Category Archives: Cat Health

Fat Cats Spoiled by Owners’ Love

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It’s not just humans that suffer from weight problems, there are more and more fat cats tipping the scales and putting their health at risk.

Most fat cats are piling on the kitty pounds due to inactivity and over-eating and it is an issue that vets are seeing more and more.

According to a 2011 study by the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP), more than 50 per cent of domestic pet cats are overweight.

Fat Cats Have More Health Problems

Fat cats are much more likely to experience health problems, which may shorten their lifespan and lead to large vet bills.

Some of the health problems that overweight kitties may experience include:

  • Diabetes
  • Arthritis
  • Some kinds of cancer
  • Liver disease
  • Heart disease

Preventing Feline Fat

Cat owners need to understand the health risks associated with overweight cats. In doing so, they can protect their pet’s well-being and ensure a healthier and happier cat for years to come.

Causes of Cat Obesity

Cat obesity is caused by the same problem that leads to weight gain in any other mammal – too much food intake and not enough exercise.

In nature, cats would have to hunt for their food and they only hunt what they need. On top of this, stalking and capturing their prey leads to a lot of energy expenditure.

Domesticated cats, on the other hand, have their meals served up to them and there is no effort required on their part.

Often pet owners will also provide their pets with too much food, as they may overestimate the dietary requirements of their furry friend.

Another factor that can lead to weight gain in pets is spaying or neutering. Animals that have been neutered or spayed are more likely to experience weight gain, but this risk factor can be controlled by paying special attention to portion size.

Identifying Fat Cats

A visit to the vet can reveal if your cat is overweight or not. Otherwise, there are a couple of ways in which you can decide whether or not it might be time to put kitty on a diet:

  • Run your hand along your cat’s flanks and abdomen – in a cat that is the correct weight, you should be able to feel their ribs.
  • Can you detect a slight waistline? If there is no discernible waist, your cat is almost certainly too heavy.

Fat cats can get into shape again quickly and the health risks can be reduced by talking to your vet about the ideal diet for your fuzzy friend.

What you need to know about Cat Hairballs

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Cat hairballs are the inevitable side effect of your feline and its fastidious approach to personal grooming.

Cats will typically spend a couple of hours each day grooming themselves and each time they do this they ingest loose hairs from their coats.

When they swallow the hairs, they will sometimes remain in their stomach instead of being passed through the digestive tract.

The hair then will irritate the stomach and the cat will regurgitate the matted mass of fur.

Do All Cats Develop Hairballs?

Long and medium-haired cats are more prone to developing fur balls than their short-haired friends.

Some cats also tend to be more obsessive about grooming than others too and these super-groomers are more likely to develop cat hairballs.

What do Cat Hairballs Look Like?

Hairballs, also known trichobezoars, are usually cylindrical bundles of matted cat fur.

Symptoms of Cat Hairballs

There are a range of symptoms that your cat may experience if they are having problems with fur balls.

Some of the more obvious symptoms include:

  • Retching
  • Gagging
  • Vomiting.

Other more subtle symptoms of fur balls include:

  • Loss of appetite
  • Constipation
  • Dairrhoea
  • Lethargy
  • Swollen abdomen,

It is normal for all cats to have the occasional hairball, but if you notice any of the above symptoms, you should seek veterinary advice as soon as possible.

Frequent cat hairballs or any of the above symptoms could be a sign of an underlying health condition.

Preventing Cat Hairballs

  • Daily brushing – daily brushing of your cat’s coat will help to remove many of the loose hairs that can lead to fur balls.

If your cat dislikes being brushed, there are hand mitts that can be purchased from animal grooming centres.

Regular brushing will help prevent many of the loose hairs ending up in your kitty’s tummy and it is a great way to bond with your cat too.

Discouragement – if you notice that your cat is quite compulsive about its grooming, try to discourage it from doing so.

Use distraction to prevent the cat from constantly licking its coat.

  • Diet – A high fibre diet will help to reduce formation of cat hairballs.

In addition, there are cat foods that help minimise shedding and improve the skin.

Adding catnip or cat grass to your kitty’s diet also serves as a natural solution to fur balls.

Keep a pot plant filled with catnip to add to your cat’s meals. Another alternative is including pumpkin, which is high fibre in their diet.

With a little attention to grooming and diet, you can help reduce the effect that cat hairballs have on your beloved kitty.