thender
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1 edit | My cat is reluctant to exercise.
Hi.
A few weeks ago, I got a cat. Here is his history.
He was left by a cliff ending in NJ by his first owner. His children were afraid of him because he constantly scratched them out of nowhere.
The second owner is someone who fancies herself a rescuer of cats. One of her cats got sick because it was afraid to use its litterbox, since it would have to pass by the evil cat to get to it.
I finally took him in. He was prescribed prozac for his aggression which I took him off of.
He has become a very kind, loving cat. He loves it when I brush him, feed him, etc.
However, he is a fat bastard. He was 22 lbs when I got him.
I bought him toys in hopes that he would move around and get some exercise. The extent of his current movement is this.
a) move to get food.
b) roll over when I brush/pet him so I can brush his other side.
c) walk to door when I get home, to meow for more food.
He doesn't play with any toys. he doesn't play with pieces of string, a laser pointer, or my headphone cord. He doesn't like catnip, and he won't walk outside on or off a leash. I have not owned cats before, but I have worked at two places that had 24/7 cats, and I have never met such a lazy cat before.
He is too smart to be tricked into exercising.
He was 22 lbs when I got him. I got him down to 18 and a half(the vet said he'd be healthy at 14-16). He went back up to 22 when I weighed him on Friday.
Lately, I have been curling him like a barbell. I do 20 curls, then let him go. I hold him properly so it isn't painful, but he absolutely hates this activity because he isn't in control. So when I let him go, he runs away. Then I chase him to find him, and he runs around. I get rid of a lot of the hiding spots by moving shelves to the wall and lifting the bed up and leaning it on the wall, so he has to run, and therefore, he gets exercise.
I do this about 45 minutes a day.
I got him down to a slimming 17 lbs! He actually fits into the LARGE leash I got him. And he is notably faster than he was when I first got him.  He was ridiculously slow for a grown feline before.
My question is, is there a better way to trick a cat who has no desire to move unless it is to get food or to be brushed into exercising?
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sailor
Merry Whatever ..R.I.P. dadkins
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join:2003-10-21
Long Island
| said by thender  :My question is, is there a better way to trick a cat who has no desire to move unless it is to get food or to be brushed into exercising? You don't own or trick a cat. They trick and own their owners...The cat is trying to let you know you do the exercise and when your finished get your butt in the kitchen and get some dinner for him. And hurry the hell up... 
Cats even know how to make noises a certain way to push your emotional buttons so you will continue to kiss their pampered little ass. |
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beck
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| reply to thender
Stop putting out so much food for him!
Instead of feeding from a bowl, take one bit at a time and skim it across the kitchen floor. He runs or walks to get that piece. Then skim another piece into another part of the kitchen. He might actually get into this. If it's the only way to get food and the faster he goes to get each piece, the faster the next piece is let go. Make him work for each piece of food and CUT DOWN ON THE AMOUNT YOU GIVE HIM.
He doesn't go to the store and keep buying so much food to get fat.
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thender
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1 edit | Where did you get the idea I fed him more than one cup a day?
He stops paying that game after a while, once he finds out it is a game. After about four pieces.
He would rather starve than work.  |
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sailor
Merry Whatever ..R.I.P. dadkins
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join:2003-10-21
Long Island
2 edits | reply to beck
said by beck :He doesn't go to the store and keep buying so much food to get fat. You'd be surprised what they do when your asleep or not looking. I yelled at my neighbors cat to stop messing up my garden and then I went to take a nap..When I woke up I caught him under my vehicle trying to rig my brake line so next time I drove my truck the brakes would fail.  |
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tcope
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Sandy, UT
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| reply to thender
I'm confused... you curl the cat and this somehow is exercise for him?
I switched my cats to lite food. It takes awhile for cats to like the food once it's switched. I've since switched to a high grade food but they still wait for me to sprinkle a little of the lite food on top. Something to consider.
All cats are different just like people. Some cat are going to be predisposition to be fatter then others.
If it's just been a few weeks then the cat is still adjusting to his new living arrangements. You need to give it some time and he might start being more active. I'm betting eventually, as you get to know him better, you will find some activity that he likes where he will be active. |
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thender
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| said by tcope :I'm confused... you curl the cat and this somehow is exercise for him? way to miss and twist the point
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tcope
Premium
join:2003-05-07
Sandy, UT | Oh, I get it... you piss him off by holding him so he runs.... creating the exercise. You then remove all of his safety places one by one. Way to bond! |
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SnowyOne
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Kailua, HI
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| Re: My cat is reluctant to exercise.
said by thender :Way to troll! I'm equally confused as tcope is about the curling. |
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thender
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2 edits | quote:
Lately, I have been curling him like a barbell. I do 20 curls, then let him go. I hold him properly so it isn't painful, but he absolutely hates this activity because he isn't in control. So when I let him go, he runs away. Then I chase him to find him, and he runs around. I get rid of a lot of the hiding spots by moving shelves to the wall and lifting the bed up and leaning it on the wall, so he has to run, and therefore, he gets exercise.
i can't for the life of me see what is so confusing about this.
I prompt him to run and hide in a non harmful manner so he get some exercise.
He is used to the place, he's been here a while.
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SnowyOne
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| said by thender : quote:
Lately, I have been curling him like a barbell. I do 20 curls, then let him go. I hold him properly so it isn't painful, but he absolutely hates this activity because he isn't in control. So when I let him go, he runs away. Then I chase him to find him, and he runs around. I get rid of a lot of the hiding spots by moving shelves to the wall and lifting the bed up and leaning it on the wall, so he has to run, and therefore, he gets exercise.
i can't for the life of me see what is so confusing about this. I prompt him to run and hide in a non harmful manner so he get some exercise. He is used to the place, he's been here a while. OK, let's say I'm viewing this from the context of the threads subject:
My cat is reluctant to exercise
I just don't understand what YOU curling the cat has to with the cat's lack of exercising.
Maybe a better thread title would be:
My cat is reluctant to exercise with me? |
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thender
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| I want to know if there's a better way to stimulate him to exercise so he doesn't pass the 22 lbs barrier.
He killed a few mice when I first brought him here. Short of finding mice and bringing them here, I am out of ideas.
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battleop
join:2005-09-28
00000 | reply to thender
You pretty much described how cats work. If you want for him to run and get some exercise get a laser pointer. It's a fun activity for the both of you. He will get the exercise and you will laugh your ass off. |
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chrisretusn
Retired
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join:2007-08-13
Philippines
| said by thender :He doesn't play with any toys. he doesn't play with pieces of string, a laser pointer, or my headphone cord. He doesn't like catnip, and he won't walk outside on or off a leash. I have not owned cats before, but I have worked at two places that had 24/7 cats, and I have never met such a lazy cat before. --
Chris
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Bobcat
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1 edit | reply to thender
Re: My cat is reluctant to exercise.
First you have to realize that house cats sleep 16 hours a day. That's normal. They spend much of the rest of the time sitting still, looking out the window.
How old is this cat? If he's over 7 years old, you're not going to get him to do any exercise. Having said that, most cats will chase after a string (although you'll get more exercise than he will).
You need to feed him less. Perhaps your vet could suggest alternative foods.
But don't starve him. That can cause (kidney? liver? I forget) problems with cats. It becomes a vicious cycle as their health deteriorates.
EDIT: Post a photo of your fatso cat! |
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Desdinova
join:2003-01-26
Gaithersburg, MD
| reply to thender
I don't have too much to add to the discussion other than to say that I don't understand why so many folks didn't understand the OP's reason for curling the cat; it was pretty obvious from the original post that the cat's curled SOLELY to annoy it into running away.
And once again, the internet has guided me into forming an opinion on a subject I never would known existed otherwise: curling cats! |
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Vathral
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New York, NY
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1 edit | reply to Anon
Like said before, sure it would be nice to get him into the "healthy" range but if he doesn't want to do certain activities, let him be. Just don't let him become any fatter. |
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thender
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1 edit | reply to thender
right now i feed him a cup to a cup and a quarter of food everyday. When I stopped the routine of chasing him he shot right back up to 22 lbs.
I have no idea how old he is, since he was abandoned by two owners, which has made finding exercise & dietary advice difficult.
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