How to Determine if Your Cat Is Overweight

If your favorite feline is wearing an apron instead of sporting an hourglass figure, you've got one fat cat.     Steps: 1.  Check that your pet's ribs are easily felt but not visibly sticking out. This indicates that your cat is at a desirable weight.   2.  Look at your pet from above. Some indentation between the rib cage and the hips, depicting an hourglass shape, indicates that your pet is at a desirable weight.   3.  Check your pet's belly. If the belly of a cat protrudes, the cat may be overweight. (A protruding belly on a cat is called an apron.)   4.  Feel your pet's hips. Anything more than light fleshiness indicates that your pet is above normal weight.   5.  Always consult a veterinarian before putting a pet on a diet. Your veterinarian can recommend a special diet appropriate to your pet, and can examine your pet to rule out the possibility that a serious medical condition is causing the obesity.     Tips: Regular exercise helps your pet lose weight.   A cat's weight at 1 year of age often reflects the animal's optimal body weight, although this is not true of cats that are already obese at 1 year. A veterinarian can provide weight guidelines.     Warnings: Visible ribs or excessive thinness could be a sign of hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) in cats, especially in those over 12 years of age. Consult a veterinarian if your pet is chronically underweight.   It's crucial not to let your cat become overweight - it could lead to hepatic lipidosis (a fatty liver).