Hi, I have a large cat that is 13 years and very fat. He is so overweight, in fact, that he's getting bowlegged. He fell down the other day when I set him on the ground front paws first. It's a little scary and I don't know what to do about it. If I start putting out less food then he'll just eat all that's there and leave nothing for my other cat. He's not the kind of cat that goes outside and runs around...he usually likes to sit inside and roll around on the carpet with the dog. I'd like to hear from anyone that has any suggestions to help me and my cat. Thank you!
You need to get your cat to your vet ASAP. Obesity in cats can lead to diabetes, severe liver failure, heart disease, and arthritic conditions, not to mention a miriad of other health problems.
Your vet can thoroughly evaluate/examine your kitty, and will tailor a weight management plan for him. This involves calculating calorie requirements, type of diet, energy needs, and restricting certain elements of the diet. But before you do that, due to the obesity and his age, you must first get a full blood profile done to ensure kitty is completely healthy otherwise. Starting a weight management plan for a kitty who might have a health condition wouldn't be in his best interests and could prove detrimental.
You cannot do this yourself, owners who attempt to use commercial low-fat, senior, or less-active formulated diets will fail miserably, but above all, you will fail your kitty. Only your vet is qualified to approach a successful weight management plan. This must be done slowly and gradually because sudden weight loss can be just as detrimental as sudden weight gain or obesity. You can only expect kitty to lose about a pound within a 2-3 month time frame in order for it to be safe and effective.
Get your kitty to your vet immediately, and if your vet side-steps the issue, get thee to another vet, preferrably feline-only, immediately. The sooner you get this initiated, the sooner your kitty will begin to feel better, will reduce the likelihood of diseases related to obesity. Exercise will also be an important part of the management, also to be done slowly, but you can initiate even just 5 or 10 minutes a day with playtime and exercise that will help immensely. Again, upon your vet's instruction only.
Thanks for the information, I will definitely talk to the vet but will weight loss do anything to help his legs? Or will he have to have surgery? Considering his age, I'm not sure if he would be able to handle surgery. What do you think?
Only your vet can evaluate the leg problem. I don't know if the bowleggedness is due to kitty's not wanting to put pressure on vital points, or if they are suffering bone stress or if an arthritic condition has developed. Your vet can take an x-ray to rule out bone or other problems. Ideally, the weight management plan, when done consistently, gradually, and if successful, will reduce the stress added to the legs and bones, making it much easier and less painful for your kitty. It could be that your kitty appears to be "waddling" rather than bowlegged, simply due to the obesity and discomfort of getting around.
Again, only your vet can determine the extent. Do NOT wait on this, your kitty is depending on you to get this under control and your vet can initiate the safest approach.
It's a little scary and I don't know what to do about it. If I start putting out less food then he'll just eat all that's there and leave nothing for my other cat. He's not the kind of cat that goes outside and runs around...he usually likes to sit inside and roll around on the carpet with the dog. I'd like to hear from anyone that has any suggestions to help me and my cat. Thank you! 
