Monash vet Dr Robbie Anderton talks tackling obesity, anxiety and overeating in cats

Is your cat overeating or not getting enough exercise? Dr Robbie explains how to keep your moggy fighting fit.

Dr Robbie Anderton is a vet at Waverley Animal Hospital in Mount Waverley.

A recent study has been published that has shown there may be better ways to feed our cats that may help to combat obesity, overeating and anxiety.

The Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery reports cats who eat low energy foods had to expend large amounts of energy to acquire — like hunting rodents.

So they spent lots of time in their day trying to get enough energy to survive.

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We now feed our cats high energy, highly palatable commercial foods in bowls at set feeding times.

So now they spend a small amount of time getting all their energy without having to work hard at all.

And this can lead to obesity problems, eating too quickly, and anxiety, especially in multi-cat households.

So how to make things better?

Measure your cats food to reduce overeating.

Food puzzles make cats manoeuvre their food around before getting to eat it. Putting food in egg cartons can work great as well.

Automatic feeders can set portions and times that cats can get their food.

Or even easier and cheaper — at feeding time I hide my cat’s food in small piles scattered around the house. This way Melvin and Parker have to hunt for their food, giving them some mental stimulation, and they get some exercise too.

Do you have a pet-related question for Dr Robbie? Email us at [e-mail]

Dr Robbie Anderton is a vet at Waverley Animal Hospital and Two Vets Talk Pets Podcast