Toys that get overweight cats moving

How common is it, and why it matters

Overweight cats are now the norm, not the exception. A 2022 survey by the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention found that 61% of cats were overweight, and Cornell's Feline Health Center estimates that about half the cats seen at vet clinics are overweight, if not obese.^[2],[1]

A cat counts as overweight at about 10 to 19% above their ideal weight. It may not sound like much on a small animal, but it adds up.^[6]

• More disease. Extra weight raises the risk of diabetes, osteoarthritis, heart disease and high blood pressure, bladder stones, cancer, and complications under anesthesia.^[2],[1]
• Harder to move. Obesity makes it harder for a cat to get around, which can mean less play and even more weight.^[5]
• A shorter life. In one study, obese cats aged 8 to 12 had 2.8 times the death rate of lean cats.^[2]

Start with your vet, and go slow

Any weight loss plan for a cat should be run with your vet. Don't cut back your cat's food without talking to your vet team first. They can check for health problems, pick the right food, and work out how much to feed.^[1],[6],[2]

• Slow is safe. Vets aim for a loss of about 1 to 2% of body weight a week, and closer to 0.5% for very obese cats. A severely overweight cat may take up to a year to reach a healthy shape.^[3],[1],[6]
• Regular weigh-ins. Expect a recheck within about a week of starting, then weigh-ins at least every other week until your cat reaches their goal.^[3]
• Ask about rehab. VCA vets recommend adding a physical rehabilitation consult and therapies to a weight loss plan.^[2]

Play sessions that burn energy

Cats are built for short bursts of activity, not long workouts. A minute of all-out chasing is a good result, so think several quick games rather than one long one.^[4],[7]

• Twice a day. Aim to play with your cat for about ten minutes, twice a day.^[3]
• Play hunting games. Wand toys and realistic toy prey get cats chasing, stalking, and pouncing. Most cats love chasing a wand toy or a ball.^[5],[4],[6]
• Reward the catch with food. A tiny piece of food at the end of each chase can encourage your cat to keep playing. Take it from their daily allowance, not on top of it.^[4],[3]
• Be patient early on. A very heavy cat may not want to play at first. As the weight starts to come off, your cat will likely have more energy for it. Until then, mealtime may be your best chance to get them moving.^[4]

Make them hunt for their meals

In the wild, cats hunt and forage for many small meals. The American Association of Feline Practitioners recommends letting pet cats do the same, with frequent small meals, puzzle feeders, and food put in different spots, and says this can help with problems like inactivity and overeating.^[8],[9]

Food puzzles can help weight loss, too. In case examples from a review of food puzzles, cats lost weight gradually after switching to them, including an older cat who lost 6.4% of their body weight over three and a half months and became more mobile.^[9]

• Rolling and still puzzles. Mobile puzzles, like balls and tubes, have to be batted around, so they add movement. Stationary puzzles sit on the floor and have to be pawed at.^[9],[5]
• Start easy. At first, getting food out of a puzzle should be as easy as eating from a bowl. Make it harder only once your cat has the hang of it.^[9]
• Hide the meal. Put small portions of the meal around the house, behind the sofa, on stairs, chairs, and window ledges, so your cat has to go looking.^[5],[9]
• Toss the kibble. If your cat eats dry food, throw pieces down a hallway or across a room so they move for each one.^[4]
• Use the daily ration. Puzzles and hiding spots should hold part of your cat's measured daily food, not extra.^[3]

Get them climbing

Cats like to climb to the highest resting spot they can find, so a cat tree gets a cat moving up and down all day.^[5]

• Start at a height they can manage. Obesity is linked to osteoarthritis and makes it harder to get around, so a heavy cat may need a lower perch or wider steps at first. Pick something sturdy that won't wobble under their weight.^[5],[2]
• Put food up high. Hide part of a meal on a stair, perch, or window ledge they have to climb to reach.^[5]

Count every treat

Treats add up fast. A few here and there, or a bite from your plate, all raise your cat's daily calories.^[6]

• Keep treats to 10%. Treats should make up no more than 10% of your cat's daily calories. If your vet sets a target of 300 calories a day, that's about 270 from food and 30 from treats.^[2],[3]
• Treats in toys count too. Anything you put in a treat ball or use to reward a chase is part of that total.^[3],[4]
• Get everyone on board. Weight loss works best as a partnership between your household and the vet team. Make sure everyone who feeds your cat knows the plan.^[3]

Keeping play safe

• Put the wand away. Wand toys are for playing together. Store them out of reach whenever you're not playing.^[7]
• No string, ribbon, or wool. Skip toys made of ribbon or string, pipe cleaner toys, and balls of wool.^[7]
• End laser games with a catch. A laser dot can be chased but never caught. Switch to a wand toy to finish so the game ends on a win.^[7]
• Let them set the pace. Short bursts are normal for cats. Let your cat stop when they want to, and build up slowly as the weight comes off.^[4],[7]