You Are Your Cats Advocate - Part 2

I recently acquired a copy of the Banfield Journal Fall 2010 ed.  This is the publication of the large conglomerate of veterinary hospitals. Make no mistake , their goal is to sell their products and services through their outlets. They are in fact no different than a Walmart or a Great Clips in that regards except that they "care" for our pets and not ourselves.  They play on the fear that we are somehow not knowledgeable enough to care for our own pet. Or that we are unable to give them the "best" unless it is from them.  Because after all, don't we all want the best for our companions?

Now in this particular edition of the Banfield Journal they are focusing on obesity and weight management.  We all know what obesity is. Quite simply it is when an living animal cat, dog person, takes in too much energy (in the form of calories) and expels too little energy in return.  Their article begins out be stating that ....."Indeed surveys suggest that 25 to 40% of cats and dogs presented to veterinary clinics are overweight or obese." The basis for this information is sited as coming from 4 sources 1) published in 1970, 2)published in 1986 in the UK 3) published in 1994 and 4) being published in 2005.

(in this picture you can easily see the kittens famine belly)

But how does this apply to our Siberian cats?  Easily. The Siberian cat is a substantial cat of solid weight and boning. Part of the show description includes what is called a fat pad/round belly or famine belly.  This is correct and TYPICAL for our breed. And what your vet is unlikely to know(or care) is that this is as much a part of the cat as his ears are.  You should no more try to eliminate that famine belly than you should his ears. This is a survival mechanism brought about over hundreds if not thousands of years of natural selection.  When visiting your vet, be aware of this.   A famine belly is that rounded (there's that word again) pouch or pooch (forgive the pun) between his rear legs. It should be present in most every correctly proportioned healthy Siberian including kittens as young as 4 months of age. Now some females, esp those who are cycling or nursing, can loose that pouch, and that too is normal but should not be considered a long term state.

In the above picture, you can easily see the kittens "famine belly".  And in the adults picture you can readily see the belly as well as where it ends too.
 The belly - should begin  between the  rear legs in the upper groin region and can extend (esp in older spays and neuters) as far up as the last rib.  However at no time should it be so pendulous as to impede movement, swing freely, extend over the cats rib cage or across any part of the back. That is what would make your Siberian obese.   And of course with out good condition and muscle tone none of the above matters anyway!

So  be aware - or rather be wary  - the next time you visit your vet. Know your cat. Know what is right and correct for your breed.  And don't allow yourself to be persuaded by a good sales job. High fiber, calorie control diets are just a fancy way of adding corn, beet pulp and rice into your cats diet.  And last time I checked, all cats were still obligate carnivores, not omnivores.