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Baggage Claim: How Guilty are You?

• Your cat or dog is an indoor pet that eats, sleeps and snacks all day.
• You take your dog out on super quick walks for potty and rush him back into the house. You seldom take him around the block for a good workout or to the park for a hearty game of Frisbee.

• You give your dog treats whenever those irresistible eyes look your way— without considering the ingredients or the amount of calories.
• Your pet is spayed or altered (slows down metabolism).
• You feed your pet liberally, refilling the dish after it is emptied, never thinking about the amount you’re feeding. You pour, he eats!
• You have a multi-cat household and some cats end up eating more than others.
• You live in a small apartment that doesn't have much room for your cat or dog to run about.
• You feed your cats and dogs food just because, even when they’re not necessarily hungry.
• You never play with your cat and she has no other kitties in the household to play with, so she just plays freeze tag alone—right on the windowsill!
• You give your pets plenty of treats out of guilt to compensate for all those long hours at the job.

The most practical solution for this is to feed set meals in different rooms and remove any uneaten food once the cats have lost interest in their meal. Okay, say you’ve tried this and your cats won’t cooperate. That’s normal.

Cats are creatures of habit. It may take two or three tries, carrying your cat and the food into the new eating room. No matter what room it is, make it comfortable, even if it’s the bathroom. Put down a place mat, close the toilet seat, put on a light and lay down a comfy towel for your cat.

If your cat has become lazy and inactive, just like a human being, it's hard to break out of it. Have no fear: a little creativity and enthusiasm can go a long way. Cats aren't like dogs; you can't just slap them on a leash and take them for a walk. With cats, you have to find more subtle, crafty ways of getting them to exercise. Here are some tips to help your kitty burn a few calories:

• Want to see your kitty do the high jump? Get a laser pointer and shine the dot around the room and up towards the ceiling. It will drive your cat up the wall!
• A wind up fur mouse always does the trick and will keep your cat busy for hours. Even house cats still love the spirit of the chase!
• Nothing like an exciting scratching post to make your cat work up a sweat.
• Get a cat fishing pole with something fun attached to it and drag it around the room while you watch TV or read a book. It will drive your cat crazy!
• Break a sweat with your kitty. Walk or run up and down the stairs dragging a thick rope for your kitty to catch. It will get both of your heart rates pumping.
• Make your cat work for his food. Instead of putting all of his meal in one place, put small amounts of food on several plates throughout the house. This will make your cat exercise in order to eat. Talk about a scavenger hunt!

Make sure that all of your family members are committed to your pet's weight loss. It is crucial that everyone is on the same page about feeding techniques, feeding amounts and an exercise routine. Encourage your children to get your cat off his backside. Remember, if there's no family solidarity, you can kiss your pet's chances of weight loss goodbye!