Putting Your Overweight Older Cat on a Diet
PETNEWSANDVIEWS.COM: Putting a Cat on a Diet is an excellent article on putting your cat on a diet. One key piece of information is the caloric needs of cats:
How Much Should Cats Eat
Most average, indoor cats require between 180 to 210 calories per day. The larger or more active a cat is, the more calories it needs to consume; the smaller or less active, the fewer calories it needs. For weight loss, some cats may eat as little as 160 to 170 calories per day. Most cats are grazers; they prefer to eat several small meals throughout the day. “I recommend feeding your cat at least twice a day if not more frequently,” says Dr. Ward. “Some of the newer automatic food dispensers allow you to program up to six feedings per day. These are especially convenient and welcome for owners of cats that like to wake them at 2 a.m. for a ‘midnight snack.’”
Your older cat has special needs, so be sure to check out the articles on senior cat food nutrition and keeping your older cat healthy.
