Generally, if you can feel a cat’s ribs when you pet them they aren’t overweight. If you have to kind of push the fat out of the way, they’re probably overweight. If you can see their ribs, they’re probably underweight
this post was submitted on 22 Aug 2024
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Thanks, that's really useful. Based on that I'd say he's still got a ways to go
This. It's all about the ribs. Run your hand along them. If you can't feel them at all they're overweight. If you have to put a little bit of pressure but only like a little like a vigorous pet they're good. If you can feel them without trying or see them they're underweight. Probably if your cat is 12 pounds they are neither severely over or under
Like others have said a healthy body fat for a cat is kind of determined by their ribs. You should be able to feel their ribs when petting them, but not be able to visually see them while they're lounging about or walking.
My cat is also a former fat cat that's been on a diet for years now. He has similar behavior to yours where he waits for his food for unreasonable(and sad) amounts of time, but is very healthy. It bums me out to watch, but he doesn't have the self control to graze freely.
he waits for his food for unreasonable(and sad) amounts of time
He's got an automated feeder that goes off 3 times a day at specific times and then gets wet food for dinner. He's always stoicly waiting nearby for about an hour before any meal. That's way less than it used to be, but it still sucks that he spends 4 hours of his day just waiting and wishing to get fed. It actually really bothers me on an emotional and existential level, but I'd rather make the tough decisions and be sad than have him not be healthy and living his best cat life.
As people have said ribs are a good indicator, as well as the back hips and shoulder blades peaking out to form a visible "waist" as well alongside ribs being easily visualized (spinal segments being visual as well is bad). For the food anxiety I'd recommend play stimulation and likely catnip and/or catgrass.
His large pouch makes it tricky to use his back hips as an indicator, it sort of pulls the skin taut in that area. Even when he was quite obviously overweight he had a visible waist. But I checked his ribs and he definitely still has a solid layer of fat.
It never occured to me that boredom might be a factor. It's gotten colder here recently so he hasn't been spending much time in his catio. I do play with him at least once a day, but he's almost 14 years old and he's not as into it anymore. I'll get him some cat grass.
Thanks
i just go by what the vet says. i always ask, they always say she's fine for her age.
i see the cat every day, i'm not gonna notice gradual changes.