It’s official.
The vet has declared that both Mabel and
Charlie are overweight. I knew that Mabel was a big girl but, in comparison,
Charlie looks like a dot. Apparently she’s not.
It’s almost a year since we adopted them from the RSPCA and so
it was time for their annual jabs, or MOT as daughter calls it. We discovered
something about the girls even before we arrived at the vets. They miaow in
harmony. [They usually purr and brrrp at home.] Mabel, being the
larger cat, surprised us by having a higher pitched miaow to little Charlie who
has a thick, double-cream voice. We had to smile at them even though we knew
they weren’t happy girls.
Once at the vet’s they fell into a sullen silence. They must
have known what was about to happen. It wasn’t the flea check. They passed that
without a twitch and the heart check and neither of them noticed their jabs.
They weren’t even concerned about the news that they have a bit of tartar and
may need some dental treatment at some stage, but to be told that they must go
on diet was not what they wanted to hear. They do love their food.
Over the years I’ve had many cats, all rescue and usually with
delicate digestions and food fads as long as your tail. These girls are solid [according
to Mr Vet, Mabel is 5.75 kg and Charlie is 4.69 kg] and they’re almost always
hungry. I’ve bought a large bag of the light version of their usual dry food
and we’re slowly moving them over to it plus we’ve reduced their wet food, just
half a sachet each a day. They’re not happy. In fact, they’re furious. So I now
have a problem. How do I survive my cats’ new diet regime? Any kind-to-cats suggestions gratefully accepted.
To be honest, I can't see a fat cat in this pic. They are not bony, but FAT? No way.
ReplyDeleteIt's a while since I had a cat and he was a large grey just like yours.They don't look fat but I suppose the vet knows better.I know that if they feel hungry they will meow at you all day and it will drive you mad. I like the Thick,double-cream voice, sounds delicious.
ReplyDeleteAw, poor things. They don't look fat.
ReplyDeleteHaving hungry animals in the house is no fun. They make their feelings known. Good luck!
Like Cassam, I immediately picked up on the "...wht a phrase!love it!thick double cream voice"
ReplyDeleteRe mabel and Charlie...they're not absolute porkers are they? Maybe quite well covered...
Anyway, don't envy you as the mistress of the new regime!
Like Cassam, I immediately picked up on the "...wht a phrase!love it!thick double cream voice"
ReplyDeleteRe mabel and Charlie...they're not absolute porkers are they? Maybe quite well covered...
Anyway, don't envy you as the mistress of the new regime!
Too bad you can't explain to them that it's for their own good. And that they are lucky to have been rescued from a fate far worse than being on a diet.
ReplyDeleteIf I had cats, they would totally be fat too. Maybe if you distract them with string, they won't notice the lack of wet food?
ReplyDeleteYikes! Good luck with that. A furious cat is never a good thing.
ReplyDeleteOh, they are beautiful! Good luck with the change of diet. That's never fun.
ReplyDeleteAww, I wish I had some advice for you. My sympathies to them - and you. They are beautiful, by the way.
ReplyDeleteNo, no, no! They aren't "fat". Just "fluffy". My girls are quite fluffy, too.
ReplyDeleteLily was diagnosed as a fat cat but that was in the winter when she
ReplyDeletewasn't going out much. After several months on the light diet and some better weather the vet said she was concerned because she had lost weight - err yes I thought
that was the idea. Charlie and Mabel look well nourished to me, not fat!
Poor little things! I hope you all get through this transition quickly!!!!
ReplyDeleteLast year we were told Bob (our dog) was overweight. And that as they had just speyed her (is that the right word?) she was likely to put more weight on.
ReplyDeleteWe cut out all her treats and she just gets her basic food. She stalks us as though she's starving and we have to ignore her. It's for her own good in the long run. We will hopefully have her around for a little bit longer than if we hadn't made the alterations. Though she isn't losing much with the middle age spread coming on!
I think it's the only way to deal with it. Grit your teeth, ignore the grumpy faces and know they will settle and you will have them around longer. Good luck!
Hi Mariam, no they’re certainly not bony!
ReplyDeleteHi Anne and Shirley, you’re absolutely right. They are following me and making their feelings known. I’ve upped the wet food just slightly for all our sanities and because I’m feeling a little less worried about their weight after people’s comments.
Hi Bridget, double-cream miaows are only cute in short bursts!
Hi Inger, I’ve often thought how much easier it would be if we could reason with our pets but then they’d develop attitude like teenagers do.
Hi Gwen, they have toys which they play with for the odd moment. They’re a bit old for string games to last long enough for real exercise. Maybe in the summer it’ll be better.
Hi Talli, you’ve experienced the company of a furious cat too huh!
Hi Ruth and Sarah, thanks. They are rather lovely.
Hi Susan, I tried telling the vet they were fluffy but his scales didn’t take any notice!
Hi Alex, Lily’s not a fat cat… but is that because she’s on light food. My main problem is that they don’t really like the light food.
Hi Jemi, and thanks.
Hi Rebecca, I hate that look they give you. I can’t bear to think that they may be suffering but I do want them to live longer so… *sigh*
I've never seen such fat cats as the one my great aunts used to have. they always only had one cat and it was always very bad tempered and incredibly fat. We once found a competition for cat food in which you had to win your cat's weight in gold, of all things. Of course she didn't eat cat food (only boiled whiting was good enough for her)but we collected so many labels. Didn't win though :D
ReplyDeleteHi Ros .. invite them to look for mice outside in the cold? That'll exercise them a little, save you some cash - one meal perhaps, and then who knows - happy vet, unhappy you and most definitely unhappy pussy-cats!
ReplyDeleteDo not know - but boy did they select the right place to live!! Cheers Hilary
Our beloved Jasper was overweight for all of his 15 years. When he was younger we tried to put him on a diet ie give smaller portions then put him outside for exercise but all he did was go next door and eat our neighbour's cats' food...
ReplyDelete