Q: I have a neutered male cat who is very fat. He doesn’t move around much and when he does, he waddles very slowly. I know this can’t be healthy for him, but he doesn’t seem to be able to lose weight. I don’t feed him as much as I used to, but he’s still fat. Should I be worried? What should I do?

A: Although Garfield is a very funny fat cartoon cat, obesity is nothing to laugh about in our living cats. You are right to be concerned. Obese cats can suffer from diabetes, liver disorders, arthritis and respiratory problems. Skin problems often occur in overweight cats because they cannot groom themselves as easily. The first thing you should do is visit your veterinarian. The vet will do a complete check of your cat to include urine and blood tests to make sure there aren’t any underlying physical conditions. Then your veterinarian will be able to advise you of the best course of action to help your cat reduce his weight.

Neutering is often blamed for obesity; however, it’s not the surgery that causes the weight gain, it’s the lack of physical activity afterwards that does. Spayed and neutered cats have less of a tendency to roam, thereby causing them to get less exercise. Starting your cat on a daily exercise program can help. Schedule regular play times with your cat. Make sure you have climbing poles with platforms for him. Use a feather or a catnip mouse on a string to entice your cat to climb, stretch and run. For cats who have not had exercise in a while, start slow and build them up to longer exercise sessions. Train your cat to use a harness and take him for walks—anything to get the cat moving!

Starvation diets are not advisable for cats. Serious liver problems may occur if you reduce your cat’s caloric intake too rapidly. A slow reduction of calories is much more advisable. Your veterinarian can advise you on which food is best for your cat’s condition and how much to feed. To exercise my cats, I don’t always feed them in a bowl. Instead I hide food around the room to encourage them to climb, jump and hunt for their food. If your lazy cat isn’t used to hunting around the room for his food, you may have to encourage him at first and show him where the food is hidden (in plain sight). Once he understands the game, you will find that he enjoys the hunt and starts to look more for the food on his own. If you are concerned if he’s getting enough food, you can start the meal with a hunt and then finish it with a bowl of the rest of the measured portion. Be sure to include the hunting food as part of his daily allowed portion, so you don’t overfeed.

Managing your cat’s weight can be a difficult task. Some breeds of cats are more prone to being big than others. Exercise and a healthy balanced diet are the keys to maintaining proper weight for your cat. Make sure your cat is not getting table scraps and extra munchies throughout the day. Discuss with your veterinarian what the proper amount of food is for your cat and stick to that amount. Don’t give in to those pleading eyes that try to convince you he’s starving. The best love you can show your cat is not through extra food, but through attention and love. The next time he purrs and rubs against your leg begging for food when you know he’s been fed, break out a catnip mouse, a laser light, or whatever toy turns your cat on, and start a play session. It will be entertaining and physically and mentally beneficial for you both. Enjoy!