Keeping Kitty Fit

Did you know that over half of our feline friends are chubby? Okay, quite a few of them are flat-out obese. Fluffy may look adorable if she’s a bit round, but at the end of the day, those extra pounds will not only weigh your kitty down physically, they can negatively impact her health. Of course, if you tell your cat to do stair runs, you’ll probably just get a yawn or a slow blink. We can help! Here, a local Brantford, ON vet offers some advice on keeping your furry buddy in shape.

Playtime

Playing is definitely Fluffy’s favorite form of fitness. Kittens don’t need much prompting here. However, as your cat grows older, she may need a bit of urging. Offer your little buddy lots of toys, and take time to play with her every day. Remember to change things up a bit. Try getting your feline pal smart toys, such as automated laser pointers or robotic toys that react to her movements.

Purrniture

Fluffy isn’t shy about using our furniture: in fact, we’re pretty sure that our feline overlords think all of our belongings are actually theirs. However, she will appreciate and benefit from having some things that keep her active. A cat tower is of course the obvious choice, but you can also get your pet a giant cat wheel to run on, or perhaps some kitty shelves she can scamper up and down.

Walks

This one isn’t going to fly with all kitties. In fact, if your furry friend has always been an indoor kitty, we’d recommend just leaving things as is, and letting sleeping cats lie, so to speak. However, if Fluffy was once an outdoor cat and/or is just very bold and adventurous, she may actually enjoy being walked on a leash. Ask your vet for training and safety tips.

Trickery

Cats are naturally curious, which is why they’re so much fun. Use Fluffy’s inquisitive nature to your advantage. If you toss a toy down the hall, there’s a pretty good chance that she’ll immediately run after it. You may even be able to get your kitty moving just by calling her into the room you’re in. Every little bit helps!

Do you have a chubby kitty on your hands? Contact us, your local Brantford, ON pet hospital, with any questions or concerns about your cat’s health or care.