Vancouver Feline Hospital - Cat Veterinary Clinic

1. We start by assessing health, need for weight management and practicality.

• a. Complete Physical Exam
• b. Cats older than 8 we recommend our older cat package:

1. Complete Physical Exam must include opthalmoscopic and otoscopic exam
2. Blood pressure check
3. Complete blood count, biochemistry screen, T4, urinalysis and FelV/FIV test (if status unknown)
   

• c. Weight, Body Condition Score and Body Mass Index
• d. Discuss lifestyle - history sheet, who feeds the cat, needs of other cats in the house, nibbler/gorger, stress and cats response to stress, activity pattern, toys provided (watch what owner does with toy in room - demo on how to play might be needed)
  

2. Discuss behaviour modification - activity, stimulus, alternate bonding activity (Zoomgroom, catnip toys, interactive toys), expression of hunting behaviour and response to frustration, owners pattern of feeding.

3. Discuss diets - fads, cats unique requirements, low cal vs high protein; is a different diet necessary; introduce the fat cat pack

• a. Determine realistic goals for ideal weight and time frame for weight loss.
• b. Fill out chart
  

4. Cat to go home with

1. Fat Cat Pack (food samples, info, lids, cups, catnip toy)
2. ZoomGroom
3. Interactive toy
   

5. Enter into Callbacks the time frame for weight rechecks and then FOLLOW UP!

Safety - we aim for 1% body weight loss per week, and part of the recheck is to assess BMI subjectively and objectively so that muscle mass is not lost. At this slow rate, with many adjustments for the individual cat, we do not expect secondary liver disease to develop. We adjust our program for the cat!

Success - dependant on a host of factors, and if this way is not successful, we can live with a fat cat - it is a choice we make and no-one is forced into projecting their own concept of body image onto the cat. Weight reduction has been recommended for preventative health measures but we accept may not always be possible for every cat.