Warning to Sussex cat owners not to overfeed pets during virus lockdown

The alert is being sounded by the charity Cats Protection after staff at its animal adoption centre in Chelwood Gate had to put a podgy puss on a strict diet.

The pet puss called Sootie - weighing a whopping 10kg - was taken in by the centre after her owner was no longer able to look after her.

Twelve-year-old Sootie weighed more than twice the ideal weight for a cat. A spokesman said: “Sootie is so large she can find it difficult to clean herself and has been placed on a special diet to help her get in shape.”

Cats Protection says it highlighted Sootie’s plight to encourage owners to think twice before over-indulging their pets with treats while spending more time at home.

Centre manager Danielle Draper said: “Sootie is one of the largest cats we’ve had in care here and we were all quite shocked to see her.

“She finds it hard to clean herself and needs encouragement to exercise. We’ve placed her on a very strict diet so she loses the weight in a controlled way.

“Cats can be very persuasive and it can be hard not to give in to the pleading meows for a treat or two. But Sootie’s story is a really good example of when too many treats can cause a real problem.

“Because of her weight, Sootie will be at a higher risk of diabetes, arthritis and heart trouble, so it’s important we get it under control. Once she has slimmed down she will feel much better and can enjoy a more active lifestyle.”

Five top tips to keep your feline fit:

Weigh out cat food on a daily basis, being careful not to overfill bowls. If giving cat treats, reduce the overall amount of food given at meal times.

Encourage your cat to exercise with games such as fishing-rod toys or placing their daily ration of food inside a feeding ball to encourage activity.

Avoid giving your cat treats intended for humans, such as milk, cheese or chocolate. Many cats cannot digest cow’s milk products and chocolate contains a compound that can be toxic to cats.

Never starve overweight cats or put them on a crash diet. A gradual, steady decrease in bodyweight is ideal and it may take up to a year for a severely overweight cat to reach their ideal body condition.

If your cat is overweight, seek advice from your vet before embarking on any change of diet.

During the coronavirus pandemic, Cats Protection’s centres and branches are closed to the public.

Anyone who would like to help cats in the charity’s care during this time can find out more by visiting www.cats.org.uk/support-us

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