Fat Kitty

I went to the vet with my fat old kitty today.
She's 18 years old and in 2010 she weighed 8,2 kilos. Quite the kittycat, huh?!

When I started my studies as a vet nurse, I decided to put her on a diet and make sure my other cats got premium food too. My parents went crazy if I told them. Like every other pet owner, they were convinced that supermarket food was so much cheaper than premiums. But nothing could be further from the truth!
When you are giving your pet a premium food, like Hills or Royal Canin, it's more likely you have to give a smaller portion than you did with your 'cheaper' pet food brand. Can't follow?
Well, premiums are balanced nutritions. This means, that all the minerals, vitamins and other stuff that your pet really needs, is perfectly present in that pet food. Nothing less, nothing more. Moreover! When you analyse various samples of different lots, the composition will be almost exactly the same. The advantage of this perfectly balanced food, is that there will be a lesser chance of food intolerance, diseases and other health problems.
To give you an example: Salt and sugar, is used in excessive amounts in cheaper foods for flavouring. Pets' bodies need these substances, like any other body. But in a bigger quantity than needed, these substances are dangerous for our health and therefore for your pet too. Too much salt will result in kidney problems and sugar will result in overweight. Giving your pet cheaper foods is like when you would go to Mc. D. every day. We all know how those people turn up, we all watch reality TV...
To come to the point: You will give a smaller amount of your premium food than your supermarket food, because your pet needs less portions to take in the same amount of nutrients. Your bag of supermarket food will be empty sooner than the premiums bag. In the end you will pay somewhere around the same amount of money for both. But with the premium pet food, they will eat less sugar and salt and will live a longer and healthier life. More time to cuddle!

So far for my conviction.
Back to MY fat cat! Eventually I convinced my parents to start the diet. We're feeding her Hills RD for three years now. This is a special prescription diet food to lose weight. It contains all the necessary nutrients and a great amount of high fibres to 'fill up the stomach'. She will stop eating because she's full.
Today she weighed 5,8 kilos. A good result, but it's taking to long for her to lose weight. My parents feed our cats at the same time and don't care if she eats from our other cat's food. Not good, but still, she's losing weight and that's the most important!
Hooray for Pluche!

Quote from the vet: "She looks very good for the age of 18 and she's doing very well!"
Effort pays off!

Last tips for your favourite pet:

• Give them dry pet food, not canned food. It's better for their teeth. Eating dry food is like brushing teeth for them.
• A bag of 'Premium Food' at the supermarket doesn't mean it's a balanced nutrition. Go to your vet or specialised pet store for more information.
  Some special ranges of pet food are only available at the vet.