I have a big old tabby cat, Theodore. He is an outdoor cat but since we moved from California to Cleveland he has to spend his winters indoors. (He is a sissy and does not prefer the cold air).

Because he has been inside for the last three months, my tabby cat Thedore has become my fat tabby cat Theodore. He’s probably pushing 17 pounds right now (he’s normally about 15). He’s half Maine Coon so he’s naturally meaty but I think he has moved into a whole new category this winter. Of course in the picture you can’t tell but his legs practically get lost in his beep-wow belly at this point. And he looks like he’s losing his neck.

Theodore eats when he’s bored (just like his mom). I’m wondering if that’s the reason he’s getting so fat…it’s really puzzling me.

I read something today on the ASPCA’s blog about getting your cat to lose weight.  Check it out. Among other things they recommend swapping out your cat’s toys every so often to keep them stimulated.

I’m not too sure about that one because Theodore has a fuzzy ball that he is extremely attached to. I mean, he carries this thing up into my room at night for me to throw it for him, and he has his own little party with it during the daytime. He skirts around the hardwood floors with that thing all night and sounds like an elephant. So the exercise requirement is already being met and he is still fat. It’s an interesting article though.

Does anyone else have fat cat problems? What do you do? I

Dogs, like humans, like instant gratification. Not only do they swallow many things whole because they taste so good, they also have been known to dive in head first and eat anything you hand over to them without knowing the consequences.

There are certain human foods/snacks that dogs should never get their paws on. Some human foods, although tempting as tasty treats for your canine, can cause serious harm and long-term health problems. Be sure you avoid the following in your precious pooches’ human food extras.

Grapes
Grapes and dogs are not a healthy combination. Although grapes are a semi-crunchy and healthy treat for humans and although your dog may enjoy them (because they are hard to squish in his mouth) grapes not only pose a choking hazard to your dog, but a serious health hazard as well. Grapes are grown with fertilizers and pesticides that can be harmful if taken in large amounts and have been known to cause renal failure. Grapes grown without chemicals have also been proven to be toxic and can cause vomiting and kidney failure. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) Animal Poison Control Center held a study that showed grape intake causes acute kidney failure, which prevents your dog from producing urine since they can’t filer toxins out.

Chocolate
Dogs and chocolate don’t mix. Chocolate is poisonous to your dog (and cat, too) because it contains theobromine, a naturally occurring stimulant. If a dog eats enough chocolate, its heart can beat so fast that it ceases to pump blood effectively (tachycardia).This is largely a dosage issue and the effects can vary based on the size of your dog and the amount of chocolate, according to petcaretips.net.

Bones from chicken, steak, etc
So many pet owners love to give the dog a taste sensation – the bones from steak, chicken and other meats. Cooked bones, however, are very dangerous for your dog. The cooked bone may splinter after ingested and can cause your dog to choke. The splintered bones can also poke your dog’s esophagus, stomach and intestines during digestion and excretion. Sometimes the splintered bone may not be digested at all once it has entered the body.

Undercooked Meat
Undercooked meat poses the same risk to dogs as it does to humans. A very bad food for dogs, undercooked meat has bacteria that can cause salmonella and other nasty food poisoning bouts. DogAge.com also advises against feeding your dog raw meat because of the risk of cysts that might be present in the meat.

Meat Table Scraps
When humans cut away the fatty parts of their steak or chicken, they are often inclined to hand it directly under the table to the dog. This is more dangerous than most pet owners know. Meat, which is generally high in fat, can cause pancreatitis and gastroenteritis. Big words that carry big problems. These are both potentially fatal conditions. Pancreatitis is an inflammation of the pancreas that can result in loss of appetite, frequent vomiting, diarrhea that may contain blood, weakness and abdominal pain. Gastroenteritis is an inflammation of the stomach and intestinal linings and has similar symptoms. These cases often require hospitalization and fluid replacement.

Onions and Garlic
Onions and garlic are other bad foods for dogs as they contain the toxic ingredient thiosulphate. Hard to diagnose, poisoning occurs a few days after your dog has eaten the onion. Dogs affected by onion toxicity will first vomit and have diarrhea. They will refuse to eat and appear lethargic. During this time, according to bossiercity.org, the dog may be developing haemolytic anaemia, a condition that causes the red blood cells to burst while circulating in the body. All forms of onion can be a problem including dehydrated onions, raw onions, cooked onions and table scraps containing cooked onions and/or garlic. The toxins will usually pass through the dog’s system but he/she may need a blood transfusion before that happens. The scariest part of this? Onion poisoning can occur with a single ingestion (of a large quantity).

Macadamia Nuts and Walnuts
Feeding your dog human food in the form of Macadamia is also disconcerting. There is somewhat of a mystery surrounding the exact toxic component that causes poisoning, but it is known that ingesting them can cause locomotory difficulties. According to BossierCity.org, dogs develop a tremor of the skeletal muscles, and weakness or paralysis of the hindquarters. Affected dogs are often unable to rise and are distressed, usually panting. Some affected dogs have swollen limbs and show pain when the limbs are manipulated. Dogs have been affected by eating as few as six macadamia kernels (nuts without the shell) while others had eaten approximately forty kernels. Some dogs had also been given macadamia butter.

Moldy and Spoiled Food
Some of us humans may have a tendency to throw a spoiled lunchmeat or cheese into the dog’s dinner instead of in the trash. Stop right there! Spoiled food is no better for dogs than it is for humans. Spoiled foods can cause food poisoning, which causes vomiting and diarrhea. Mold contains the toxin Penicillin, which causes severe tremors and seizures. Your dog must be detoxified at the vet for this condition.