Podgy Pets Leaflet!

**Fozzie** · 20th April 2011, 07:07 PM

I went to the vets today for some general advice and as always happens the day before the appointment, Mufasa miraculously acquired to have sore eyes. During the consultation the vet weighed him and he is now 8.55kg (at 1 yr 8 months old). She told me he was overweight and asked me to go and see the nurse so that he can go on a weight loss programme. I was told he needs to be around 6kg and therefore has to shed 2.5kg. Before giving me the dreaded Podgy Pets leaflet, I was told that I should be able to feel his ribs (which I can't) and that I should try to make him more agile.

I am worried because he is a big boy and was 7kg when I got him from the rescue last October. The rescue owner told me that her vet expected him to be a big boy and he could end up around 9kg. He has huge paws!

I have searched the forum and have perused the weight chart. He seems to be a similar-ish weight to other cats on there around his age. I do think that he could possibly loose a bit of weight but 2.5 kg seems an awful lot.

I know it is difficult without seeing him, but does anyone have any advice? I would be very grateful.

**Charlibob** · 20th April 2011, 08:32 PM

Jiminy is 7kg at 10 months old but I can feel his ribs, it does sound like hes a little podgy

You could try feeding him using toys like these, that way he has to work for his food.
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Does he like dangler toys? We run around with them and Jiminy chases it to keep him fit as being indoor only and a lazy neuter he doesn't get a great deal of exercise. We play football in kitchen with him to get him running up and down and encourage him to follow us around the house especially if we're going up and down stairs, he never walks up or down always a manic run

I'd personally think going down to 6kg might be a little low if hes not a small cat, but if you do get him to exercise he'll get more muscles so you wouldn't see much of change in weight just in his shape.

Do you have any pictures to show if hes a big/small boy?

**Fozzie** · 20th April 2011, 09:53 PM

Thank you for your reply

. Your suggestions are great, I will look into those toys. He does like danglers, but has to be in the mood to be honest. I got him a fit ball which he managed to open himself. He does play with balls all around the kitchen, but those toy suggestions look very promising.

I don't really have any pictures that demonstrate how big he is, but here is a video (crossing fingers that it works). Actually, looking at this he does look a bit podgy - maybe I've been looking at him with rose tinted spectacles!

[ame="http://s44.photobucket.com/albums/f21/df96/?action=view&current=MOV00759.mp4"]MOV00759.mp4 video by df96 - Photobucket[/ame]

**Wendy1969** · 20th April 2011, 09:59 PM

Yes - he's built for comfort, not speed! Bless him

My blue tabby is about the same weight and he is overweight, but then he is also very lazy and always has been. Alfie is 7.5kgs at 2 and still has some filling out to do. Chester, aged 4, is a titch (5kgs) but is always very busy and on the go. Two and a half kgs does seem like quite a bit. Maybe aim for a loss of about 1kg?

**harrymc** · 20th April 2011, 11:24 PM

I had the same with Harry when he last went to the vets, infact I posted my concerns on here, together with pictures etc and pretty much everyone agreed that he looked fine, the vet suggested we started putting his food down only at specific times instead of leaving it down all the time which is what we had always done. I'm afraid I didn't listen to to his advice as I was sure that as soon as the weather improved and he was spending more time in the garden he would get back to normal, which seems to be happening. The pouch (that was the vets concern) has definately shrunk so I think it was just the time of year that made him a little podgy (bit like his mum !)

**mcguy** · 21st April 2011, 04:32 AM

I don't think he looks too bad, though it is hard to tell without feeling of him. Our nearly three year old is more overweight, but our nearly two year old boy is thinner (though he is >20lbs). From our experience, male MCs are quite muscular. The girls stay fairly bony but not the boys. They shouldn't have lots of loose flab on them, but expecting to easily feel their ribs is not what I have come to expect. Frankly, many vets know nothing at all about MCs and tell you things that are simply incorrect for MCs. So I would be a bit skeptical. 6kg sounds awfully light for a 1.5 year old male MC unless he is a fairly small one. Male MCs do not have the same physiques as moggies--they have much heavier frames and more muscle. Don't expect a male MC to feel like a moggie!

**Helen & John** · 21st April 2011, 07:03 PM

Aww how cute, lovely colours too

After the crazy half hour here I will add to the exercise ideas.............a big fly!!!!!!!!!!!! Total lunacy and two pooped cats and one amused baby - it was like he was watching tennis bless

**Fozzie** · 22nd April 2011, 01:26 PM

Thank you all for the advice, it's much appreciated! I think that I will cut down his RC MC kibble (i.e. stop the husband feeding him). I did look at the instructions on the RC MC pack and we were giving him too much, plus an Applaws pouch each evening and the odd treat! I'm using the feeding guide on the pack for podgy cats and have stopped the treats for now. I'm also looking for a laser toy and am working on the fly workout.

At the moment he's out in the garden on his harness and the girls are taking more time to play with him. Fingers crossed he will loose a little bit, I'm tending to think 7kg sounds right. Not sure if the vets are used to maine coon's maybe I should ask next time I go and get him weighed!

**Fozzie** · 23rd April 2011, 11:22 AM

Thank you candes - I will do that! Teddy and Nala sound so cute

**Fozzie** · 1st May 2011, 03:56 PM

I went to the Coontica show in Milton Keynes yesterday and took a good look at the lovely Maine Coons there. I can definitely confirm that Mufasa is a little bit 'podgy' but not that much in comparison to the other cats there. I think Candes you are right - he needs to loose a little bit of weight, but definitely not 2.5kg! I hadn't seen any other adult Maine Coon's in 'real life' before, they were magnificent.