FAT CATS

by Sweetie, fitness trainer

Good morning, dear friends.  
Once again I'm taking over the blog and this morning's topic is my chubby brothers.   Yes, the chubby bunnies who pester Grammy night, morning and many times in between for food.  

As you know from reading past blogs, these boys have never suffered hardship and live to eat.  It is time they learn to eat to live like we girls. BUT first we have to get them from beach balls to svelte handsome fluffballs. 

Grammy had been working with them on this for well over a year and in all that time the most either of them had lost was 1.5 lbs.  This at an exorbitant cost for a food that would speed up their metabolism.  If it worked it would be worth it... BUT, unfortunately when Grammy weighed the cost and lack of substantial weight loss with continuing the food with what her budget would permit her blood pressure hit an all-time high.  Something had to give and with a limited budget you can guess what.  But then, what to do?

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Grammy decided to return to the food the girls eat and they were on before but try reducing the quantities.  So for the next two months they were fed the same foods as the girls but in reduced quantities: 1/2 cup each of kibble and 1/8 tin of wet food.  AND  NO TREATS, No extras.  Of course, we don't get extras... because Grammy takes our kibble from our dishes and pretends they are treats.  Sneaky but it works.  

Two months into this routine and Rondo and Etude were looking even more rotund than before and had ballooned from chubby bunnies to beached whales. Every ounce lost had been regained and more.  This is not good!

Now, Rondo is longer in the legs and the body so looks less like a blob than shorter, cobbier Etude.  BUT both are over the recommended weights BY FAR and neither can be determined svelte. 

So the question begs.... did coming off this metabolic diet cause a rebound effect?  We don't have an answer for that but going back on it isn't an option and the weight has to come off.

This meant Grammy would have to go on another hunt for something to bring down their weight while staying within a budget she could manage and off she went to a nearby pet food chain to look for something that might be effective while not putting them in the poor house.

Grammy really likes the staff at this petfood store and trusts they know what they are doing.  Our clerk suggested a high fibre/low calorie diet for a short term to bring the weight down and the best in his opinion was something called FAT CAT. He is talking from experience so, if the name is any indication maybe there is hope.  Definitely it is worth a try.

We introduced the food into their diet and slowly transitioned them to the new food.  They love it and so far they haven't been able to eat all they are allowed based on their current weight.  I assume the extra fibre fills the corners of their big tummies.  *Giggles*

And so, they get their 1/8 tin of wet food and the allotment of dry.  Whatever is left over at the end of the day is brought up to daily limit again ready for the next day.  So far, they are satisfied but it is early days.  We'll give them a month on the new food, weigh them and see what difference it makes.  Here's hoping!  

In the meantime, I, Sweetie, am planning a workout routine for the two of them once they're at a reasonable weight to stress those hearts.  Oh, and for Grammy too.   ​

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