Comments on: Her name is CHUBBY…

By: Felicia

Felicia — Sat, 29 Jul 2006 02:40:20 +0000

MIGHT I JUST SAY PEOPLE that Sophie has gone MAD, star-craving MAD for the laser light thing. ROB, I HEART YOU.

Sophie was running about the apartment, hysterical, and then fell into a thump on the carpet.

NICE

By: Felicia

Felicia — Thu, 27 Jul 2006 12:36:28 +0000

A,
Hey there! I actually don’t feed Sophie a lot of dry food – she’s mainly on a wet diet. Dry food was just a supplement, however, I think I’m going to try the Eukanaba stuff
xoxox,.f

By: alex

alex — Thu, 27 Jul 2006 06:47:51 +0000

I was at Whole Foods today and they had this mini-freezer that had frozen dog and cat food in what looked like little salami wrappings. It’s raw meet (chicken, fish and something else) with egg whites and minerals. It has serving portions on it and it’s all organic.

I’m going to try this with my cat since it’s natural and healthy. The problem with dry food is that it often has so much filler in it the cat isn’t really full and can over eat or can’t break down the food. It’s like someone who only eats white bread – eating but not getting full and getting fat. Or like a Celiac who can’t break down certain things. So maybe a more protein, natural diet would help?

It was about $5 a pop and looked like it had 10 servings.

By: Felicia

Felicia — Wed, 26 Jul 2006 10:51:22 +0000

Erica,
Thanks for stopping by! I do actually feed Sophie wet food, Wellness, however, I’m getting into this Eukanaba food. I’m having a trying tip with removing the food bowl (my holistic pet store told me to do this to get her used to feeding times) but i need to getg more disciplined about this.

I’m nervous about other kinds of food as I don’t want to feed her anything with animal byproducts, etc.

Cheers, f.

By: erica

erica — Wed, 26 Jul 2006 01:37:55 +0000

Iams actually has one of the highest fat contents around. I, too, have a fat cat, but he’s been stable for years on Science Diet Light–it was recommended to me by a vet, who used it for her own cat. It’s also one of the best–if not the best-cat foods out there.

Also, don’t leave food out for her all day–just feed her twice a day, and take the dish away when she’s done. This is challenging, but crucial!

Finally, it’s gross, but: wet food is actually more satisfying to cats than dry, because it’s mostly protein, while dry food is mostly carbohydrates. So the cats can eat less and feel more satisfied. My other cat lost weight this way, and both are happier with the wet food. You could try one of the little cans of Science Diet–half in the AM, half in the PM.

Sorry to blather on and on….

By: Katrina

Katrina — Tue, 25 Jul 2006 16:43:28 +0000

My Olivia is fifteen pounds–about four-five pounds overweight–so any suggestions you get will help me too.

By: Felicia

Felicia — Tue, 25 Jul 2006 16:27:13 +0000

Sharon,
You’re so right! I need to stop thinking that pudgy is adorable and think of it in more serious terms. The idea of losing Sophie is too traumatic to bear. I’ve already moving on the diet food – but THANKS for writing.
Cheers, f.

By: Sharon Hurlbut

Sharon Hurlbut — Tue, 25 Jul 2006 16:15:36 +0000

I had a cat that weighed 22 pounds at his heaviest. We got his weight down with some Science Diet prescription food that worked wonders, then maintained it with Science Diet Light. Unfortunately, the damage was done and he developed diabetes. Though he lived for several years with twice daily insulin shots before finally dying from overactive thyroid, I have always regretted letting him be so overweight for so long. Cats CAN lose weight, but you have to be vigilant about how much and what food they get. I wish all the best for you and Sophie. May you have many more years together.

By: Felicia

Felicia — Tue, 25 Jul 2006 10:46:43 +0000

Rob,
It’s like I had the same experience at the vet. Sophie looked at me with the WHY eyes and I lost it. I had to leave the room and hear her howl from outside. It was so wrong.

I didn’t think of the pointer. That could be incredibly successful.

thx! xoxxoox, f.

By: rob

rob — Tue, 25 Jul 2006 03:01:25 +0000

omigosh. i almost cried when reading about sophie at the vet. i, too, get totally emotional taking my hermia (or my step cats, jack and betsy) to the vet.
the same thing happened with hermia– they couldn’t find her vein because she’s a little, ..erm, overweight too. they had to shave a part of her neck and take it out from her jugular! i almost collapsed. my stomach hurt so bad and the little cry that came from hermia’s mouth, and seeing the blood in the needle. and hermia looking at me with that little face, that look of “why?” in her eyes. oof.
anyway… i totally understand.
we use science diet– light formula– and we also bought a tiny laser pointer (for about $10) that the cats LOVE chasing. it gives them some exercise. we’ve also just tried our best to give the cats smaller portions when we feed them.
good luck! sophie looks beautiful!
big is beautiful!

By: Felicia

Felicia — Tue, 25 Jul 2006 00:54:55 +0000

I am ALL ABOUT THIS Eukanuba food. I tried playing with Sophie and she leaned back and yawned.
thanks, lor!

By: lorissa

lorissa — Mon, 24 Jul 2006 23:10:23 +0000

awww, she is such a cutie, isn’t she.

i would opt against Iams personally. they have horrible testing practises.

Eukanuba is really good quality stuff. is there anything sophie likes chasing? pelei loves to go fetch hairbands (i know, odd) and bring them back. we play the “fetch” game for ages. perhaps she was a dog in a former life…

By: Felicia

Felicia — Mon, 24 Jul 2006 19:52:34 +0000

Thanks, Stacy! I’ll check it out.

Cheers, f.

Update: GOT IT: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/18/health/18brody.html

By: Stacy

Stacy — Mon, 24 Jul 2006 19:05:12 +0000

There was an article in last Tuesday’s New York Times (science section) about overweight cats. I read the article quickly, so I don’t remember all the details, but I think there are some helpful tips. I too have an overweight cat, so I clipped it for mysaelf, but maybe you will find it helpful.

By: Felicia

Felicia — Mon, 24 Jul 2006 17:56:13 +0000

Hmm, Alex, this sounds smart. I can’t find this Living Without magazine in my local B&N; I think I might just have to bunker down and subscribe, sounds delish.

Thanks for the links – I’m all over it this week.

xoxo, f.