My 2-year-old cat is 16 lbs. Is he overweight? How can I help?

He is definitely overweight, you need to take him to the vet in order to start him on a prescription weight loss diet, he will need this diet for at least 4 months until he reaches a reasonable weight.

Kit is very handsome! Thanks for posting a picture. Since cats are obligate carnivores, we think the most biologically appropriate food for a domesticated cat is a mouse which is a high protein diet. The closest we can get to that ideal diet with commercial food is a canned food diet. Canned food diets are lower in carbohydrates and higher in protein than dry foods. Since cats are obligate carnivores, they are not able to utilize carbohydrates effectively and will often just gain weight on foods that are higher in carbohydrates. The best website I have found to describe this well is listed below. http://catinfo.org/ The above website also discusses changing cats from dry food to canned food. I most commonly recommend Wellness canned food for cats. It is a very food company with a good history and cats tend to do well on it. The general rule for cats is that they should eat about 5.5 ounces of canned food each day for each 10 pounds of ideal body weight. But be sure to go slowly with any diet changes to prevent GI upset. As far as getting Kit to be more active, I would recommend looking at the website below for ideas to get an indoor cat more active. https://indoorpet.osu.edu/cats Good luck! I hope that was helpful and answered your questions. Thanks for using PetCoach.

Thanks for more information! Wet food has fewer calories that dry food due to the higher moisture content, so I'd recommend wet food for Snowball. Do not free feed, give him food twice a day at set times, and feed him according to the instructions on the can of food. No treats at all and no human food. I see he's an older boy, so he may not be into playing, but you can look at trying to get him more active with some toys. I hope this helps!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Ari. If he is near 20lbs, he is more than likely overweight. There are three parameters I use to assess weight. The cat should have a thin covering when you run your hands along the ribs. You should not have to dig through a thick fat covering to feel the ribs. Next, the cat should have a waist that curves in from the top view. Finally, the belly should tuck up tightly from the side view. It should not hang towards the floor. If Ari does not meet all three of these qualifications, then he is likely overweight. Start by measuring his food accurately each day. If he likes to graze throughout the day, as most cats do, feed him small servings out of this pre-measured allotment. You can hide pieces of kibble around the house to encourage a cat's natural hunting behavior. Again this food should come from his daily ration. Look at the side of the bag for an estimate on how much to feed keeping in mind that you want to feed him for his ideal, not current weight. Encourage him to run and play throughout the day as well. Even 5 minutes of daily exercise can help a cat to lose weight. I hope this information helps!

It is concerning that Felix is almost 20lbs. He definitely needs to lose weight. You can start by limiting the amount of food being offered and switching him to a weight loss food gradually. Another thing is to keep him active. A laser pointer is a great way to keep cats active. Heavy cats are prone to different diseases. One big one is diabetes. I recommend if you cannot get him to lose weight talk to your veterinarian. There are prescription diets that will help Felix. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

I certainly understand being concerned. Have B seen by a vet. The vet can discuss weight loss methods with you including a prescription weight loss food. Play with him every day to get him moving, and to help him lose weight. You are doing the right thing by getting rid of this extra food, and tell your family you spoke to a vet who said he needs to be at a healthy weight or he will develop serious health problems from being overweight. I hope this helps!

I would classify a cat of that weight last overweight, not obese. I would suggest placing Soots on a lower calorie food, and I have included a link to my recommended brand below, and increasing exercise level. This can be achieved through games like fetch, laser chase, or even walks on a leash and harness. http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=29335