Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)/CAT BELLY/EXERCISE

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Expert: Dear Tabbi - 5/19/2008


Question
hello Tabbi

my cat Detroit was taken care of by some friends during the christmas vacation, and gained a lot of weight with a huge belly because he was overfed. i followed one of the allexpert panelist's advice to shift to better food, and the results were impressive. however it still has some extra skin.

he is a very active 1 year old cat, and i make him exercise as much as i can, with a wand, balls, laser pointer etc,

but i wanted to know if you know of a good method to make him exercise efficiently to get a "beach body"

i want this belly flap to go away.

thanks


Answer
Atabet,

Your cat still can grow and lose some of the flap. But if not, then it is just cosmetic. I have some cats that is is an inherited trait. They look like they have lost a ton of weight and the flap jiggles when they walk. But they haven't lost any weight...it is just a characteristic.

Just keep your cat healthy with good food and exercise and don't worry if your cat doesn't qualify for a 'cat centerfold'.

Tabbi

Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)

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Dear Tabbi

Expertise

My expertise is in helping people understand their cat (or cats) and their behavior. Questions are welcome even if you don't have a cat....just a question about them. Hopefully my experience, suggestions, and comments will be of help to you...and your cat (or cats). Looking through my past responses to questions will give you additional information and/or answers too. Domestic Cats = cats (no matter what breed) who are tame or not wild, or abandoned cats who were pets that became wild, but can be tamed again. Ferals = cats who are born with one or more parents who were wild stray cats. They usually have had no interactions with people. They have an inbred distrust of humans and are difficult to socialize. They are skittish, hide, and are afraid of people. They take a lot of time and patience to work with them. A lot of kittens from shelters had a feral parent.

Experience

Since I was a child, over 45 years, I have been owned by a LOT of cats and kittens of almost every temperament, behavior, and personality. I have had experience with neurotic, disabled (including blind), stray, and 'problem child' cats and kittens. (A few normal cats too!) Plus all the things a lifetime of owning cats and research has taught me. I also have experience in feral cat behavior (which is different from domestic cats), and some experience with feral colonies that includes colony feeding and feral cat TNR (trap/neuter/release).

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