Healthy Weight Loss Tips for Indoor Cats Simple Ways to Manage Your Cat’s Weight

It's not easy to keep a cat indoors. They're naturally independent and want to be outdoors, but that can be dangerous. So how can you help your cat stay healthy while still enjoying the freedom of being an indoor feline? 

 Here are some tips for keeping your indoor cat at a healthy weight.

Feed a High-Quality Diet

According to Adroit Market Research, the global cat food market is expected to be worth USD 66 billion by 2028.

You don't want your cat to go hungry, but you also don't want to be feeding your indoor cat a bunch of junk food. A high-quality diet is essential because it can help keep your cat healthy and at an ideal weight. Be sure to feed your kitty foods with high protein and low carbohydrate content. These foods include:

• Meat (Purina cat food and Purina Pro Plan indoor cat food), fish (wellness cat food), eggs (egg whites), and dairy products like cheese are all excellent sources of protein for cats. 

• If you're not a fan of meat-based diets, you can always look for vegetarian options that contain only plant-based ingredients. Future Market Insights report that the vegan food market for cats is expected to see a steady gain at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.2% between 2021 to 2031. Its market worth in 2021 was USD 10,560.4 million.

Vegetables like broccoli, carrots, and peas are good sources of carbohydrates in a cat's diet because they provide fiber without being too fatty or sugary. Cat treats containing vegetables like the one from Blue Buffalo cat food may also help encourage them to eat their veggies more often.

Monitor Caloric Intake

To determine how many calories to feed your cat, you'll need to do a little math. For each pound of body weight, cats need about 20-25 kcals/day. So if your 10 lb cat is eating 250 kcals daily, that's more than enough. 

But if she starts looking a bit too thin (generally less than 3% of her body weight), consider upping her daily intake by 100-200 kcal per day until she gains a healthy amount of weight back.

Watch for Free-Feeding Pitfalls

One of the most common mistakes cat parents make is that they free-feed their cats. It’s easy to understand why – you want your kitty to be happy, and a hungry cat is usually not very happy. But if you feed your indoor kitty whenever he wants to eat, it can lead to

• obesity

• overfeeding

• poor nutrition (because he may overeat certain foods)

• lack of exercise (because he only walks around the house looking for food instead of running around outdoors)

According to Statista, over 33% of cats in the US are obese, and almost 26% are overweight.

Don’t Add Unnecessary Calories

Cats are carnivores and should be fed meat-based diets. Some cats also have sensitive stomachs or food allergies, which makes cooking for them even more important.

There are a few things that you should avoid when it comes to your cat’s diet:

• Don't give table scraps – these can cause digestive problems if they're not prepared properly, and if they're too fatty or salty, they could cause obesity.

• Don't give human food – this includes milk, fish/chicken bones, rawhide chews, or treats that add unnecessary calories.

Provide Interactive Toys and Games

Providing your cat with a variety of interactive cat toys and games can help to improve its mental and physical fitness. 

Interactive toys are those that you control, such as laser pointers. Exercise balls and laser Kong toys are also great for providing exercise and mental stimulation. Play with your cat for at least 10 minutes a day before meals, after meals, or when you are bored.

Conclusion

As you can see, there are many simple things that you can do to keep your indoor cat healthy and fit. By feeding her a high-quality diet, monitoring caloric intake, and practicing portion control, she’ll be lean and fit in no time.

 We hope these tips will help you keep your kitty feeling great.