How to make your cat or dog lose weight – expert opinion (2025)

• Engage in active play for at least 30 minutes dailywhether it’s using a wand toy, a laser (just make sure to reward them after the “hunt”), or whatever toy they like best. (Check out my complete guide to my favorite interactive cat toys for more recommendations.)
• As with dogs, use Puzzle games or Licking the mats For dry or wet foods. It helps engage them if they have to work to get their food, and it also slows down pets that tend to eat quickly. Sometimes I just throw in freeze-dried candy so they can smell it and find it by exploring.
• Make sure you have plenty of Vertical spaces. I have three cat trees for my cats, which helps expand the space (vertically) they can roam in my small apartment.
• An exercise wheel is one of the best ways to get indoor cats to exercise regularly. They’re expensive and bulky, but they take up a lot of space in whatever room they’re in. About half of cats will do this, especially if they are naturally active. (I didn’t have the space or funds to test this on my cat.)
• He owns Multiple cats. I know this is a big ask. Having more than one cat helps keep them more active, and they also have a built-in friend to play with and chase when zoomies happen. Cats, like us, are social creatures that often live in colonies; In fact, some countries require you to adopt more than one cat or make sure you already have one to prevent boredom and loneliness. I personally believe every cat should have a feline companion, although my cats are not related, they play and chase each other a lot (not to mention keep each other company when I’m away). This greatly helps reduce anxiety, boredom (and overeating out of boredom), and destructive behaviors, and helps them socialize and release energy in healthy ways.

Change your pet’s diet

As I will say about almost everything in this guide, be sure to consult your vet before making any major changes, to get a plan tailored to your pet and their needs.

• Enter moisture or Wet food Whenever possible, gradually move toward wet food rather than dry food, which is often full of empty “filler” calories. “Canned wet foods have a higher water content than dry foods,” says veterinarian Emma Choi. “Wet foods increase fullness and hydration in your pets, supporting weight loss and water intake.” This is the exact reason I’m a big fan of pet water fountains, especially for cats, who often suffer from chronic dehydration. TL;DR: Make your pet drink more water whenever possible. (I discreetly add water to my cat’s wet food, treats, purees… anything I can.
• Reduce calories. This especially means cutting down on sweets and table foods, such as peanut butter or a slice of cheese, which all contain more calories per bite and are eaten very quickly.
• Consult your veterinarian to see if a Prescription for weight loss It will be best for your pet. They are designed to help your pet feel full, and are fortified with additional vitamins and minerals to ensure they receive comprehensive nutrition while still experiencing a calorie deficit.
• Switch to Freeze-dried food Instead of kibble or treats. While dry food is convenient, stores longer, and is often calorie-dense, it is less filling and easier to overeat. I was Replace kibble And treats during puzzle or “hunting” time. With the freeze-dried raw products belowwhich has helped reduce overfeeding, contains fewer empty calories, and is more nutrient-dense than traditional foods.

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Air-dried power foods

Almost all the vets and writers I consulted He warned against raw dietsBecause they can contain potentially harmful bacteria and may not contain the complete nutrition needed for a comprehensive diet.

“Raw meat mimics the natural or ancestral diet of cats as omnivores, and claims to contain higher protein-to-carbohydrate ratios, along with increased antioxidants and flavonoids. But, given its drawbacks, […] “Raw meat poses food safety risks due to disease-causing microorganisms,” Choi says. “A diet consisting primarily of wet foods with controlled portions of dried foods may be highly recommended. Raw feeding should always be under the supervision of a veterinarian“.

Technology to monitor your pet’s health

Like I said, as a pet technology writer here at WIRED, my cat can’t pee, poop, eat, or nap without me watching her. Because of all this technology, I have a good idea of ​​my cat’s typical weights, sleeping patterns, and eating habits. This is one of the most effective ways to monitor their health and know when something is out of the ordinary (for example, when my automatic litter box alerted me that Basil was at his highest weight ever).

Get an automatic feeder. there So Many types of automatic feeders, which can help with portion control (I’ve tested more than a dozen). Some models, like the Petlibro One RFID feeder, use a special tag to ensure that only a specific pet gets their share to prevent greedy animals from stealing more than their share; Others, like the Petkit YumShare, have an AI-powered camera to analyze the food remaining in the bowl and will stop dispensing to prevent overfeeding.

Automatic feeders also help manage the severe vomiting cycle that many cats experience. You can Eat several small meals All day long and that will be dispensed with even when you are not there. “Weighing your cat monthly and making slow, gradual reductions in calories is the best way to lose weight,” Dixon says. “There are some automatic feeders that can be very helpful for this, especially since many cats enjoy snacking throughout the day, and the portion can be divided into very small meals throughout the entire day.”

Consider investing in a Smart health pet collar. Like a smart ring for humans, a smart pet collar integrates health monitoring features with tracking devices, and is a popular way to keep track of your pet, whether you are near or far. The tracker attaches to the collar and has GPS for location tracking, sleep and activity tracking, and health alerts when activity or sleep patterns change. Additionally, Tractive for dogs has bark monitoring and also monitors your heart and respiratory rates, alerting you if either is high.

I tested the above Tractive tracker on my cat and started testing the Fi Mini Smart Pet Collar in preparation for a brand new guide on smart pet collars. the Smart health collar It was a great way to gauge Basil’s normal activity and sleep patterns. You set up Daily activity goals To make sure he’s getting enough exercise, the app compares him to similar cats and his historical activity, and measures his efficiency. I really like tracking his patterns and progress over time. I think it’s worth a try for anyone who wants more Monitor their pets’ activity closely and set health goals.

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