Critter Chatter

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Dear Critter Chatter,
This summer, we have been back and forth to the cottage, sometimes staying for a week or more at a time. We had a neighbour looking after (and feeding) our cat while we were away. Admittedly, our six-year-old spayed cat was somewhat overweight to begin with, but now she is teetering on obesity. She is an indoor cat and we need advice on how we can safely get her weight down. Any ideas?
Mirror Reader

Dear Reader,
The first step is to visit your veterinarian to determine your cat’s overall health and have her weighed. Your vet can look at her previous records and find out just how much weight she has gained. The vet can then give you a diet and exercise plan.  
Because obese cats can develop diabetes, heart disease, arthritis and feline hepatic lipidosis, it is vitally important you seek veterinary help soon.
With feline hepatic lipidosis, also known as feline fatty liver syndrome, it’s important to be careful when helping your cat lose weight.
According to Healthypet.com, feline hepatic lipidosis is unique to cats and is triggered when a cat stops eating due to stress or for any other reason. While all breeds are at risk, middle-aged, obese cats are most susceptible.
As cats do not process fat well, after a few days without food, the cat’s body will begin to use fat for energy, which builds fat cells in the liver, preventing it from working properly.
The condition is treatable, especially if caught in the early stages. If aggressively treated, 70 to 80 per cent of cats will recover. When left untreated, the condition advances rapidly and is always fatal.
According to a recent survey, 40 per cent of pets are overweight.
A combination of appropriate exercise and good diet is required for cats to lose excess weight.   
If all is well after you have seen your vet, get your cat a variety of toys, a large scratching post and set aside enough time each day for regular play time. She may need some encouragement to play, but once she realizes how fun it is, she will hopefully get into the swing.
Use interactive toys (feather wands, slithering snakelike toys, balls) to encourage your cat to stretch, paw and chase. Most cats love to play in cardboard boxes, or perhaps buy a children’s soft tunnel so your cat can run through or play hide-and-seek games. You can be creative with games and playtime and will soon know what she most enjoys as she’s playing away the pounds.