3. Tailor their activity for a healthy weight
Healthy weight starts with healthy habits, even for pets! Exercise is key to keeping dogs and cats mentally stimulated and active. The amount of activity they need varies depending on their age, weight and breed. Cats are naturally active animals who thrive on short bursts of activity, while dogs love to spend lots of time outdoors whether walking, running, or even swimming.
Similarly, consider where they spend most of their time. Outdoor cats will happily allocate several hours a day to roam their environment and hunt, while indoor cats like to spend a lot of time engaging with their owners through toys and physical interaction – aww! On the canine front, younger dogs and larger breeds need two or more active sessions outdoors a day, whereas older dogs prefer a gentle stroll in the morning and evening.
4. Customise their environment
Care is needed to ensure that a cat’s indoor environment doesn’t become boring to them, leading to them being inactive and gaining extra weight. Cats are clever animals who enjoy puzzle feeders and hunting for dried food, so it’s recommended they have access to a cat tree that’s tall enough for them to use whilst fully stretched to strengthen their muscles, and so that they maintain a healthy weight for a cat.
Meanwhile, if your dog enjoys socializing, after lockdown you could team up with another owner for a group walk around the park, or check for dog walking groups in your local area (remember to be COVID-19 compliant if meeting up with others outside of your household). When you can’t get outside due to poor weather or ill health, hide and seek is a game that most dogs adore – hide one of their favorite toys to keep brains active and senses alert. You can also try ‘hide the treat’ – but hide some of their daily rations rather than extra treats to ensure you’re not adding extra calories. Clever, right?
5. Keep an eye on portions
Many owners think their dog or cat needs more food than they do – meaning lots of pets are overfed. For maintaining an ideal dog weight, a good starting point is to follow the feeding guide on their pet food. Also, consider the size of your dog – a small breed such as a Chihuahua will require much fewer calories than a St. Bernard.
If they’re a working dog they’ll also need more food than one who spends most of their time indoors with only short walks. A dog may beg for human food at mealtimes when they’re not actually hungry but are seeking attention from you and have become bored or want more affection. If signs of begging or consistent hunger persist, always consult your vet to rule out underlying issues such as worms.
Cats who like to be on the move will require more energy from food than one who is sedentary and mainly stays indoors. Also, consider if you spayed or neutered your pet, because sterilisation changes their metabolism, and you may see an increase in their appetite by 20-25% when their actual energy requirement has reduced by 30%. Also, lots of cats prefer to graze over the course of a day, and in this case it’s best to allocate a portion of food for the whole day, then leave the bowl out and allow them to revisit rather than topping it up or making separate portions.
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