Practical weight loss in cats

With over 61% of cats classified as overweight or obese according to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, the battle against feline obesity is one veterinary professionals face every day.¹ For many cat owners, simply being told to “feed less and exercise more” feels overwhelming and impractical. Frustrated clients report cats begging for food, stealing food, and refusing to move. Instead of just saying feed less and exercise more, we need to offer practical weight loss tips like these.

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Feed measured regular meals instead of free feeding

Dry kibble popularized the unhealthy habit of free feeding, making it harder to detect illness, train cats, or manage weight. People do not free feed dogs or themselves, yet they do so with their cats who are often more sedentary than dogs and people. If humans ate at an all- you-can-eat buffet every day while living a sedentary life, we, too, would be overweight or obese.

Cats can eat all day not out of hunger but out of boredom. The phenomenon of mindless eating when one is not actually hungry does not have an English term, but in Japanese, it is called kuchisabishii, literally translating to lonely mouth.² Veterinary teams need to remind cat owners that just because their cats are begging does not mean they are truly hungry.

If cat owners are not home to feed regular meals instead of free feeding, invest in timed meal feeders. Technology has come a long way, and now there are meal feeders that can be programed for multiple cats on different diets. Also, meal feeders are not just for dry food – wet food feeders with artificial intelligence and pet cameras have been invented.

Reduce carbohydrate and treat intake

Many cats are on a diet of exclusively kibble often high in carbohydrates and low in moisture content. A practical way to help cats lose weight is to feed at least 50% canned or fresh food higher in protein and water content. Many prescription weight loss food options also exist. We need to move away from giving treats just for fun. Instead, give them as rewards for special occasions like nail trims, carrier training, and veterinary visits.

Increase activity level

Playing with the patient

Feather toys and interactive cat ball toys are just some examples of the toys invented for cats, leaning into their natural prey drive. Playing with cats is fun and practical, increasing activity ,and improving the human-animal bond.

Replace food bowls with puzzle feeders

Puzzle feeders, also known as food puzzles, encourage cats to be more active and to use problem-solving or hunting skills.³ They also help slow down eating and prevent “scarfing and barfing”. Originally marketed for dogs and for treats, puzzle feeders can be used for both cat kibble and wet/fresh food. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes, some stationery, some rolling, and can even be homemade.³

Toss cat kibbles

Another way to make cats work for their food is to toss their kibbles. There are cats that are willing to run for food. Use a cat exercise wheel, like a hamster wheel for indoor running. Some cats require training, and others take to them quickly (pun intended).

Walk cats on a leash

It takes training and a curious, non-fearful personality for cats to walk on leashes, but it is safer than having cats roam outside unattended and protects birds from being caught. Adventure cats are becoming more and more popular around the world. For more information, check out the book Adventure Cats by Laura J. Moss.

References

1. 2022 Pet Obesity US Prevalence Survey. Association for Pet Obesity Prevention. Accessed April 24, 2025. https://www.petobesityprevention.org/2022
2. Sismondo C. Are you actually hungry — or do you just have a “lonely mouth”?. Toronto Star. Published December 17, 2023. Accessed April 24, 2025. https://www.thestar.com/life/are-you-actually-hungry-or-do-you-just-have-a-lonely-mouth/article_b4f35002-9b74-11ee-93d9-fbefb9155b7a.html
3. Dantas LM, Delgado MM, Johnson I, Buffington CT. Food puzzles for cats: Feeding for physical and emotional wellbeing. J Feline Med Surg. 2016;18(9):723-732. doi:10.1177/1098612X16643753

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