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Baggage Claim: How Guilty are You? |
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So you've
just confirmed with your vet that your pet is in
fact obese. Time to fess up. As owners, we are more
responsible for our pets’ weight problems than we
think. Take a look at our fat checklist and take
note of the statements that apply to you and your
pet. It’s time for us to claim our pets’ baggage! |
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- Your cat or dog is an indoor pet that eats,
sleeps and snacks all day.
- You take your dog out on super quick walks
for potty and rush him back into the house.
- You seldom take him around the block for a
good workout or to the park for a hearty game of
Frisbee.
- You give your dog treats whenever those
irresistible eyes look your way— without
considering the ingredients or the amount of
calories.
- Your pet is spayed or altered (slows down
metabolism).
- You feed your pet liberally, refilling the
dish after it is emptied, never thinking about
the amount you’re feeding. You pour, he eats!
- You have a multi-cat household and some cats end up
eating more than others.
- You live in a small apartment that doesn't have much
room for your cat or dog to run about.
- You feed your cats and dogs food just because, even
when they’re not necessarily hungry.
- You never play with your cat and she has no other
kitties in the household to play with, so she just
plays freeze tag alone—right on the windowsill!
- You give your pets plenty of treats out of guilt to
compensate for all those long hours at the job.
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Monitoring your fat cat's food
intake is especially complicated for multi-cat
households where only one of the household cats is
overweight. He or she probably got that way in the
first place by eating the other cats' food as well
as his/her own.
The most practical solution for this is to feed
set meals in different rooms and remove any uneaten
food once the cats have lost interest in their meal.
Okay, say you’ve tried this and your cats won’t
cooperate. That’s normal.
Cats are creatures of habit. It may take two or
three tries, carrying your cat and the food into the
new eating room. No matter what room it is, make it
comfortable, even if it’s the bathroom. Put down a
place mat, close the toilet seat, put on a light and
lay down a comfy towel for your cat. |
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If your cat is on the pudgy side of life, then it's
time for you to act now. Up to 40% of this nation's
cats are overweight. Obesity is the number one
nutritional disorder in cats and leads to many
health problems down the road. Unfortunately, there
aren't many effective foods on the market that
target cat obesity. The key to cat weight loss is
reducing the amount you feed your cat while
increasing physical activity.
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Helping Your Kitty Break a Sweat
If your cat has become lazy and inactive, just like
a human being, it's hard to break out of it. Have no
fear: a little creativity and enthusiasm can go a
long way. Cats aren't like dogs; you can't just slap
them on a leash and take them for a walk. With cats,
you have to find more subtle, crafty ways of getting
them to exercise. Here are some tips to help your
kitty burn a few calories:
- Want to see your kitty do the high jump? Get a laser
pointer and shine the dot around the room and up
towards the ceiling. It will drive your cat up the
wall!
- A wind up fur mouse always does the trick and will
keep your cat busy for hours. Even house cats still
love the spirit of the chase!
- Nothing like an exciting scratching post to make
your cat work up a sweat.
- Get a cat fishing pole with something fun attached
to it and drag it around the room while you watch TV
or read a book. It will drive your cat crazy!
- Break a sweat with your kitty. Walk or run up and
down the stairs dragging a thick rope for your kitty
to catch. It will get both of your heart rates
pumping.
- Make your cat work for his food. Instead of putting
all of his meal in one place, put small amounts of
food on several plates throughout the house. This
will make your cat exercise in order to eat. Talk
about a scavenger hunt!
Make sure that all of your family members are
committed to your pet's weight loss. It is crucial
that everyone is on the same page about feeding
techniques, feeding amounts and an exercise routine.
Encourage your children to get your cat off his
backside. Remember, if there's no family solidarity,
you can kiss your pet's chances of weight loss
goodbye!
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