As a cat parent to four beautiful felines, Bunty, Babli, Mini and Prince Goldie, I have always been most generous with affection and food. Giving the cats treats was a way of bonding with them; mealtimes were their utter moments of joy, and I found some form of comfort knowing that their bowls were never empty.
However, soon I started noticing small signs. There were shorter play sessions, and the cats were moving a lot slower than before. There was also a lot of hesitation each of the cats had before jumping onto their favourite spots. I decided to visit the vet the following week, to and I was informed that it was only a result of the four cats having GAINED WEIGHT that their health was getting affected.
The Decision to Begin a Diet
This decision was one of the hardest, and it wasn’t easy at all. I had to change their feeding habits, which meant that I had to adjust my own routines as well. This also meant sticking to portion sizes and even ignoring those pleading eyes as well! I knew though this had to be done and it was not just for their bodies but also for their energy, confidence levels and longevity!
How Each Cat Was Adapting
Bunty was by far the most affected. She missed grazing throughout the day, but with a scheduled feeding routine and playtime built, she slowly started to adapt and become more energetic again.
Babli, as expressive as ever, protested at first but also started to show signs of increased movement and curiosity. Having been the most resistant, she did not easily adjust to smaller portions. Babli was quite dramatic at first, and she very clearly showed me how unhappy she was about the change, but ultimately adjusted to the low-calorie treats.
Mini surprised me as she adjusted the fastest! She’s become even more active and playful, and her body already feels lighter during cuddle time. She even became more agile and even became more excited about meal times, even though they were more controlled.
Prince Goldie, our regal boy, took some convincing as this was not something he was up to at all. He refused to eat the new food, and it really took a lot of time for him to adjust so I had to be patient. Once we found a healthy food that he enjoyed, he also settled into his routines and even started participating more during play.
As a cat owner, what I have learned:
Cats may resist change at first, but given time, they will be highly adaptable
Portion control, interactive play and low-cal treats can help in the long run.
Patience is the topmost priority! Not just for them but with yourself as a pet parent!
The journey isn’t about perfection, because whoever was perfect in the first place. It’s about progress and little steps. Small changes go a long way, and each one of these changes helped the cats move better, sleep deeper and engage a lot more! As they grew lighter, the home began to feel lighter as well!
The love you give as a pet parent by choosing health over indulgence is the ‘kindest’ thing you can do for your pet!
