Q:My cat Juliet is fat -- really fat. I know I have to get her to lose some weight but her brother Romeo is skinny as can be. How am I supposed to get one to lose weight when the other could use a few more pounds?
A: Arthritis, diabetes, skin conditions and liver issues abound in overweight kitties, to mention a few of the problems Juliet's statistically predisposed to.
Let me offer a few suggestions to help you effect the weight loss she requires:
• Feed her controlled portions twice a day so you can tell how much she consumes. Free-choice feeding on a bottomless bowl of kibble is the biggest problem I see in my practice.
• Separate her physically from her brother at mealtimes.
• Stop supplementing her meals with bits of higher calorie canned food or treats once or twice daily. This is the second most common snag my clients confront.
• Switch to a diet labeled for ''active weight loss.'' Garden-variety lower calorie formulas often won't suffice and truly obese cats are often physically challenged by the sudden drop in nutrients by a simple reduction in quantity (though this approach will work nicely, too, given enough time).
• Start feeding slightly smaller quantities than what she desires to eat. Cut down the volume by a teaspoon every couple of weeks -- even five fewer kibbles every feeding adds up to a lot of calories.
• Start exercising her. Even a few minutes of play every day can make a world of difference to the fat cats of this world. Interaction is healthy for your relationship with her, too.
• If physical separation of your cats during feeding is impossible, consider a slightly labor-intensive approach: build a feeding station small enough so that the plump one can't enter. A big, sturdy plastic box with a small opening cut out with an X-acto knife should work.
• Slow reduction in weight is what we look for in cats. Rapid weight loss is dangerous.
• Cats with diabetes or other health conditions need very specific dietary changes to achieve weight loss.
• Check with your vet before initiating any diet changes.
