Tag Archives: pet cats

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.

Behaviour Management 101 for Naughty Cats

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Naughty cats can be just like children and need help to learn limits and the appropriate behavior.

If you have a cat that is providing some challenging behavior, then you might like to consider time outs as a useful tool.

Signs you May have Naughty Cats

Time outs might be required for naughty cats when you are experiencing any of the following behaviour:

  • Biting
  • Scratching
  • Aggressive play
  • Hissing
  • Bullying behavior towards other pets.

However, it is not an appropriate behavior management tool in order to deal with:

  • Anxiety
  • Phobias
  • Toileting issues.

How can I Use Time Outs with Naughty Cats?

Giving naughty cats time outs is a simple process – all you need to do is to place the cat in an isolated location for a period of time.

A laundry or bathroom is usually the best option.

When you put the cat into time out, you must do so without playing, petting or chatting to it.

If you do so, then you are potentially rewarding the cat for bad behavior.

Another key point is that you must not chase your cat into the time out area as they will perceive it as being part of a game.

Ten minutes is generally an ideal amount of time to leave naughty cats in a time out.

Following this period of time, they will have made a connection between their action and the punishment.

It would be counter-productive and unkind to your pet to leave it in isolation for an extended period.

Any longer and your cat may become stressed and their behavior will deteriorate in the time out space or once they are let out.

Use time outs for naughty cats consistently and you will soon begin to see marked improvements in their behavior.

Handling Cats Safely and Lovingly

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There is nothing quite as calming as cuddling your kitty, but handling cats needs to be done carefully or you may injure them – or yourself.

Often your cat will enjoy being patted, but cats also live life on their own terms and there are times when your cat will not be interested in affection.

As a cat owner, it is important to learn to distinguish when they are in the mood for snuggles and when they are not.

Tips for Handling Cats

There are several tips that a caring owner should know about handling cats:

  • First, consider your cat’s body language – do they appear relaxed?
  • Earn the cat’s confidence by patting it or talking to it so you have its attention.
  • Once the cat appears comfortable with you, you can pick it up.
  • It is best to scoop the cat up by placing one hand on their chest under their front legs and use your other hand to cradle their hind legs.
  • Then bring the cat in close to your body so it feels secure.
  • It is best not to move around very much when handling cats  to avoid frightening it.

Tips on Kids Handling Cats

Many children adore animals and are very eager to try handling cats; here are a few tips to help keep the children and the cat safe:

  • Children should be supervised when handling cats at all times.
  •  They should sit down with the cat to pet them as there is a risk they may drop it, or the child may also get scratched or bitten if they frighten the animal.
  • Demonstrate how to carefully pet the cat and ensure they understand they need to be gentle.

Don’ts for Handling Cats

There are a couple of things that you should definitely not do when you are handling cats:

  • Although you may see mother cats do it, you should never pick a cat up by the scruff of its neck – it may become injured.
  • Cradling a cat like a baby is also unwise as it may feel vulnerable and you stand a good chance of being bitten or scratched.

Tips on Handling Cats with Affection

Cats love to have their ears gently scratched or massaged and they also enjoy a tickle under the chin.

They will often enjoy being stroked along the length of their back and having a scratch on their back at the base of their tail.

Cats do not generally enjoy having their fur brushed backwards, having their whiskers or paws played with.

When handling cats the key is to watch your kitty’s body language and be sensitive to any signs they are not enjoying your attention or affection.