets) to Nature’s Menu 95% meat ones- these also have the added benefit of being soft so I’ve recently managed to cut one in half and put a worm tablet in the middle before squashing it back together again.... he didn’t notice!

Thank you! At least I’m not alone, some really good ideas, thank you!

Cats must surely be like humans in that they come in different builds and what may be ‘healthy’ for one may be over/ underweight for another’s?

Absolutely! I had two at opposite ends of the scale. This is them both fully grown. FatCat wasn’t fat at this point. I think he would have been 6kg and SoupKitten about 3kg. FatCat is most definitely overweight now at 7.5 though - he has a “beer belly” look.

I wish SoupDragon was here to see the result of the red feathers.

Yes, Mr C was underweight at 5kg. Cheer up, pet obseity isn't anything like as harmful as you think.

Unless the feathers are edible, he is not interested :o

Harry is around 5.4kg. We used to get told by the vet that he needed to lose weight but since his health problems started they are always pleased he stays the same. His main problem is his rather fine paunch, but as it’s loose skin there’s not a lot I can do about that!

Feline tummy tucks!

FatCat looks skinny when he is fully stretched out - eg standing on the floor with his front paws on the kitchen worktop. His beer belly vanishes.