In the inevitable words of Garfield, "I´m not overweight, I´m undertall." Most people do not realize how important it is to feed their cats a proper diet. They think that the fat cats running around are cute. While they love their pets dearly they are doing them a disservice by over feeding them. Overweight cats are more prone to certain feline diseases as well as at risk for heart disease and diabetes. Yes, that´s right, cats can get diabetes. Part of caring for your cat is helping him maintain a healthy weight. Try the following tips to help keep your cat healthy.

1. Feed your cat a well-balanced nutritional cat food. There are plenty on the market to choose from. You should pay attention to the feeding guidelines as they differ from kittens, to the adult cat, and to the senior.
2. Make sure your cat gets plenty of exercise. You can use playtime to get in some exercise. You should work with them and play for about 15 minutes at a time, several times a day when they are young. As they grow older it will become more challenging to make sure they get their exercise. But it is possible. They will still play some and you should talk to them and encourage them to move about. Surprise them with a new scratching post or a new treat for tricks they do.
3. When it comes to treats, you should keep in mind that not all treats are healthy. Some are full of sugar and are not good for your cat. And all treats should be given in small amounts.

Maintaining a healthy weight is imperative to your cat´s health. Obesity puts cats at risk for arthritis, diabetes, and a host of other devastating diseases.