Our Obese Cats

Gosh, there’s a real problem with obesity in cats these days isn’t there? 

Or is there?

You’d certainly think so, given how many articles are published in various cat and pet magazines and on line, and the number of vets who seem to be turning into the feeding police. 

As with people, obesity is an important health problem and there does need to be awareness, and it does need to be addressed.  I really don’t want to belittle the problem. 

But this overkill approach, I think, is not the right way.

I’ve started to write an article on this subject a few times now, it’s something that really bothers me, but I’ve stopped.  It’s felt a little too contentious, and who am I, a mere pet sitter, to be having a view on this issue?  Perhaps now is the time to be contentious though.  Some of you may not agree with me, but I think that many probably will.  I welcome any and all thoughts on the issue, it needs to be discussed.

What prompted me to put pen to paper finally on this issue, was a metaphorical nudge I received last week. 

This week I’m visiting a cat I’ve visited a few times now, I know her very well.  She’s never been overfed, she’s always had a small appetite, she’s not particularly food motivated, she’s not fat, she’s not even slightly big.  Yet when I texted her person a few days ago to ask if there was anything I needed to be aware of while they’re away (I always do this), I was told she was on a diet.  Just 20g of dry food and half a pouch a day.  He commented that she always seems hungry now…….   I’m not surprised!!!

My mind goes back to when Bella was little.  Her first year check up came around and she was weighed.  3.8 kg, I remember it.  I was told that it was about right, but she didn’t need to get any bigger.  Ok, I thought, she doesn’t eat much, she’ll be fine.

The following year she was 3.9 kg.  About the same.  A different vet this time who made me feel that I was being so told off!!  He didn’t have a problem with the weight as such, but as his colleague had done the year before, cautioned me that she didn’t want to get any bigger.  In a very unfriendly and unhelpful way.

I remember asking – out of curiosity, because I wanted to do my best for her, and because he was the expert (!) – how much she should be eating.  That threw him.  Told me to go by the manufacturer’s recommendation.  Which, for the brand she was eating, was 3 pouches per day.  She’s never eaten anything like that amount ever in her life!! 

Which I told him.  Well, you might need to cut it down a little then, was his response.  Still not very helpful.  Bella isn’t food motivated, never has been, and you should see her eat, kisses her food, gets bored very quickly and leaves it.  She just doesn’t have a big appetite.  I don’t think I could get her to eat less than she does eat, and to be honest, I wouldn’t want to.  I’ll open one of those little 85g tins, and give her about a third of it.  Which she doesn’t finish. 

To be honest, my worry might actually have been that she wasn’t eating enough, but she’s always been fit and healthy, so I’ve never been concerned about this.   But it was ridiculous that I was being encouraged to cut down a little.  And said this to the vet. 

My memory is that he just didn’t believe me.  Oh well…………..

I came away feeling quite shocked.  He had given me no useful information at all, in fact it was minus useful information.  This was the expert (or so I thought back then), and he had no idea what he was talking about. 

And this is the problem. 

In recent years I have made quite a study of feline nutrition and feeding.  Aided by spending almost every day for the last seven years actually feeding cats, hundreds of them by now, and getting to know exactly how much they eat, what their lifestyles are like, and what their weight does.  So I’m much much more clued up than I was back then. 

And one of the things I learnt was that vets receive very little instruction on feline nutrition during their training.  Most of what they know comes from the pet food manufacturers’ marketing literature and reps.  I should point out here that some are much more knowledgeable, I’ve even come across one myself – but in my experience the majority aren’t.

Yet, they continue to put all these varied and diverse beings into boxes.  So a small one year old cat should weigh this much, should eat this much (which itself varies wildly depending on which pet food manufacturer you read).  And if they’re more than this, they’re overweight, and are very likely to become obese.

The last time I took Bella to the vet was 2-3 years ago for an annual check up.  A different vet again.  Weighed her and she was 4kg.  I took a breath and waited for the pronouncement on my cat caring abilities.  She looked at me and smiled, said it was all good, she’d been pretty much the same weight all through her life to that point.  I could have hugged her.  She was being sensible.  Bella was Bella, not other cats.  She was the right weight for Bella. 

Dylan’s first year check up was similar to Bella’s previous check up (different vet again).  He’s a big big lad, size of a small horse!!  Big long strong bones – legs, back, tail – and solid muscle.  First year he was 5.8kg.  Yes, it was a lot, but look at him, he’s huuuuuge!!  But then I’d stopped listening well before that point.  He’s still big, he still weighs around the same, it’s the right weight for him.  He runs around lots, loves his garden, and like Bella, doesn’t eat a great deal.  Eating style is different, he shovels it up, but then stops when he’s had enough.  There is always food left. 

And that’s what I find for most of the cats I visit.  Very few are not able to moderate their intake.  Most cats, in my experience, are really good at stopping when they’ve had enough.  Leaving dry food out to graze on?  And that’s what they do, they graze, they don’t hoover it all up.  Little and often, or not so often, depending upon their appetite and metabolism.  Most of the cats I visit do not demand feeding as soon as I arrive, they know and trust that it’s coming.  And a good few won’t actually eat when it’s put down, but will wait until they’re ready, often after I’ve gone. 

Now, there will always be a few who do overeat, and these are the ones that need the attention, and this is a serious problem that must be addressed.  In the right way.  Is there something causing the desire to overeat?  What are their lifestyles like?  What is their weight and eating history, has it been consistent and reasonable, or has a change happened recently?  So rather than just limiting food, get to the bottom of the problem.  Perhaps it’s boredom and more enrichment and playing are needed.  And in fact the question of exercise is an important one, especially for indoor cats.

Vets see cats for just a few minutes at a time, and know very little about them, their emotions, their lifestyles, yet with this mere snapshot they will only look at and treat the overeating symptom, and only then by recommending a diet.  Could there be another condition causing the problem of either weight gain or overeating?  And if they’re not overeating anyway, then why recommend a diet, look further.  And how exactly, would they define overeating?  I get so frustrated. 

I know that there are good vets out there, who will take the time to properly get to know a cat, and take steps to find the right solution.  But just not enough, and I’m talking here about those vets. 

Among all the cats I’ve got to know over the years, there have been a small number (very small) who were obese.  One in particular comes to mind.   He didn’t eat much.  At all.  So overeating isn’t always the problem. 

Another old lady cat I knew very well was overweight, and her person was encouraged to reduce her food intake to prevent possible future health problems.  The vet recommended that she eat more than she was actually eating.  Her person did take steps to reduce her food intake nonetheless, but felt that she was taking away her one pleasure in life - even though she didn’t actually eat that much.  The cat developed diabetes, and passed away not long after – sadly my client couldn’t shake the feeling that if she’d cut down her food intake even more she might not have become ill.  She felt guilty, when in fact she had nothing to feel guilty about.  She had done her absolute best, and more, yet the discussions with the vet had left her feeling that she wasn’t a good cat guardian. 

I suppose that around half the cats I care for might be considered by vets to be overweight.  They aren’t slim.  Yet they are what they are.  They are the right weight for them.  I can’t think of one who gets too much food, or who eats too much.  I can’t think of one where their weight has noticeably gone up in the time I’ve been taking care of them.  Some are active, others less so.  There are a few I look after who might be considered to be on the way to becoming obese – and these cats are on diets where they get very little food.  And which actually seems to make very little difference.  And they always seem to have been the same in the time I’ve known them.

As I was writing this I was wondering, is it just me who thinks like this?  So I asked other pet sitting friends, all of whom agreed with me.  One said “Excellent read, sensible points backed with knowledge and experience.  Like you I’ve rarely come across cats whose weight causes me concern/discomfort/an urge to say something to the client.”

She went on to explain about an exception: 

“a lady with three cats, all of them huge, all of them fed bucketloads of wet food, all of them indoor cats who from what I can tell were frequently kept in a large utility room when owners were out of the house - and with no evidence of toys. They were bored, never played and therefore they ate. I told her that her cats were overweight, she reluctantly agreed. One was so old and obese she could barely walk as her belly dragged across the floor and her legs were struggling to bear her weight. Cruel and very difficult for me to challenge as she clearly loved them all very much.

So, I use these poor souls as a barometer if a client says the line "the vet has said my cat is overweight so I've reduced/changed their diet". I totally agree that most cats self-regulate their food intake, very few wolf down food like you'd see a dog do - and those that do are generally the ones where food is very strictly rationed and they don't have dry food to graze on. They are, therefore, starving.”

Obesity is a problem, but in any population of cats, there are only a very small number who are truly obese.  And even then does reducing food intake always work?  Especially when some cats are clearly on starvation diets, and it’s not having an impact.  Apart from making them miserable. 

If vets really want us to take obesity in cats (or other domestic animals) seriously, then they need to change their approach.  They must properly get to know the cats they pronounce to be overweight, everything about them.  And then consider the whole animal, and explore all options to ensure optimum health.  Because this is really what it should be about.  The overall health of the animal, rather than focusing on one aspect of health, which doesn’t always tell the whole story. 

What I’d love is to have some clearer information as to how many cats are considered to be obese.  And how this is measured.  And is this consistent?  I’ve seen the little diagrams, but they aren’t very helpful.  How many are consistently a regular weight, even if it’s considered to be overweight?  How many have been on diets where nothing has changed?  I’d like vets to properly explore the animal’s eating habits, lifestyle and overall health on a holistic level before pronouncing, and I’d like them to consider their overall metabolism, their eating and weight history, are there any emotional issues, and much much more before deciding on what needs to be done.  If anything.  And I’d love to get involved in any studies on this important topic.  Those of us who spend their lives working closely with animals, and in particular feeding them, have so much useful information to share. 

Post script….. 

The little cat I mentioned at the beginning - my first visit this time was yesterday and I was shocked to see her.  Her back end reminded me of some of the older cats who come into the sanctuary with thyroid problems that haven’t been picked up.  Very bony around the hips, and very sunk in around the waist.  I could easily get my fingers into the gap behind her hip bones.  And her coat looked to be in poor condition.  She looked quite malnourished, and I was worried about her.  A text to her person elicited agreement to increase her dry food intake from 20g per day to 30g, with still one half pouch.  It’s something but it’s not enough.  I am keeping a close eye on her these few days, and will be encouraging him to take her back to the vet, or perhaps a different vet, as soon as they’re back.   If it were any longer I’d be taking her to the vet myself.  I can’t in all conscience sit back and let something like this happen, it’s almost animal cruelty.

And one final point.  My client is a sensible, intelligent, professional person.  Who trusts other professionals, so although he was surprised to hear the vet claim she was overweight, he trusted him.  I can tell he has his concerns too, but we’re not used to challenging those who we see as experts in their field, whether they actually are or not.  Meaning that very few vets are nutrition experts, they’re generalists, they don’t know everything, they can’t do, and that's fine.  But say so then.   

The key point the vet seemed to be making was that the cat had a little swinging belly.  Well, she’s very skinny now, too skinny, and still has her little belly.  Most cats do.  Some don’t.  Vets actually don’t know what causes this, although there are plenty of theories  – a holistic vet I spent some time discussing cat nutrition with is convinced it’s to do with a dry food diet.  But they are all just theories. 

In my experience of feeding cats, it is impossible to tell.  I look after cats who have only ever eaten dry food and they have no bellies, and others who only eat wet food and have hanging bellies.  There’s a school of thought that thinks it’s likely to be connected with the eating of processed diets, rather than natural raw food.  I’m not a fan of processed diets (subject for another post I think), but nearly all our cats eat this way, so that doesn’t explain why some cats tend to hanging bellies and others don’t.  That’s not the answer. 

And why do some cats who eat loads always look slim and never put weight on, while others who eat little always look to be heavier?  Part of the answer is bound to be to do with lifestyle, and exercise, but even then, when thinking about the cats I care for, that’s not the whole answer either. 

The truth is they’re all as different as we are.  And we don’t really know.  Lots more research needed into this important subject, and would love to help.

The Easter Bunny

Many rabbits bought as Easter gifts will soon be unwanted when the amount of care they need becomes apparent and the novelty wears off. 

Please - do not buy any animal as a gift for others, and please do not take on any animal yourself without first researching their needs. 

The Rabbit Welfare Association conducted a survey and at least 67,000 rabbits are in rescues across the country, so if you are looking to give bunnies a home, Adopt Don't Shop.

Wise words from the Society for Abandoned Animals, where I'm a member and volunteer.

Debunking the Cat Diet Myth

I watch cats eat, then I deal with the poo.  Have done pretty much every day for the last seven years.  I’ve got to know hundreds of cats and their eating habits, and consequently also their digestive systems. 

Most of the cats I know eat a fairly varied diet.  Granted it’s all pretty much processed food, but what I mean is they’ll eat a mix of different product brands, types, textures, and flavours.  Some eat the same day in, day out, but not that many. 

I’ve volunteered in animal sanctuaries for many years too – and the same happens there too.  At the Society for Abandoned Animals we depend upon donations of food from many very kind people.  Which means the cats eat whatever there is, pretty much. 

In the wild they get a varied diet too, depends on what they catch.  Could be mice, rats, voles, birds, even small rabbits, and a good selection of invertebrates as handy snacks to keep them going. 

Cats enjoy variety.  And why not?  Why would we want to bore them by feeding the same thing at every meal, day in and day out, when if living wild they would enjoy variety.  Their digestive systems are robust, they can cope with it. 

Oh, and in case you’d not noticed, cat nutrition is a favourite subject of mine, so have read and researched extensively on the topic for many years.  I’ve talked to animal nutrition experts, and asked questions.  

So I get so frustrated when I hear that old myth trotted out again.  You know, the one that goes “stick to the same food, don’t vary it, or they’ll get upset tummies”. 

I’m not sure where it originated now.  So many vets just spout it out, without even thinking about it.  Perhaps they were just told it one day, and they’ve accepted it on trust, and continue to repeat it.  I don’t know, but that’s how it seems sometimes.  

I was quite shocked to learn through my research (vet nurses and vets themselves) that vets get very little animal nutrition training while they’re learning to be vets.  Vet nurses seem to know more and adopt a much more sensible approach to this subject.  It seems that most of what they know is what they’re told by pet food manufacturers.  Who’d have a vested interest in encouraging animal guardians to keep their beloved furries on the same food and never changing it, wouldn’t you think?  Hardly the best place to go for your animal nutrition knowledge. 

My frustration came to a head just last month when I needed to take one of my charges to the vet.  She’d been sick for a couple of days, and was very listless, not herself at all.  The vet took her temperature, pronounced it high, so probably an infection (agreed), and gave her an antibiotic shot.  And then proceeded to ask me about her diet, had it been changed recently? 

Well, yes it had, but what it had changed to she’d been on for at least a couple of weeks with no ill effects.  Wasn’t listening to me by then.  Told me I had to change it back to what she had been eating before.   And trotted out the myth……….

Oh dear.  Took a deep breath, and told him that in my experience I’d have to disagree.  But of course what did I know?  I am not a qualified vet.  He was friendly and polite, yet rather condescending at the same time.  Yet I’d venture to say I have far more concrete, day to day observational experience with cats, what they eat and how their digestive systems deal with it.  Backed up with a lot of common sense based on what they would eat if living wild, and much self guided learning on a subject that interests me greatly.

I have no axe to grind with vets per se.  But when they find themselves with someone who clearly does have a lot more practical experience in a particular subject, I’d love it if they said “that’s so interesting, tell me more”.  And then we could have a proper discourse on the subject, and both, no doubt, learn more from each other. 

Cats can get upset tummies when changed to a new food, especially if they’ve been on the same food for a long time, absolutely.  But if they eat a varied diet all the time, their digestive systems cope very well.  And they’re much happier.

They’d be even happier if fed a raw diet, lots of contradictory views there too, and perhaps a subject for another time. 

Oh, and while I'm about it, please stick to food intended for cats, ie meat, they're obligate carnivores.  So no pizza!!!

Cats Eat with their Noses

Have you ever watched a cat eat?  I mean really? 

Sometimes it’s difficult to get your head right down to where they are and get close in, but Bella eats on a table, and I often sit with her, right at nose level, and watch.

Her nose goes right into the food.  Which is then why they have such long tongues to wash their noses with once they’ve finished!

But the reason that they eat with their noses is that they have only a minimal sense of taste, compared to us.  However, their noses are off the scale when looked at in human terms.  They get so much information from their noses. 

Ever watch while a cat examines a new thing?  They’ll come right up to it and look at it, but then will smell it.  That tells them so much more.  Their world around them comes in the form of wonderful and amazing smells packed with so much information.  Without their noses, they’d be almost blind, unable to make much sense of the world.

So when they eat, not much point in overdoing the taste, but pet food manufacturers go mad on the stuff that smells.  When you or I smell cat food it’s fairly yucky.  Well, it is to me anyway!  But all sorts of stuff (that we probably don’t want to know about) is added to their food to make it appealing to them.  (Although what I don’t get is the fact that human food, say roast chicken, is equally appealing, and doesn’t smell so bad to us, so why the awful smells for processed pet food?)

So their noses go in, and they drink in the smells all the while they’re eating.  Until they get bored that is, which is often quite quickly!!  A topic for another post I think.  As is the scourge of processed pet food – I shall need a high soap box for that one!

When you touch a cat with your spirit....

How lovely.  This was posted on my Facebook timeline this morning, and thought it was too lovely not to share on.  It's a beautiful relationship isn't it?  And it's the same for any animals we have living with us, not just cats.  We give them so much, and they give back to us.  Or is it the other way around?  Those of us who have animals living with us know we're so blessed.

And touching once again on the subject of their leaving us, I thought this sentiment was wonderful:

Each animal we have living with us is completely unique.  We never ever replace one who's left us, but when we bring another in, and we've all got to know each other, we discover new joys.  We are so honoured. 

Oh, how I’d love to be able to foster!!

Just the other day, a lady came to the sanctuary with a very pregnant mum, in the process of giving birth to 3 lovely kitts.  And just the week before a new mum and her tiny babies arrived. We don’t keep mums and kitts at the sanctuary, as they always do much better living with someone in their home, so depend on people to foster.  All the time!!  I’ve often met the cats, then not seen them again, until perhaps the babies have become old enough for their own homes – kittens always go quickly – and the mums come into the sanctuary to wait for a new forever home of their own. 

 

It seems such a fantastic thing to be able to do, to help at such crucial time in their lives, watch them growing and becoming personalities, learning to do things, to become more and more independent.  And to give mum a safe comfortable place to be where she can rest and feed them (which is most of what she has to do!), such that they’re all happy and contented.  And there are times when we have a cat come in that needs close attention or medications due to an illness, or perhaps an oldie who might not thrive in a sanctuary environment.  So many reasons.  And I’d love to be able to help them all.  With Reiki too!!

 

I know it can be sad to say goodbye to an animal you’ve become close to, but that happens anyway at the sanctuary.  And to know that they’re going to a lovely new home always makes me happy.  I was talking to one of the other volunteers, who has also fostered for a long time, and all her adopting families keep in touch with her.  So wonderful!!!

 

I have two of my own – Bella and Dylan – and it’s a small house, so no room for me to do this.  If it’s a long term foster, perhaps an oldie or a cat on meds, then really they need to be living with you normally.  The lady that Billy (used to be Bruce, lived in my garden as a stray for over a year) went to just over a year ago, also fosters – for a rescue that only uses fosterers, doesn’t have its own premises.  She has plenty of space, with a spare room, and the foster cats often live in the house with the 5 of her own.  In fact Billy does a fantastic job of helping to socialise and train the more “difficult” cats.  He was always supposed to go and live with her;  he has a real purpose in his life.  He has also been amazing with her own 3 autistic children.     

 

New mums with kittens really only need a spare room, all to themselves.  They want a place of their own where they know they’re safe, and aren’t likely to want to be wandering all over the house anyway.   And it’s not for long, only a few weeks, until they find their own homes.  But I don’t even have a spare room!!!

 

So I have a dream.  I’ve told the Universe about this, and am expecting it to manifest any day now!!  I like my little house, so have decided the best thing would be for my premium bonds to come up, and the two lovely boys next door to decide they want to move.  Then I’d buy their house, and can still live here, while taking care of foster cats next door.  With an internal connecting door.  Oh, I’ve already done the plans.  I know exactly how it will work.  And I’ll enclose the garden so that they have somewhere safe to be outside.  When the weather allows!!  Or perhaps I will come into some money, and decide to move to a bigger house.  I’ve done the plans for that too.  But really, I know that I just need to leave my wish with the Universe, and trust that it will be delivered to me, in the right way. 

 

I’m so excited, I can’t wait!!! 

 

So, I don’t know if you’ve ever thought about fostering.  Perhaps you think you can’t as you already have animals.  But if you have a spare room that you don’t otherwise use, then you can!!  Have a think about it.  Then get in contact with your local animal sanctuaries to see if you can help.  And share your stories here.  Even better, if you already foster, I’d love it if you would share your experiences with us.  

The extra mile

I do what I do because I love doing it.  I’m lucky, my job is something I’d do even if I didn’t get paid for it (but we all need to keep a roof over our heads!!).  It never feels like work, even if I’m up to my arms in cat poo and smelly litter trays.  (I take care of dogs, rabbits, and other creatures too, but it’s mostly cats.)

 

Once the feeding and litter are sorted, to sit and be with a cat, letting them cuddle into me, letting them feel and know the Reiki they’re enjoying, is just wonderful.  I am very blessed.  And I know they are too.  No false modesty here!!  (For any new readers of my blog, I am a pet sitter with added Reiki, quite unique in my local area.  So all visits to feed animals automatically come with Reiki too, and I see time and again how much they enjoy it and benefit from it.)

 

My visits are timed to be 30 minutes each.  Sometimes people ask me to come and do longer visits, which is fantastic, as they enjoy it so much.  What happens in that 30 minutes varies a lot, it depends on how many cats there are, what needs doing, whether there are litter trays or not, and how many, and much else besides.  On some visits, the “chores” might only take a couple of minutes, so I have the rest of the time to spend with the animal, whereas others might take up to 20 minutes, leaving less time.

 

For me, and for most of the animals I visit, although they need their food and litter tending to, what they really want is plenty of love and attention.  And even those who aren’t quite as tactile, who might even go and sit in another room, – but really, not so many of those – still need to know I’m there.  Just because they’re choosing to be elsewhere doesn’t for one moment mean they’re not appreciating my presence.  And they’ll still receive their Reiki. 

 

It often feels that 30 minutes goes so quickly, and before I know it I’m off again.  (Some animal visitors only plan on 20 minute visits, I really don’t know how that works.)  I’d always love to stay longer, and the animals often tell me that too.   In their own, but very straightforward way! 

 

If I have a busy day, then I have to stick at 30 minute visits, otherwise I’d never get to them all.  And it’s so important that I don’t feel rushed.  My energy needs to be calm and relaxed, otherwise it affects the quality of the Reiki they’ll receive from me.  But I have days that are quieter, and I like nothing better than to take longer with my visits.  In particular, if I sense that a cat is feeling anxious, or perhaps is a little poorly, then if at all possible I do stay with them for longer. 

 

I enjoy going the extra mile.  I provide a service, and for me that’s what it’s all about.  We all gain – the animals are happier, and I just love spending more time with them.  Sometimes the extra mile is spent in other ways though.  It’s often the case that people leave to head off on holiday in a hurry, and the washing up is still piled around the sink.  As long as it doesn’t impact on the time I spend with the animals, then I’ll take care of that.  After all, it’s quite difficult for me to do the cat bowl cleaning every day if I can’t get to the sink!!!  And dried on food tends to smell a bit after a while too.  And when I think about it, lots of other things that I do too, just to help everyone to be a little happier.   If it’s in my power to do something, and I have the time, then I will.

 

 The vast majority of my lovely clients are always very appreciative.  Sadly I’ve had one or two who have taken this for granted in the past (if I’ve told them I’ve stayed longer because I had some extra time that day, they’ve then asked another time if I have some extra time, can I spend it with their cats).  And very unfortunately, an awful experience just before Christmas this year, which was like nothing I’ve ever experienced before, and hope to never again.  Not going to say any more about that, still upsets me too much to think about it.  I must admit, that when people take advantage of my good nature and desire to do the best I can, it has stopped me in my tracks.  But not for long.  I remember that it’s only a very very small minority, and that I couldn’t be, and wouldn’t want to be, any other way. 

 

I can’t think of any other job I’ve ever had where going the extra mile made me quite as happy!