how can i get my fat cat to play?

Re: how can i get my fat cat to play?

loopylou711 — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 23:47:47 GMT

just realised that it weight check day tommorow ahh a little bit scared as don't think i have got him to play enough this month although the treat ball has been used almost daily and we have this kids toy snake thing that he has been chasing! Aiming for another 200 grams anythin less i may be a little bit disappointed!! Also getting his booser, I imagine i might be hated tommorow!!

Re: how can i get my fat cat to play?

Nick Shackleton — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 23:00:54 GMT

My kitty loves the following

plastic/paper bags

food ties (you know the ones)

eslastic bands (althou not really keen on her having these)

insects (lol)

Re: how can i get my fat cat to play?

Sal the 1st — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 22:51:18 GMT

my cat is so food obsessed he goes through the shopping bag when I come in so will play with this for hours!

He is also used to forage feeding - well he was until my holiday earlier in the year - he got fed too easily whilst i was away. He gets only a very small amount of food actually in the bowl, the rest he has to find

Re: how can i get my fat cat to play?

Sal the 1st — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 22:49:39 GMT

yup just one of those tubes - ours is nearly clear but it does the job very well. dont make the holes too big so they can get their teeth caught in them - just big enough so the smell of food can get out. Before this we used one of the 30ml urine containers with some holes in but the lid didnt stay on that well and he kept smashing it against the wall till it fell apart and he got the food. I was going to try one of those plastic ball things that you get in the slots at amusement arcades (usually have sweets or toys in them) but found the film case is very effective

Re: how can i get my fat cat to play?

Claire Cameron — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 22:45:20 GMT

cats can only mangage about a minute at a time so is it possible to play with the laser or panic mouse or other toy but schedule in a few (as many as possible) daily sessions for a couple of weeks and see if this helps
wrap some of the food up in baking paper and pull it across the floor on string - make the cat work before he/she catches it
hide a little of the food - pepper has to hunt it to get it

Re: how can i get my fat cat to play?

loopylou711 — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 22:43:39 GMT

sal what is it? just a little old black film tube? hmm wonder what I could use don't like anythin which just gives him it... we have a treat ball but because its so big hes not interested!

Re: how can i get my fat cat to play?

Sal the 1st — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 22:32:47 GMT

day 4 and it still works! would rec this to anybody with a fat feline - cheese today which he has been playing with most of the time since 7.30 this morning - thats one helluva workout for 'fat git'

Re: how can i get my fat cat to play?

loopylou711 — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 00:19:53 GMT

i knwo my big boy is fat but so hard not to give him a treat when he plays. giving him just biscuits seems cruel so i have been a bit naughty and gave him a few little treats eek!! the walkings goin well i guess he can normally do 15 minutes or so but then gets lazy and will not come back home!! Still no luck with any kind of toy tried a few suggestions on here hes not interested and just gets annoyed depspite me keeping trying! am hoping the weight loss continues but am doubtful this month!! think we may be off to obesity food.

As for the low fat biscuits perfect idea and wish our vet mentioned them when we bout the 6kg bag ofthe normal ones! Got to waittill these are done no use wasting pennies! i wish it was in wet aswell though, that would be awesome :D

i think hes happeir thought even though it was tiny weight drop, he seems a lil happier or mayb jst hungry!! hmm!!

Re: how can i get my fat cat to play?

Sal the 1st — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 23:12:47 GMT

fatman Morris has a new toy! - you know the plastic cases that camera film comes in - he has one of these with some biggish holes punched in it (not big enough for him to get a tooth stuck in but big enough to let the smell of food out) and we hide some of his favourite food inside - today it was smoked sausage. Is impossible for him to get open (not that easy for me either) is small enough for him to kick or throw around and is very easy to wash. He has been very active the last few days - obviously he has to have a small treat at the end of the day to keep him interested but seems to be working very well so far

Re: how can i get my fat cat to play?

Alison Daff — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 12:52:52 GMT

RC Urinary Moderate Calorie Feline diet is available in 1.5kg, 3.5kg and 6kg. Ideal for cats prone to weight gain though RC Obesity does also have the S/O index AND currently on offer!! if you buy a bag you get a Cat Wubba free!

Re: how can i get my fat cat to play?

Tracey Ison — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 22:16:52 GMT

Definately look into the RCW low cal urinary.

Is your treat ball clear ?- cats like to see their food.( if he does use a non clear treat ball then you could also do similar with a kitchen roll tube with holes cut in it , stuff it with paper and add some dry food)

Make him work for his food,scatter it , feeding him upstairs will make him move around a bit more.

Scrunched up paper with a few bits of dry food in it may stimulate play.

You could try cutting cat flap sized holes in a big cardboard box and fill it with scrunched up paper, again adding some dry food to encourage him to climb in and out.

Flicking scrunched up bits of tin foil from the height of a low table can always get my cats moving .

If he is not interested in chase type toys , try a "kickeroo" from the company of animals , encourages the grab and kicking behaviour of cats more than the chase, would be better than nothing and he may prefer this type of play.

Cat wubbas can also offer a different method of play

Good luck!

Re: how can i get my fat cat to play?

Fiona Leathers — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 19:12:35 GMT

Well done! Its going in the right direction!

It probably seems a tiny amount of weight but its probably about the right amount. He should lose about 1% of body per month, any faster & cats can get hepatic lipidosis and become very ill.

Re: how can i get my fat cat to play?

loopylou711 — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 11:45:46 GMT

we had the vet this mornign to check his weight.... he only lost 0.2kilos :( so hes now 8.3kg is it me or does this seem so little! i knw it isprob gd as hes a cat but still am a lil disappointed!! :( the vet seemed happy but am not sure just seems like nothing 2bh!

guess we got to keep tryin tho!!

Re: how can i get my fat cat to play?

Sal the 1st — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 22:30:22 GMT

Bouncyfi - had the same problem with Morris when he was on RD - (is never what you could call 'fragrant' in any event but the RD ) did get the weight off him tho and although he gained a good bit when I went on holidays (so much for him missing me and pining - yeah right!) he is still not as heavy as he has been in the past.

Re: how can i get my fat cat to play?

Vicky RVN — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 13:06:45 GMT

Aww that's fab news

Re: how can i get my fat cat to play?

loopylou711 — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 12:29:52 GMT

just so happy i with my big boy right now which makes a change from being frustrated at him. I managed to get him to go for a walk in his harness and enjoy it woo! I don't normally take him out when it's raining but i thought i would try as it only was only spitting. He loved i, began purring and everything, Even began running to chase a leaf! and was interested in things. It's nice to see him so happy which even made me not notice the funny looks i was getting!! he even became grumpy when we got back and has been sitting at the door ever since! I guess he was just born and made for scottish weather! So happy with him!! Got his weight check on Wednesday so fingers cross hes lost! :)

Re: how can i get my fat cat to play?

loopylou711 — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 12:28:40 GMT

luckly hes not fussy so switching food wont be a problem! we are just waiting to see if hes lost anything before we switch food!! hoping he has!! Feel like we hardly feed him anything compared to our other cat!

aw renal failure was how my childhood cat sparky died :( so heartbreaking to see!

Re: how can i get my fat cat to play?

Fiona Leathers — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 12:23:53 GMT

He was on RD for years which didn't do very much except increase his poo size & smell and then moved him onto RCW obestiy which was much better, he's now in renal failure so on Purina NF which is very tasty. I've just put several clients' cats onto Purina OM & they seem to be loving it & loosing weight - good combination!

Re: how can i get my fat cat to play?

loopylou711 — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 12:21:39 GMT

we stay in a flat sadly :( I put it on his scratching post so he needs to climb up for it! just hoping it works!! did you put your cat on obesity food?

Re: how can i get my fat cat to play?

Fiona Leathers — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 12:13:43 GMT

If you live in a house with stairs, then start feeding him up the stairs, so he has to move to get it. If he starts sitting at his bowl upstiars feed him downstairs. This worked really well for my cat went from 9.2kg to 6.1kg

Re: how can i get my fat cat to play?

Freckle — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 23:05:38 GMT

i think somes earlier idea is a good one ( and one i told a client today before seeing the thread-which is prob why i think its a good idea lmao!) - get a multilevel cat tree, and put his food on all the different levels, lots of little and often feeds, to make him jump about and climb to get to his gushy food! hehe!

Re: how can i get my fat cat to play?

loopylou711 — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 22:56:27 GMT

thanks! but tried that he just looked at me like i was the stupid one! hes the fatest laziest cat ever! so frustrating!

Re: how can i get my fat cat to play?

Nick Shackleton — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 21:39:11 GMT

Lazer pens are a great idea too. althou just remember to aim it at a toy as it can cause them to become frustrated so they chase the light with nothing to kill at the end of it

Re: how can i get my fat cat to play?

loopylou711 — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 20:58:22 GMT

[quote user="STRVN"]

I think we must have posted at the same time loupy, hopefully you saw my post

[/quote]

I saw it and its funny hes his most active when hungry so we try make the most of it by doing that or givng him to play with but it usually doesnt last long. Although at the moment his favourite "I am hungry feed me" trick is to jump up onto the top of the wardrobe, just keep telling myself to think of the calories hes burning lol!! :D

Re: how can i get my fat cat to play?

loopylou711 — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 20:52:53 GMT

[quote user="MissVetNurse"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okzef_MyQzo I'm yet to see a cat who can resist this

[/quote]

see that looks gd i could see him playing with that but not sure where to buy 1 shall do a wee internet search! thanks!