Oscar the cat is going on a diet

WEIGHING in at 10.5kg, Oscar the cat has been living large on mince meat and yoghurt — until now. He’s been put on a diet, but no one’s told him yet.

Oscar the cat is on a diet, but no one’s told him yet.

The 10.5kg British blue waits each day by the fridge, wondering why his usual gourmet meal has been swapped for dry kibble.

His owner Jillian Jones of Allambie Heights says he’s always has rich tastes.

“I’d been giving him raw beef with yoghurt on top,” Ms Jones said. “It’s his favourite meal. Whenever I eat yoghurt on the couch, he’s right there watching.”

Jillian Jones with her cat Oscar, who is on a diet. Picture: Bradley Hunter

However a routine visit to the vet delivered the concerning prognosis — Oscar is not big boned, he’s a fat cat.

His vet has given him the weight goal of 7-8kg, and Ms Jones said she hoped the eight year old would come around to the idea of dry biscuits.

“I’m hoping he’s already started losing weight this week,” Ms Jones said.

What do you mean I’m not big boned? Oscar is a 10.5kg fatty forced to go on a diet. Picture: Bradley Hunter

“Every time I feed him the dry food, he looks at the dish, then looks up at me as if to say ‘is that it? Where’s the rest of it?’.

“I gave him two little bits of meat just to slowly wean him off it.”

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While Oscar’s not taking too kindly to the food, he enjoys the exercise regiment.

“I take him for walks outside twice a day,” Ms Jones said. “He’s got a little harness that I’ve been putting him in since he was a baby. He loves going outside.

“If I say ‘let’s go walking’ then straight away, he knows and will wait by the door.”

Jill Jones is now taking Oscar for walks in an effort to help him trim down. Picture: Bradley Hunter

Boom, shake the room: Oscar prowls very slowly with all that extra weight. Picture: Bradley Hunter

This plus-size catwalk model has a way to go before he can walk the catwalk, but in the meantime, Ms Jones said he was still as lovable as ever.

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“He’s a very affectionate cat,” Ms Jones said. “Sometimes at night, he’ll lay under the coffee table and stick his legs up on the rungs, he cracks me up.”

What the vet says

Allambie Vet practice manager Natalie MacDonald said Oscar was not the only pet tipping the scales, with a study from pet food maker Royal Canin showing 19 per cent of Australian cats were overweight and 30 per cent of dogs were overweight.

“We do see a large amount of animals that are overweight,” Ms MacDonald said.

“The most important thing people with overweight pets can do is to go to their regular vet for a weight management plan.”

Oscar’s new regimen will put him back on track for a healthy active life. Picture: Bradley Hunter

Obesity can reduce a cat or dog’s lifespan considerably, affecting organs, breathing and joints.

Ms MacDonald said that while exercising a dog was as easy as taking it for a walk, cats could be more difficult.

“For cat owners, it’s often about teaching the owner tricks to encourage exercise around the house," Ms MacDonald said.

“If the cat is food motivated, you can leave a cat biscuit on each step, or hide kibble around the house to encourage them to explore.”

Originally published as Oscar the cat is going on a diet