How do I help my overweight cat lose weight?
Carefully and slowly, because crash dieting a cat is dangerous and can trigger fatty liver disease. Start by getting a target weight and a daily calorie number from your vet, then measure meals rather than free-feeding and cut back on treats, counting them in the total. Switching some dry food to wet can lower calories while keeping her full, and a bit more play burns energy and helps. Aim for slow, steady loss. Never starve a cat to slim her down, since rapid weight loss is a serious risk.
When to call a vet: Set the weight-loss plan with your vet, and never crash-diet a cat, since rapid weight loss can cause life-threatening fatty liver disease.
