Weight loss: Tucker's half way there!

Some of you might remember my Tucker, whom I've had on a diet of canned
Wellness since late August. I'm thrilled to report that he's more than
halfway there! As of Dec. 10, he weighed 18 lb 2 oz (down from his
original 21 lbs). I can tell the difference in his profile, and he
seems more energetic.

Here's a photo gallery of his progress:
http://community-2.webtv.net/getcathelp/tuckerpics/

I still need to get up a pic of the latest weight (don't have a digital
camera), but still, you can really notice a difference even at 19 lbs.
Hooray!

Rene

wrote in message
ups.com...
Some of you might remember my Tucker, whom I've had on a diet of canned
Wellness since late August. I'm thrilled to report that he's more than
halfway there! As of Dec. 10, he weighed 18 lb 2 oz (down from his
original 21 lbs). I can tell the difference in his profile, and he
seems more energetic.

Here's a photo gallery of his progress:
http://community-2.webtv.net/getcathelp/tuckerpics/

I still need to get up a pic of the latest weight (don't have a digital
camera), but still, you can really notice a difference even at 19 lbs.
Hooray!

Rene


Wow, Rene, he really has lost! Congratulations on a job well done.
What kind of canned are you feeding him?

in article ,
at wrote on 12/11/04 12:40
PM:

http://community-2.webtv.net/getcathelp/tuckerpics/

Wow. Good work. I'm glad he is slimming down. He must be tons more
comfortable already. I can see the difference. The photo journal is a good
idea. BTW, for anyone having trouble bringing up pics on this site, I have
discovered that IE 5.2 for Macs won't so you need to use another browser.

wrote in message
ups.com...
Some of you might remember my Tucker, whom I've had on a diet of canned
Wellness since late August. I'm thrilled to report that he's more than
halfway there! As of Dec. 10, he weighed 18 lb 2 oz (down from his
original 21 lbs). I can tell the difference in his profile, and he
seems more energetic.

Here's a photo gallery of his progress:
http://community-2.webtv.net/getcathelp/tuckerpics/

I still need to get up a pic of the latest weight (don't have a digital
camera), but still, you can really notice a difference even at 19 lbs.
Hooray!

Rene


Are you weighing him on an accurate pediatric scale or at your vet's office?

A safe weight-loss program is very slow process. Seems like you're
following an idea program - allowing ~4 weeks for each pound lost.

18/2.2 = 8 kg x 45 kcal/kg/day = 368 kcal/day x 75% = 276 kcal/day = 1.5
can/day (Wellness Turkey @ 175 kca/5.5 oz can)

Best of luck.

Phil

Phil,

I have been weighing him on a digital postal scale that I purchased
online. I place a box on the scale (the same box, tare out the weight)
and weigh him.

Yes, I realize weight loss is a slow process--I would do nothing to
risk his health and that's why I weigh him every week. The calorie
amounts you've listed above are similar to what my vet recommended--and
what he gained weight on. I began the weight loss with 1 1/3 cans per
day and am now feeding a tad under one can per day. The weight loss has
been slow, yet consistant, so I'm sticking with this.

Rene

Mary,

I'm feeding him Wellness canned (rotating four flavors)

Rene

wrote in news:1102790408.732344.94180
@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com:

http://community-2.webtv.net/getcathelp/tuckerpics/

What a handsome guy! Sounds like the diet is going well.

--Catherine
& Rosalie the calicohead

wrote in message
ups.com...
Some of you might remember my Tucker, whom I've had on a diet of canned
Wellness since late August. I'm thrilled to report that he's more than
halfway there! As of Dec. 10, he weighed 18 lb 2 oz (down from his
original 21 lbs). I can tell the difference in his profile, and he
seems more energetic.

Here's a photo gallery of his progress:
http://community-2.webtv.net/getcathelp/tuckerpics/

I still need to get up a pic of the latest weight (don't have a digital
camera), but still, you can really notice a difference even at 19 lbs.
Hooray!

Rene


Congratulations! You are making great progress.

MaryL

wrote in message
ups.com...
Phil,

I have been weighing him on a digital postal scale that I purchased
online. I place a box on the scale (the same box, tare out the weight)
and weigh him.

Yes, I realize weight loss is a slow process--I would do nothing to
risk his health and that's why I weigh him every week. The calorie
amounts you've listed above are similar to what my vet recommended--and
what he gained weight on. I began the weight loss with 1 1/3 cans per
day and am now feeding a tad under one can per day. The weight loss has
been slow, yet consistant, so I'm sticking with this.

Rene

Rene,

You can't arbitrarily decide how much to feed a cat. You're feeding him less
than half of his energy requirement which could (probably) result in
nutrient, especially protein deficiency (i.e., malnutrition). Protein
deficiency results in impaired immunological response and resistance to
infection, reduced hemoglobin production and anemia, decreased plasma
protein levels, and muscle wasting. You want Tucker to lose fat not muscle
mass.

Cats need a minimum of 3.3 to 4 g of protein per kilogram of body weight per
day. I doubt his protein needs are being met with his present diet. If
the diet your vet prescribed wasn't working, perhaps Tucker needs more
exercise. Diet along if often not enough.

Advise your vet of Tucker's present diet before you run into serious
problems.

Good luck.

Phil

Rene,

You can't arbitrarily decide how much to feed a cat. You're feeding
him less
than half of his energy requirement which could (probably) result in
nutrient, especially protein deficiency (i.e., malnutrition).
Protein
deficiency results in impaired immunological response and resistance
to
infection, reduced hemoglobin production and anemia, decreased plasma
protein levels, and muscle wasting. You want Tucker to lose fat not
muscle
mass.

Cats need a minimum of 3.3 to 4 g of protein per kilogram of body
weight per
day. I doubt his protein needs are being met with his present diet.
If
the diet your vet prescribed wasn't working, perhaps Tucker needs
more
exercise. Diet along if often not enough.

Advise your vet of Tucker's present diet before you run into serious
problems.

Good luck.

Phil

Phil,
I don't know why you seem to be the only person on this group who is
against Tucker's diet. I did not arbitrarily choose an amount of food
to feed him. His diet is based on 15 calories per pound of weight per
day. I started out feeding 1 + 1/3 cans per day and am carefully
monitoring his weight every week to make sure he's not losing too
quickly (which he isn't).

For nearly three years, I followed the advice of my (now previous) vet
and bought their prescription food. Their advice for the amount to feed
was vague at best--and I ended up with a thinner wallet and a much
heavier cat.

I am in the process of switching vets now (have an annual checkup next
week) and have already talked to the clinic about the diet he's on.
They have no problem with it and I will be bringing along the
spreadsheet I keep so they can read his progress.

I've been doing this diet for four months and Tucker is perfectly
healthy. He is thinner, more active, and (I think) happier. I do not
believe he is "malnourished" or suffering in anyway. To continue on the
path I was would be worse.

I have stacks of papers here from the Small Animal Clinical Nutrition,
books I've read from Cornell and others, and people I've talked to. I
have a lot going on in my personal life right now, so I'm too mentally
exhausted to document every source and quote to you.

I'm sorry you disagree with me, but sometimes people have to agree to
disagree. I love my cats and believe I am doing the right thing.

Rene