Fat Cats: Tragically Cute
I post a lot of adoptable cats to my personal social media accounts and by far, the ones that draw the most engagement are the fat cats. In the photos I share, these “chonks” — to borrow a recently popularized word to describe adorably obese cats — look cute and extra cuddly. In person, while still cute, you can see how they struggle to walk. You may also notice their matted and inflamed hindquarters when they can’t reach to groom back there. Many develop litter box avoidance when getting in and out becomes too much effort. In addition to poor quality of life due to discomfort, feline obesity causes a slew of health problems that cut into the lifespan dramatically. So as charming as chonks might seem, it’s not a good idea to extend the concept of fat acceptance to your cat.
When it comes to veterinary care, cats are perilously underserved compared to dogs. As cats grow larger, so do their medical needs and as a result, we see a lot of them end up in shelters. Obese cats are predisposed to life-threatening fatty liver disease, which sets in rapidly when they eat less than usual or lose weight too fast. And since stressed cats inhibit natural behaviors to the point where they won’t even eat until they feel safe enough to do so, putting an obese cat through the stressful shelter experience is a recipe for disaster.
Through years of animal shelter experience and some devastating firsthand losses, I’ve learned to prioritize the special needs of chonks, although not many shelters have the foresight or the resources to do the same. Ideally, after an obese cat enters the shelter, they’ll be monitored closely by staff or go right to a low-key foster home with someone who knows what to watch for. Eventually their adopter will be educated on preventing fatty liver disease too, as another environment change is stressful and stress always comes with risk when we’re talking about chonks. The popular @iambronsoncat on Instagram, whose weight loss journey has been featured on The Dodo, Bored Panda and Daily Mail, was adopted from Humane Society of West Michigan, where we set his new family up for success. Slowly and carefully, with veterinary guidance and regular weigh-ins, they went on to help him go from 33 pounds to 17.
The key is to take it slow. Some well-meaning people restrict their cats’ food to try to help them lose weight. It doesn’t usually go well, as evidenced by the fate of Zack, another chonk who found some internet fame and was adopted from a different Michigan shelter. That shelter sought someone who’d help Zack lose weight, but they didn’t know it needed to be done in a certain way…neither did Zach’s new owners who unintentionally caused his fatty liver disease with a dangerously strict diet. In this Family Pet article, it’s reported that Zach lost 8 pounds “within a couple of months.” That’s way too much, way too fast.
All of this is to say that chonks aren’t as cute and funny as the internet makes them out to be. Most housecats are mentally and physically under-stimulated so it makes sense that they tend to eat out of boredom, especially when their dishes are bottomless. Prevent obesity by rationing your cat’s meals into two daily feedings, according to the guidelines on their food containers. Even better, take advantage of your cat’s natural instinct to work for their food by offering it in foraging puzzles, which can be bought at pet supply stores or made out of disposable household objects like toilet paper rolls. Keep in mind that you should add some treats to the puzzle in the beginning and you might need to show your cat how to use it.
If your cat is already a chonk, first consult with a veterinarian who is familiar with obese cat care and fatty liver disease (not all vets are). They will likely instruct you to increase canned food and decrease carb-heavy kibble. Regular weigh-ins will be important to make sure the weight doesn’t drop too fast.
Obese or not, every indoor cat needs exercise through interactive play. Before your cat’s dinnertime (a reward after the hunt), trail a shoestring up and down a flight of stairs, toss a bouncy ball down the hallway or use a wand toy to activate their prey drive for at least ten minutes. If you don’t think your cat likes to play, you either haven’t found the right interactive toy or you’re not moving it correctly. Whether you’re slithering it across the floor like a snake or making it fly through the air like a bird, try to mimic the movements of prey and give your cat a chance to catch it every so often. This might seem morbid but I have fun with it by giving the toy a little voice and saying “that hurts!” or “just kill me already” when it’s caught. Then I let the toy slowly “die” towards the end of the session.
If you have the enthusiasm to be your cat’s personal trainer and can cover some veterinary expenses, by all means, adopt a fat cat! Or, for a cost and commitment free way to help, consider fostering one for your local shelter or rescue group. While you’re at it, you’ll probably even end up educating them on this topic.
