| In today's fast food world it is a sad fact that it is | | | | likely to suffer from illnesses like heart disease, |
| not only the human population that are becoming | | | | diabetes, liver disease, arthritis and urinary infections. |
| fatter. Our pet cats are also suffering the same fate | | | | The trouble is the larger they get and the more |
| and it's all our fault. We are giving them bigger portion | | | | unhealthy they feel, the less active they will become |
| sizes, feeding the wrong kind of food, giving them | | | | and the more weight they will put on. Not to mention |
| too many extra treats and making their lives less | | | | the cost of the extra trips to the vet you will have |
| active. Cats are essentially meat eating hunters who | | | | to make to treat all of their ailments. |
| are designed to roam freely outside, exploring, | | | | So how do we stop our cats from becoming super |
| climbing, hunting and playing. Activities that have | | | | sized? The same way we stop ourselves from |
| traditionally kept them fit, healthy and agile and burn | | | | becoming overweight is the simple answer. By making |
| off calories naturally. But more and more owners are | | | | sure we feed our cats a balanced diet that contains |
| choosing to keep their cats inside thus restricting | | | | all the necessary mix of ingredients that provides |
| activity levels and other stimuli, causing boredom and | | | | enough calories for their lifestyle and also by ensuring |
| laziness to set in. Just like us humans bored cats will | | | | that our cats are getting enough exercise. Take a |
| snack to fill their time and comfort themselves, a | | | | look at what and how much you are feeding your |
| recipe for disaster for the waistline. | | | | cat and how much exercise your cat is getting. Try |
| The natural diet of a cat is animal prey that consists | | | | to feed fixed meal times rather than letting your cat |
| of not only meat but also indigestible matter (good | | | | snack all day. Keep food portions inline with the |
| for roughage) and vegetable matter in its stomach. | | | | recommendations of the manufacturers and feed a |
| All of which is consumed by the cat and provides | | | | combination of dry and fresh or tinned cat food, this |
| enough calorie and nutritional intake to keep them | | | | will make your cat feel full and not go looking for |
| healthy. In today's fast moving world where cat | | | | titbits elsewhere. |
| owners do not have the time to prepare home | | | | Spend some time playing with your cat every day, |
| cooked foods for themselves let alone their pets, | | | | get them chasing around running after balls or batting |
| commercially bought cat foods are used to feed our | | | | dangling toy mice. If you are not around to play with |
| pets. Although these foods are designed to contain all | | | | your cat you could hide little treats around the home |
| the nutrients required by a cat, they can also contain | | | | (not too many) for your cat to hunt out, or place |
| more calories than a natural diet, especially for cats | | | | them in toys where they have to get them out |
| with less active lives. Dry cat food is especially calorie | | | | themselves. Keeping your cat active and alert is very |
| laden and because it can be left in feeding bowls all | | | | important, not only because it burns calories but it will |
| day for cats to snack on, they can easily eat too | | | | also prevent them from becoming bored and |
| much, causing weight gain. | | | | overeating. |
| Why should we worry about our cats getting fat | | | | It is all to easy to give in to a begging cat looking for |
| anyway? Well a fat cat is an unhealthy cat and most | | | | titbits from your plate or to leave a pile of dry kibble |
| likely an unhappy cat too. A ca that is too heavy to | | | | in a bowl all day, because you don't want to leave |
| go climbing or to chase around after fluttering leaves | | | | kitty without any food all day. But you could be killing |
| etc. is not going to have much of a happy life. | | | | your cat with kindness. Your cat will thank you for |
| Overweight cats will have a shorter life span than a | | | | feeding them well and in moderation allowing them to |
| normal cat due mainly to the fact that they are more | | | | lead a fit, healthy happy lifestyle. |