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Expert: - 11/30/2011


Question
Hi I just acquired a new cat, female calico. The previous owner say she is only 2-years old. Say that after she was spayed she gained a lot of weight. She is quite obese. I've only had her a week, and she is fitting in fine with our family. However, I want her to be healthy, and would appreciate suggestions on how to get her to lose some weight. For a 2-year-old she is quite obese. However, she acts and appears healthy. Any suggestions would be welcome. Thanks in advance.

Answer
Patricia,

Just as in people, there are two things to be done.

One is to feed less. We tend to feed two measured meatls a day and not let them "graze" on dry food. At first you cat's metabolism will slow down to compensate, but, in time she woill begin to lose weight.

Second, if she will play with a teaser, you can exercise her a couple of times a day. I would start at about 10 to 15 minutes per session at first and then build it up for more and longer sessions. As she loses some weight, she will tend to become more active.  Make sure she has places she can jump up to as cats tend to use all three dimensions of their territory!

Best regards... Norm.  

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Norman Auspitz

Expertise

I can answer most non-veterinary questions about cats. My particular expertise is pedigree cats, breeding and showing. However, I am versed in feline behavior, cat breeds and their characteristics, general feline husbandry, and the like.

Experience

I judged for the Canadian Cat Association from 1975 until 1982. I am currently an approved allbreed judge for the Cat Fanciers'' Association (the world''s largets cat registry), and have been judging for them since 1991. I have been breeding pedigreed cats since 1971 and have been exhibiting pedigreed cats in shows since 1970. I obtained my first pedigreed cat in 1970 and have never looked back. In 1971, I obtained my first Abyssinian which has become my primary breed. In addition, I have bred Manx and Persians. Currently, besides the Abyssinians, I am also breeding Maine Coons.


Organizations
Cat Fanciers'' Association, inc. (CFA) and the Manx, Maine Coon, and Abyssinian breed councils. I am currently Abyssinian breed council secretary.

Publications
Cat Fancy Magazine, The Abyssinian Chapter in The Cat Fanciers'' Association Complete Cat Book, and Articles for various editions of The Cat Fanciers'' Association Yearbook

Education/Credentials
I received a B.S. from Drexel University in 1968, a M.Math from University of Waterloo, in 1970, a Ph.D. from University of Waterloo in 1975, and a MBA from McMaster University in 1980. I received my approved allbreed judging status in the Cat Fanciers'' Association in 1999.

Awards and Honors
We have produced a number of Cat Fanciers'' Association (CFA) National winning Abyssinian and Maine Coons. We have produced a number of Abyssinian and Maine Coon Distinguished Merit females (an award for a top producing cat), including the first Distinguished Merit Abyssinian in the red (sorrel) color. I am the CFA Abyssinian breed council secretary and belong and/or hold office in a number of cat clubs. I am also a member of the CFA Judges Association.

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