Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Tomarrow I will be getting one of the best cats in the world off a friend. The problem is he is extremly overweight. Last time he was weighed was a couple of years ago he topped out at 28 pounds. I'm assuming he's about 30 now.
I'm going to have him on Royal Canin for Main Coons. They said he did best when on it. They took him off because they had 4 other cats and couldn't afford to keep all of them on it. (they have all 5 in one room, and he is top cat, getting the lion's share)
I'm wondering if anyone has any pointers on getting him to lose.
Would anyone have a guess as to how much he should be eating per day, so I could gradually get down there? (He's a Main Coon mix, I beleive he was either 15 or 18 lbs when he looked his best).

Hi,

First of all, I would take this cat in for an exam to determine if he has any health issues related to his being obese. I'm mainly concerned about the possibility of diabetes, but he can also have heart issues or lung problems, in addition to elevated liver enzymes. You want to make sure that he doesn't lose weight too fast, as this can cause further complications, so getting a vet's advice on how much to feed would be a good idea.

Royal Canin is excellent, but I recommend a canned-food only diet. The carbs in dry food are usually what causes cats to become obese in the first place, especially if they are fed free-choice. A high protein, low carb diet is ideal for overweight cats and is actually best for all cats since it is more natural for them. I feed my cats mostly canned food, using dry only for treats.

Please keep us updated on how this cat does in his new home with you.

Regards,
AshleyElla