Operation Slim Cat, Month 2
August 30, 2011Of course not! It's becoming a blog about medications, health problems, and my overweight cat.
Hiya.
Two months ago (exactly! What do you know! I didn't even plan that) I wrote about our cat Izzy, who is large. Henry calls her "plush," which I think makes her sound … cleaner than she is. More luxurious. It's not easy for a cat to be clean when she can't reach all of her areas to clean them. And let me tell you, she does not want me cleaning her. Oh, I do it anyway, under severe protest. Both of us have been injured, either physically or emotionally, by my frequent attempts at brushing/wiping/rinsing. Our relationship has suffered.
I put her on a diet, as I mentioned. I read a bunch, and I guess you're supposed to not feed your cat unlimited amount of dry food all the time? Huh! Hargh! Oops! I switched her from dry carb-loaded crap to high-quality wet food. Half a can in the morning, half a can in the evening, with a tiny smidge of dry food available as a mid-day snack.
This is a LOT LESS FOOD than I was giving her before. And it's paid off! Wait until you see the dramatic results!
Here was Izzy before:
And here she is now. BEHOLD!
In other words, she looks exactly the same. But IN FACT she is now a svelte NINETEEN pounds instead of the TWENTY she was two months ago, and according to the veterinary health professionals, she is supposed to lose no more than a half pound a month, so we are RIGHT ON SCHEDULE. And I am using many CAPITAL LETTERS to express my ENTHUSIASM.
It might take a while, but someday she'll be able to clean her own butt! Which means that I'll be wiping exactly zero butts in my household! And that's on my Life List!
Izzy is an enthusiastic fan of the wet cat food, but she gobbles it right up and then spends the rest of the day demanding more. She is unappeased by the mid-day kibble snack. She has tasted the wonders of damp lamb-chunks, and she no longer wants any part of dry food. So for most of the day, here is where she can be found, sitting just like this, glaring at me:
Oh, we had to put her food up high, because Charlie will inhale it the minute we turn our backs. And, of course, because the food is wet, we can't hear him munching away. One slurp and it's done. (Until he throws it back up. So charming! Pets are so charming!)
And yes, she sits with her front legs splayed out, like this. I have no idea why. She has always done so. She continues to sit like this while I snap pictures of her, like she's not embarrassed at all.
Cats have no shame. They could use a little shame. Shame might give her the nudge she needs to, I don't know, cover her poop in the litter box. Or not glare at me while I clean her terrible haunches.
I truly hope that once she gets into a more reasonable cat-form, I'll like her a little more. I mean, I don't HATE her, but I'm having a hard time remembering what was so lovable about her. In addition to being kind of filthy and grumpy, she harasses Charlie on a daily basis. And Charlie is a senior citizen. He deserves some peace and quiet in his dotage. Come ON:
How could you bat your Evil Paws of Doom at this face, Izzy? HOW?
Reader Comments (56)
I'm wondering how can it be comfortable sitting with her legs dangling like that??? Anyway, from what you have written, I shouldn't have a soft spot for your cat but I can't help liking her style.. Good luck with the weight loss program!
Audrey from Toddler Beds
Look, my cat was never "Izzy-big" but she was a good 4 lb overweight. She randomly got sick last December, lost those 4 lb and my vet basically said: "I know she loves to eat. Who doesn't? But keep it off." She gets 2/3 can of wet food per day and that's it. She cries for other food but she has since the day I adopted her because she was a starving, emotional abandoned cat. She's living the good life, her coat looks really good, and at 14 had more energy than she ever did at 7. So good luck. May you find your Izzy love again-- stick with it and I think you will.
Oh.my.word. I started cracking up with the before and after photos. We currently have 3 cats (yes, my husband calls me the crazy cat lady, and yes, one of them is named Izzy) so I totally relate to the "feed me wet food" whining. Add in the fact that Puma refused to drink from anything but the faucet for a few years, and we had an interesting household. Good luck--it's a tough battle! My brother put his cat on the "Catkins" diet...which I love just because of the name!
I love how cats have such personalities. My four cats know when i get off work it is time for them to get their wet food. They are waiting for me at the door when I walk in. Abbie lays just like that but on the back of the couch and the ground. We call her super abbie as she is imitating superman.
We were so sure that we can be proud of it. But you know, I still can freelance writer, even with all that animals at home
Far too many owners, whether due to lack of knowledge or lack of time, feed their cat dry kibble only. Unfortunately for the cat, this is his only source of nutrition which often lacks what he needs most in his diet. Compare this to a cat food diet that you prepare yourself from ingredients that you know are safe and nutritious for your pet. You’ll quickly realize why cats kept on home made raw meat diets are so much healthier.