"MaryL" wrote in message
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"Matt Ferrari" wrote in message ...

https://scontent-a-ord.xx.fbcdn.net/...e5&oe=54C1C14E

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That's terrible. That poor cat is obese (not merely overweight), and it
is a real health problem. It probably does not have enough energy and
agility to even run and play.

MaryL


I've been thinking about this. My thought is that if the RSPCA (or American
equivalent) can remove animals for being underfed they ought to be able to
remove them if they are fed to huge obesity too. It's equal cruelty, isn't
it?
As I said upthread, it's up to us to take care of our pets appropriately,
which includes keeping them at a healthy weight.
I've heard an idea that cats will never overeat if free fed. I can assure
you that Boyfie would. He'd be a huge fatcat like that one given that
opportunity. So it's up to me to make sure that he doesn't.
If he became diabetic I'd never be able to inject him daily, he wouldn't
allow it. It takes two people to give him a spot on treatment because the
minute I try to hold him he thinks bad things are happening and he's away to
the hills.
He's so frightened at the vet's that he goes flatcat so along with his jabs
I get them to do his spot on Stronghold at the same time. Stronghold does
fleas, lice etc, intestinal worms and earmites, not that I've ever known him
to have any of those but better safe than sorry. If he's hunted and eaten
his prey he also gets a tapeworm tablet and how I admired the vet when she
got it down him easily.
He hasn't done any hunting this year so he didn't have a tapeworm tab. He
never has fleas, probably because they can't survive in my house during the
winter. as I have no central heating but he gets Stronghold just in case.

Claire has a continual problem with Tigger & Maisie with fleas. She baths
Maisie the dog every two weeks with flea shampoo but Tigger is constantly
reinfecting her. He needs Stronghold monthly. She has a centrally heated
house, very warm in the winter so the fleas can survive there.
I came home from there once with a flea on my clothes. I was having a wash
at my bathroom basin and it jumped into the water. I was horrified. OMG a
Flea! It got drowned and I never saw one here again.

I suppose if your cat gets them you have to break the life cycle which
cannot be done in a warm winter house.
Any fleas that chance their luck here at overwintering are destined for
failure.
My gas bill has just gone up to 7 pounds a month. Most people have gas
central heating here and my gas company tell me that most use 13,500
Kwh/year. I use 120. for the gas hob on my cooker.

I have a woodburner which goes out when I do but both Boyfie and myself are
used to being a bit cold during the winter. He has his duvet. And no
fleas.
I've never lived in a centrally heated house. When I stayed with my aunt
for weeks with my broken shoulder and again with my broken leg, I almost
died of the heat. I had to mop my forehead all the time. I said "isn't this
too hot for you?" Apparently not.
I nearly roasted and was glad to get back home.