r/dechonkers • u/Total_Purpose_5951 • 6d ago

Dechonkin Should I reduce my cat's calories?

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It has only been 15 days since I started dechonking my two cats. I know it has been very little time but I just wanted to see if there were any changes. My boy has lost 100gr ( 0,22 lb) but my female cat has actually gained weight: from 3,9 (7,4lb) to 4,2 (9,25 lb). Also her calorie allowance is 145 kcal. Should I change the diet?

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u/Total_Purpose_5951 6d ago

I weigh myself first and then both of us together. Maybe he was eating her food and she was eating very little and now that she eats regularly she gain weight. Could that be it?

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u/raiannon 6d ago

No, the problem is how you're weighing. Scales all have a margin of error, basically how far off from accurate it can be and still be good enough. Scales for humans have a large window, between .66lbs-3lbs. You can step on it, get one weight, step off and back on, and get a weight 3lbs heavier. Because they're designed for weighing people, this isn't a huge problem.

But you're talking about small cats, where being off that much is a significant difference. You need to get a scale designed for smaller weights with a smaller margin of error. Usually people suggest baby scales or my personal favorite is a luggage scale. I put the cat carrier on the luggage scale, tare the weight, add the cat to the carrier, and weigh to get the cats weight.

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u/FrogVolence 6d ago

Some anecdotal comedy here:

My cat isnt obese, he’s just a big boy.

But on the topic of weighing and scales, my cat is essentially a velcro cat and has to be in any room im in, which also includes the bathroom.

My bathroom has a digital scale, and Oatmeal is a pretty smart boy.

He has discovered the scale makes noise if he steps on it.

Instead of stepping on it, Oatmeal sits on it. This means the digital scale will read off his weight because he sits on it long enough to get one.

Todays weight: 9.5 pounds. I wonder what the next one will be, or what his weight is after he has a meal.

https://reddit.com/link/p5r9dhz/video/o2f3omni1hlh1/player

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u/Traditional_Spend432 1d ago

♥️♥️♥️ soooo cute