This is a question for a professional...?
My cat is 3 and 18 lbs. He eats constantly, so much he throws up in the food bowl sometimes. I have 4 cats, and a diet is not an option. He has gotten so big that he is wheezy and his eyes are always watery and irritated. Can this be caused by depression?- he was decalwed front and back when he was a kitten before I adopted him from the shelter. Can obesity cause asthma? Is this most likely a thyroid problem? Will he develop diabetes? I am bringing him in for his yearly check up next month, he weighed 13 lbs last time and they said to bring him back if he gains any more weight. I feed him high quality food.
User Comments
- have u went to the vet with him/her
- SORRY!!!!!!!!!I AM NOT A PROFESSIONAL
- best thing to do if you are that concerned is to get your appointment moved up, explane your problem to the receptionist, she can pass it on to the vet.
- First of all, yes, obesity can cause all of those problems. I have been in your position... I have seven cats right now. It IS possible, trust me.
My cats get 10 minutes in the morning and ten minutes in the evening to eat. This sounds cruel, but ask any vet, they will tell you this has to be done. It's better than killing them with kindness and obesity. The first week was hard, but they caught on fast and now it doesn't even take them 10 minutes and they are done. Their coats look amazing and the litter clean-up has gone down by a third. Trust me, it can be done!!!
- I a no pro but from expierence, I bet the vet will want to run a blood test, kitty is suffering from the weight as this can cause breathing problems. You are going to have to do something about the cat's diet, feed them all at the same time and don't leave dry food down all day after you fed the canned to them. Is there an area that you can put the munchies down so the overweight cat can't get to it? If not, when cats are done eating, you got to pick up that food even if it the other cats left some in their bowls because they won't get it anyway, the obese cat will, you are loving it to death. Good Luck
- obesity is very dangerous for a cat it leads to diabetes and other health problems. You are going to have to put him on a diet whether you think it is possible or not. You are going to have to put in place feeding times and seperate this cat from the rest leasve the food down for 20 mins then pick it up and then let the other cat out. If the cats don't eat that time try it again later they will learn. As a Vet tech it annoys me when someone comes in and says my cat is fat..BUT I can't put them on a diet. If you can't have some responiblility for the cat then we can't help it. It could be a thyroid problem if so then you will be forced to feed the cat seperately and a special diet. My advice would to be start dieting him now before it is too late. YOU DO NOT want to deal with diabetic issues especially with a cat. Expensive and a pain in the but.
- I am a veterinarian and your cat sounds like he is just a glutton for food or in other words has an eating disorder. The wheezing may be due to obesity just as obese people have more difficulty breathing, but the wheezing and eye problem may be allergies and unrelated to the obesity. I don't think depression is the cause of his problems. Cats usually do not have hypothyroidism (low thyroid) problems which result in weight gain. They are more prone to hyperthyroidism which usually results with weight loss in spite of a ravenous appetite. Yes he is DEFINITELY more prone to diabetes, fatty liver disease, kidney disease, lower urinary tract disease, heart disease, and arthritis if he does not lose weight. Therefore the ONLY likely solution is to put him on a strict diet and try to encourage more activity. Definitely take him to your vet and have him checked out and have some blood test done to make sure there is no other underlying cause but I'm afraid that the only solution is diet and exercise and get that weight off.
There is no easy quick way to get around this. Good luck.