we're just going to let Sam stay fat

[Noah & me (GA)]

There's a background story here which I'll keep short. Sam is one of two cats we liberated from idiot neighbors who are long gone. The parents kept getting their kids cats like stuffed animals from Goodwill, they'd get run over, a new cat would appear. The whole neighborhood knew this and once a neighbor brought Sam to us, knowing he was not our cat saying "I found your cat". The second time he showed up at the back door soaked in a freezing rain so that was that. Sam is a Persian, probably a reject from being a show cat and has all the problems that come with overbred cats but he is a very loving and kind hearted boy in a forever home.
He was about a year old when we got him almost ten years ago. He should weigh about 25% less than he does now but has never gotten bigger, has no serious health problems and has no interest in playing on a wheel or going for walks. He just sleeps, eats, poops, then goes back to sleep. He's a normal cat.
Last year I got conned into buying an enormous bag of some Purina "weight loss" kibble at our primary vet. I remember telling a first year tech "you know this stuff doesn't work right?" and she was deeply offended. This food just sat like a brick in him and he was a lot sicker than we thought when we saw the X-rays. After a lot of manipulation and multiple enemas our alternate vet somehow emptied out Sam.
I've been doing this for over 40 years and know all the tricks. Separating the cats and their food, making them work for their food etc, it's not working. Unless someone has a better idea we're just going to let Sam be a happy cat even though this might take a year or two off his life. He isn't getting fatter so my argument for this right now is his mental quality of life. I'm open to any new ideas.

 

[Ale & Bobo & Minnie (GA)]

Firstly, I just have to say this is the best post title ever and it made me laugh, though I realize it may not be the intent.

have you tried raw food?

 

[Linda and Newman]

Newman and Ozzie are about the same age, 13 years. I have had them since they were kittens, both strays that had been dropped off at my vet clinic. Both are relatively large cats and over the years, Newman stayed slender, Ozzie got way too plump!

Long story short, I started dieting Ozzie in 2020 when his weight was 25 lbs. The vet suggested Hill's which I was willing to try, but Ozzie wouldn't eat it. I was successful using Iams Proactive Health Adult Indoor Weight and Hairball Care with Chicken and Turkey Dry. I diligently measured his twice a day ration and slowly over approx a two year period he lost 8 lbs. Newman was eating Iams Urinary Tract Dry until he was diagnosed diabetic. Now both cats are fed only Fancy Feast wet and Dr Elseys dry for bribes for ear poking and treats for cooperation. The Iams was available at the grocery store and Chewy at a very reasonable price. I haven't priced since my last purchase.

Ozzie is like a different cat now. He is running, playing and jumping up onto surfaces he had forgotten he had ever once explored.

Sam is lucky he ended up on your doorstep.

Just want to add that I am only saying this worked for us. I make no judgment as ECID and we all decide what is best for our critters.

 

[Red & Rover (GA)]

There was a cat up the street that we nicknamed "The Footstool." He was fed Hill's "Perfect Weight" dry. The fifth ingredient was inidgestible powered cellulose. The first four ingredients were Chicken, Brewers Rice, Corn Gluten Meal, Wheat Gluten. In other words, it's crap – and produces crap. He was allowed 1 1/2 cups per day. Some of the kibble was put in one of those clear-through play toys designed to slow down eating. He did not lose an ounce.

 

[Larry and Kitties]

I adopted my Nala as an untreated diabetic. Her records said she was surrendered since she was urinating inappropriately. At that time she also weighed 18 lbs. I limited food and started insulin. About 5 months later she was 9-10 lbs and in remission.
I adopted DeeDee as an obese (it was written in her vet records as obese. She was 17 lbs and per vet doing good on 2 units Vetsulin. I changed insulin to Glargine and four months later or so she was down to ~9.5 lbs and in remission.

 

[Noah & me (GA)]

best post title ever

This is me when I'm not trying to be clever, it got the point across without any drama.
After Titanic came out and all those hysterical tweens found an actual grave for J. Dawson I saw tee-shirts that said "It's a ship, it sank, get over it". That is the best possible title ever with "It was a dark and stormy night" a close second.
Thanks to all who replied. Sam isn't morbidly obese, he's just a chunky monkey. Kobiashi was 28 pounds and scared away dogs at the vet so I've been through this before. Since Sam lives on our bed or the basket next to it we could feed him in the stupidly-extra-large bathroom (isn't en suite French for 'obese bathroom'?) without the others making a big fuss. This is one of those "we can never close the doors" homes, I'm sure most of us have been there. They have no interest in that particular bathroom for some reason. He looks happy enough doesn't he?

 

[Diane Tyler's Mom GA]

Oh my God that pic is just too darn adorable!

 

[Noah & me (GA)]

It's hard to see there but you can make out his big moustache. It looks like the John Cleese character's moustache as the army drill sergeant. Next to that is the toilet Marco drank from which is my sorry segue into this next bit of useless trivia. I used to walk Hannah the dog leash free near the local daycare where the teachers knew and trusted her. A little boy asked her name and I replied Hannah. "Oh, Hannah is my sister's name". "Your sister doesn't drink from the toilet does she?" He runs off, "I'll go ask her right now".