Is Your Indoor Cat Overweight? Signs to Watch For and How to Help
While every cat is purr-fect in their own way, maintaining a healthy weight is vital to their overall wellbeing. If you're wondering whether your indoor cat is overweight, you're not alone. Indoor cats are more prone to weight gain due to their more sedentary lifestyle. By recognising the signs of excess weight and taking action with diet, play, and routine, you can help your cat stay healthy and active.
Why Indoor Cats Are More Prone To Weight Gain
Indoor cats often have fewer opportunities to explore and exercise, which can lead to lower energy expenditure. Combine that with unlimited kibble, sneaky treats or boredom snacking, and suddenly those extra grams start to add up. Unlike their outdoor counterparts, indoor kitties rely on us to keep them mentally and physically stimulated.
Without engaging play and mindful feeding, cats may develop unhealthy habits like overeating or excessive lounging. But don’t worry — We Get Pet, and we’ve got smart solutions to help your whiskered friend stay healthy.
Common Signs Your Cat May Be Overweight
Cats are clever at hiding discomfort, so physical signs are often the first clue. Here’s what to look out for:
- Lack of a visible waist when viewed from above
- Difficulty grooming or reaching certain areas
- Less interest in playing or jumping onto furniture
- Heavier breathing or tiring quickly after short bursts of activity
- Visible fat pads, particularly on the abdomen or base of the tail
New Zealand pet parents can also use a body condition score (BCS) guide to assess your cat's shape. This is a handy tool to help you determine whether your cat is underweight, ideal, or overweight. If you're unsure, your vet can help with a proper assessment aligned with local best practices.
How To Help Your Cat Reach A Healthy Weight
Helping your cat lose weight is all about slow and steady progress. Here are our top tips:
1. Choose A Weight-Friendly Cat Food
Look for a balanced, portion-controlled diet designed for weight management. You’ll find plenty of scientifically developed options in our cat weight management collection.
Brands like Hill’s Prescription Diet and Royal Canin Vet offer formulas made specifically for overweight cats, helping them shed excess grams without missing vital nutrients.
2. Serve Meals With Smart Portions
Using a measured scoop or investing in smart pet feeders can help manage portion control. Be sure to follow feeding guidelines based on your cat’s ideal weight, not their current weight.
If your cat loves to graze, consider moving away from a free-feeding schedule and offering meals at set times instead using measured cat bowls or puzzle feeders to slow down eating.
3. Add More Play, Every Day
Keep your cat active, even indoors! Daily interactive play using toys like teasing wands or electronic cat toys helps burn calories and provides mental stimulation.
Short but frequent play sessions can do wonders — try aiming for 2–3 sessions of 10 minutes each throughout the day.
4. Watch Those Treats
Even the tiniest treat can pack in sneaky kilojoules. Choose natural cat treats or opt for low-calorie options and keep them in moderation. Treats should make up no more than 10% of your cat’s daily intake.
5. Consider Health Supplements
For extra support, you might explore weight-focused pet supplements or probiotics that help improve digestion and maintain a healthy metabolism. Just be sure to choose vet-approved options that are appropriate for cats and always follow dosage instructions.
When To Talk To Your Vet
If your cat’s weight continues to rise or they develop signs of health issues (like limping, constipation or delayed grooming), it’s worth having a chat with your vet. They can help rule out underlying conditions and craft a professional weight loss plan tailored to your cat’s needs — in line with New Zealand’s trusted veterinary standards.
Wrap-Up: Helping Indoor Cats Thrive
Weight gain can sneak up on even the sneakiest of cats, but with positive changes to diet, play and routine, you can help get your indoor cat back on the path to health. Every cat deserves to feel good — and when they do, you’ll see it in every pounce, purr and snuggle.
Explore our expert-chosen weight management solutions or talk to us about nutrition advice that suits your cat’s unique lifestyle. At Petdirect, We Get Pet — and we’re here to help every step of the way.