Obesity is a problem with many cats these days. This is especially a problem for cats that stay indoors all the time and don’t get the opportunity to exercise as often. If a cat is given the chance to eat as much as he wants when he wants, this can also exacerbate the problem. The best way to deal with obesity is to prevent it in the first place. One way to do this is to get your cat to exercise more often by using cat toys. One cat toy that is particularly useful for this is the cat exercise wheel.
This wheel is exactly what it sounds like. It looks like an extra-large version of the exercise wheels used by hamsters and other small animals. They are usually made of metal and are between 36 and 48 inches in diameter. One side of the wheel is open so that the cat can climb into the cat exercise wheel, and the other side is solid or spoked, depending on the manufacturer. Spoke wheels also have a clear plastic piece that you can place on that side if you’re worried the spokes might hurt your cat.
The wheel was originally created for Bengal cats to use, but any cat can use this type of exercise wheel. Most cats seem to like running on the wheel, but some are unsure at first and may need to be instructed on how to use it. There are a variety of videos on the internet of cats using a cat exercise wheel if you are interested in seeing how they work and whether or not cats seem to enjoy them.
If your cat is already obese, it could still benefit from the use of a cat exercise wheel. It is generally recommended that the owner try to help an obese cat slowly lose around 20 percent of its weight through diet changes and exercise. A cat exercise wheel is a great way to get your cat to exercise without constantly having to coax it with a cat toy. Just be careful not to force the cat to lose too much weight too quickly, as this can put the cat at risk of liver disease and other health problems. Slow weight loss is also more likely to last, as is the case with people.