My cat is fat

[Monchhichi]

My 6 year old cat went missing for three weeks in June this year, when he returned he was skinny, matted and full of fleas and ticks. He has always been an active outdoor cat, but since his return he just isn't interested in going out anymore, he just snuggles on the sofa asleep all day.

We feed him the same as before he went missing, one pouch of wet food a day plus a scoop of biscuits (he is a large Siberian). I've tried getting some toys to encourage exercise but no luck so far, he merely lazily swipes a paw if they're within reach.

Any suggestions for toys your cats have enjoyed?

Mine were already on 65-70% meat kibble but I still noticed the reduction in 💩 when we switched plus started weighing it out rather than free feeding them.

They do ask for food all day though 🙄 we took them for a vet nurse trip (free) for weigh in and rib check and they had got down to a perfect wait although girl needed to gain a little. We've increased daily allowance by 10 grams each and will go back later this month.

Honestly, she seems very happy.
It was the vet who said she was overweight.
She's had a full range of blood tests and her results are resoundingly normal.
I don't think she looks fat, either. Maybe in this picture she does.

@TheShellBeach
her bum definitely doesn’t look big in that photo 😻
she definitely looks like a very happy, very beautiful and contented kitty

did vet think she’s over weight for her form, she looks a well built cat,mifnher bloods are all normal don’t know why vet would worry you like that

I love big cats, more cat the better 🥰, we had Siamese all our lives growing up and they are absolutely wonderful but so delicate, I like a big cuddly cat/bears now

Cats are supposed to be trim, their ribs should be easy to feel.

Bit like humans, we have come accustomed to viewing slightly overweight as "normal".

We used to have Fat Eric who free roamed and constantly caught and demolished mice and voles, he was overweight but until he got too old and lazy to hunt there was little that could be done!

@RandomMess
you are right but there is the guide about being able to easily feel ribs etc, I think it’s quite easy to spot an unhealthily large cat vs a large fit cat.
mines large but he is nimble and very fit and strong he climbed our palm tree in seconds Friday which is as high as the house, he seems to have a lot of unspent energy at the moment, do you think they are like people when it’s bad weather ? Like eating too much and not exercise enough ? He definitely gets more defined shape and lighter in the spring/summer

Quite possibly with free roaming cats. In spring they go out more, get distracted and by default exercise more, lose weight, feel fitter etc The then the wet and cold turns up and they slowly become couch potatoes. They probably need up for less hunting opportunities too?

I've had different breeds of cats and some are more muscular and solid, some just get fat.

We live around the corner from the vets so it's free and easy to pop in and get them weighed and let someone else do the impartial rib feeling! If their ribs feel as boney as the back of your knuckles they are underweight, if they are padded like the knuckles on the palm side too fat.

We have only had the current 3 6 months so still working on their normal. They are all good obsessed though unfortunately. One will try and kill for bread carbs, bagels being the favourite 🧐

The then the wet and cold turns up and they slowly become couch potatoes.

that made me laugh out loud as it is so true they really do sleep 18 out of 24 with ease if dont they ?

bagels ! hehe my friends cat a maine coone cross is obsessed with cake of all things and chewed his way thought three layers of tinfoil to attack their christmas cake during the night ! not good food for a cat really😂

I know it's not healthy but fat cats are just adorable

18 out of 24?? That's summer time sleep 🤣 I swear in winter it's 22 out of 24.

I'm not sure. She and Linney were rescues, and we got them about eighteen months ago.

Linney is a normal weight. Emerald has always been 6.5 kg.
She seems perfectly happy.

I started a thread on Twitter about her weight. Cue 500 posts from people telling me their cats were even heavier and lived to the age of twenty two.

You're probably right about her just being a big cat. Honestly, DH and I have completely given up trying to get her weight down, especially as all her blood tests were fine.

This one was taken a few weeks ago, after she decided to dive under the floorboards when we were getting a new bathroom put in. It took me three hours to persuade her to return. She was obviously intent on examining the fabric of the entire house at her leisure.

You can't go on by the weight of a cat at all though without looking at their frame and build 🤷🏽‍♀️

@RandomMess
its true, with dogs they have classifications dont they starting with 'toy breed' up to 'very large breed' so teacup chihuahua up to great dane or something.

My petite female 3kg Rex versus friends male 11kg Maine Coon!! He's a bit overweight tbf but always going to be over 10kg.

11kg crikey 😂! RSI from the cat carrier !

He doesn't need to jump up into the worktops just reaches up and swipes everything off 🤣

Yep very large cat carrier and a set of wheels to move it!

wheels !!! 😂😂 😂

@TheShellBeach
she is beautiful and looks well built, i always look at their tails, some cats tails are like little whips (small cats) and some are really thick especially at the base and its not just fur and flesh you can feel how large the bones are inside the tail and the big feet, as feet don't seem to have much flesh on them anyway

and wide chests

Actually she has got a lovely thick tail!

i know - especially these on this thread😍

They just look soo cuddly 😍

Matt does have a thick rail actually, and big paws. He has a big frame (like me!) 🙀

Tail not rail!

@TheShellBeach @Papergirl1968 @defi
im posting this ‘unflattering’ photo of my boy - it was taken in 2020 -he has got lighter since then but it’s just one of those ‘unflattering angles photos’ 😭

forgot to attach sorry