After neutering, there will be some changes in the cat’s body, and these changes can become the triggers for obesity.
Reduced basal metabolic rate
Scientific research shows that the basal metabolic rate of unneutered cats is 30% higher than that of neutered cats.
In other words, even if you don’t move, unneutered cats can consume more calories than neutered cats.
This shows that the caloric consumption of the reproductive system is still very large, and it takes a lot of energy to create sperm and eggs before sterilization.
The basal metabolic rate is reduced, the amount of food and the amount of exercise are the same as before, and the energy intake is greater than the consumption, and it is possible to gain weight.
Hormonal changes
After neutering, the levels of hormones in the cat’s body were significantly reduced, At the same time, the endocrine system is disturbed and adjusted, and the thyroid function is low, and these changes can become the incentives for obesity.
Three months after sterilization, the hormones are disturbed, so I need to control my weight, and I will gradually adjust to a balanced state later.
This is also the reason why some owners find that even if some cats control their dietary intake, their weight is still stable and will not drop. It is most likely due to hormone obesity.
If you use a more accessible way to understand neutered fat, it means that the cat’s original life is to play + breed + sleep. Also reduced, naturally fat.
Of course, some researchers have done corresponding experiments for this phenomenon.
A 12-month follow-up survey was conducted on 49 neutered cats and 11 unneutered cats (aged 1.5 to 11 years old). Are neutered cats sure to gain weight?
The results of the experiment are:
(1) 12 months after neutering, the average rate of free feeding cats The weight gain was as high as 31%, while the average weight gain of cats in the 12 months before neutering was only 3.1%;
(2) 12 months after neutering, the cat’s body fat rate increased by an average of 40%;
(3) Unneutered cats are more likely to control their diet, while neutered cats tend to eat all the food given to them. To maintain the weight of neutered cats, they need to reduce about 30% of their body weight. caloric intake.
Therefore, the phenomenon of cats gaining weight after neutering does exist, but not every cat does this, and there are also individual differences.
It is possible that some cats are significantly fatter, and some cats are not significantly fatter or even have little change.
Then, if cats already have a tendency to be obese, how can we control the weight of cats in time so that they will not be too obese Woolen cloth?
Keep your mouth shut and control your cat’s diet
For a period of time after your cat has been spayed, it may not be possible to keep your mouth shut. If your home has always had food in the bowl, and the cat eats “unlimited self-feeding”, you should consider regular quantitative feeding at this time.
There is no difference between feeding dry food or canned food for cats to gain weight. In order to prevent cats from gaining weight, the daily food intake should only be about 60% of the usual amount.
This means that the daily calorie intake can be reduced to 40 to 45 kcal per kilogram of body weight, while the traditionally recommended daily calorie intake requirement is 70 to 90 kcal per kilogram of body weight.
Therefore, the high-calorie snacks that cats like to eat after neutering should also be put away and try not to feed them.
In addition, you can buy a cat scale and monitor the cat’s weight every week. If you find that the cat is gaining more weight, then appropriately reduce the amount of food you eat every day.
Spread your legs to get the cat moving
Often play with it for a while with a cat wand, or bite it with other toys that the cat likes, such as a mouse toy, so that the owner can move.
Although many owners think that chubby cats are cute, obesity has many negative effects on cats’ health, and will increase diabetes, fatty liver, bone and joint diseases, tumors, urinary tract diseases, oral and For the risk of gastrointestinal diseases and skin diseases, for the health and happiness of the master, it is still necessary to maintain a good figure first!
In such a critical period after the cat is neutered, it is suggested that owners can use scientific methods to control the cat’s weight. If the cat is overweight, it may need to be sent to the veterinary hospital to lose weight.
