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Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)/1 out of 5 obese cats in our house...

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Expert: Dear Tabbi - 1/30/2009


Question
How do you exercise a little butterball of a cat? We have 5 cats and only one (Polo) is at all overweight. He has no interest in toys, however does play with our other cats several times a day so he is not completely lazy. He loves the laser pointer, however becomes an obsessive watcher and will sit for hours at the last place he saw the light waitng for it to return. He has been seen by a vet and nothing is physically wrong with him and the vet suggested playing with him at home with mice and balls, however as I mentioned Polo shows no interest in toys. Can you make any suggestions to how to safely exercise him, I am willing to play with him for up to an hour a day, however unless he is using my lap he couldn't care less about me or what I am doing. Any suggestions would be great.

A little back info... None of our cats ever get table scraps, but once or twice a month we will let them split a can of wet cat food, and there usual diet consists of "Purina Naturals", They are neutered/spayed indoor only pets. They range in ages from 7 years old to 1 year old..Polo being a two year old male.  

Answer
Adrian,

Some cats, like people, have a bigger build which is normal for them. And some cats too, like people, are lazy. As long as he is healthy and happy I wouldn't worry too much about him.

Pulling a shoestring around is usually irristible to a cat. I would try that. Or a large plastic zip-lock tie (the kind you wrap around something, put it through the end, then pull it tight). They are stiff and when a cat tries to catch it with his paw it slips through it. And they keep trying. Keep using the laser light too.

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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