Why did my overweight cat gain weight on a vet-prescribed diet?

This is genetics. Just like people, some are more prone to obesity despite diet. The best diet to feed is actually a canned food to stimulate weight loss in cats. Look for a low carbohydrate percentage... idieally inder 10%. You can also try to increase the exercise and activity level by using treat disornsers or a laser pointer

Getting cats to lose weight can be very challenging. Cats are obligate carnivores and cannot use carbohydrates efficiently, so they tend to be converted straight into fat. Any any dry food needs to have a good amount of carbohydrates in it in order to makes it "dry". So, even using low calorie biscuits, it can be very difficult to get a cat to lose weight. (And the bags generally recommend more calories than a normal cat needs.) My best recommendation for weight loss in cats is to change to a completely canned food diet. This website has some good information about cat nutrition. http://catinfo.org/ Some of the packets are actually also high in carbohydrates, so you have to read the labels carefully. It will seem odd that you are actually feeding a higher fat and higher caloric food in a canned food, but cats tend to lose weight that way. I generally recommend an average of 5.5 ounces of canned food per day for an average ideal body weight of 10 pounds for a cat. Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using PetCoach.

That's tough because cats hate exercising so you really have to make then adhere to a strict diet. First off make sure that you are feeding based on the resting energy requirement which can be calculated by the following equation: 30 x body weight (kg) + 70 Which gives you the number of kcals required per day. Then you need to look at the food and figure out how many kcal are in a can or cup. Once you figure that how you should be able to calculate amount to be fed per day. For an average cat: 30 x 5kg + 70=220 kcal If the food contains 315kcal/cup, 220/315=0.69 cups or about 2/3 of a cup. Also, the science diet metabolic diet is great for weight loss.

It's unusual for Hill's metabolic diet (the prescription version) to not work at the labeled feeding amounts. I would recommend that you discuss your concerns with your vet. They can consult with representatives from Hill's to determine a different feeding regiment. It's also important to point out that some stalled weight loss can be caused by inappropriate measuring tools, feeding treats, or having the pet get food from other pet food bowls. Your vet can help you determine if this may be the case.

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 recommend changing his diet to a specialized weight management diet such as hills metabolic so he can feel full and receive all the necessary nutrition to be healthy, whilst still losing and then maintaining weight. Mist vets offices provide free weight clinics to monitor and advise on feeding such diets and maintaining health and fitness

The amount of food they eat depends on how many calories are in that food. Pets should eat enough to maintain a normal body condition. You should be able to feel their ribs like your fingers on the back of your hand. They should have a waist from above and 'Tuck' from below. Adding regular dry food to the canned will only increase the calories they are getting and make them gain more weight. If pets are gaining weight, there are pet foods that are formulated for weight loss and to maintain an ideal body condition that are available from your veterinarian. Ask about weight loss foods and see what they suggest. Unfortunately, housecats are prone to becoming overweight as a lack of exercise and read access to food make a perfect situation to pack on the weight.