The physical activity chosen should be part of an individualized weight management plan; patient motivations should be considered, and expectations, schedule, potential challenges, and any patient or owner limitations should be discussed with the owner.3 For example, owners of previously sedentary cats should be encouraged to gradually increase their cat’s activity, starting with creative, low-intensity activities (eg, walking around the house, searching for food items) for 5 to 10 minutes per day. Cats with higher BCS scores should be more cautiously worked up to the activity goals set for them, as arthritis and/or joint issues are more prevalent in this population and may require exercise restriction or modification (eg, shorter duration, lower intensity).
For cats with exercise limitations (eg, those with orthopedic disease), veterinary physical rehabilitation services that can help improve strength and mobility while limiting the risk for further injury are available. For cats that require specialized care or those that should not engage in a rigorous physical activity program, consulting a certified veterinary physical therapy specialist should be considered, as such specialists will be able to recommend and facilitate physical activity for cats with physical impairments through various methods (eg, standard treadmills, underwater treadmills, guided swimming; Figure 1). Increasing numbers of studies have shown the potential benefit of physical and aquatic therapy as part of a weight management program for dogs, and such therapies should not be ruled out in cats.4,5