Properly Managing the Weight of Your Cat
Owning a cat is certainly popular throughout the United States. Statistics show that nearly 38 million people own cats. After bringing in your kitten for vaccines every few weeks, it’s important to continually monitor their weight. You might be surprised at how fast certain cats become overweight. In this post, you’ll learn how to properly manage the weight of your cat.
Scheduling an Appointment with a Veterinarian
It makes sense to be confused by how much your cat should weigh. Therefore, it’s a wise idea to schedule an appointment with veterinary services. If your cat is older, many veterinarians suggest bringing this animal in for twice a year checkups.
During a vet checkup, your cat’s weight will be taken. In turn, this allows the vet to find out if your cat is maintaining a target weight. Target weights can vary slightly between types of cats. Therefore, it’s best to have a vet Owning a cat is certainly popular throughout the United States. Statistics show that nearly 38 million people own cats. After bringing in your kitten for vaccines every few weeks, it’s important to continually monitor their weight. You might be surprised at how fast certain cats become overweight. In this post, you’ll learn how to properly manage the weight of your cat.
Scheduling an Appointment with a Veterinarian
It makes sense to be confused by how much your cat should weigh. Therefore, it’s a wise idea to schedule an appointment with veterinary services. If your cat is older, many veterinarians suggest bringing this animal in for twice a year checkups.
During a vet checkup, your cat’s weight will be taken. In turn, this allows the vet to find out if your cat is maintaining a target weight. Target weights can vary slightly between types of cats. Therefore, it’s best to have a vet tell you the right target weight for your cat. If your cat is above this target weight, it’s time to begin making a few simple changes.
Monitoring Your Cat’s Diet
The first way to manage your cat’s weight is by monitoring this animal. You’ll want to begin monitoring how many calories your animal is consuming. If your cat is weighs 14 pounds and needs to lose weight, you’ll likely need to reduce their calorie intake. That being said, it’s important to do this gradually. Underfeeding a cat can cause this animal to experience health issues.
You’ll likely be recommended certain foods that can help manage your cat’s weight. That being said, it’s important to gradually transform that food your cat eats. Suddenly changing your cat’s food will often surprise them. In turn, they are likely to avoid eating this new food. Therefore, you’ll want to begin mixing new food with what your cat is currently eating. As time goes on, you can begin increasing the portions of new food. This gives your cat adequate time to adjust to their new diet.
Increasing Your Cat’s Activity Levels
Another step to take toward managing your cat’s weight is to increase their physical activity. You’ll find that it’s best to try and implement 30 minutes of daily playtime with your cat. Overexerting your cat could have them needing to visit an emergency vet. Therefore, it’s best to begin with small amounts of light physical activity. In addition to weight management benefits, playing with your cat is a great bonding experience. Certain cats even enjoy going on walks with their owners. It’s also wise to consider purchasing a new scratching post for your cat. Many cats love playing on these items and it allows them to receive a bit of exercise.
To summarize, it’s important to take proper care of your cat’s weight. That being said, it’s important to know where to go while your vet is closed. If you experience any sudden issues while caring for your cat, consider visiting emergency vet services. Emergency vets provide veterinary options for a wide range of animals, especially cats.