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My overweight cat is tilting. Is her weight affecting her loafing?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Mixed Breed | Female | spayed

My cat hasn't sat in a proper "loaf" position for at least 3 weeks now. Her body always tilts to one side or the other, typically to her right. If her hips are even, then her upper body tilts slightly to her left. All of her other movement, posture and habits are fine. She is quite overweight and has a large primordial pouch. Her belly feels normal and loves when we snuggle her there. Is her weight getting in the way of her paws when she tries to loaf? I'm getting very worried. Please help

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1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Stacey Anstaett, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on February 5th, 2019

Aww what a sweet face! I suspect that her weight may be contributing. She may also be developing some arthritis that just makes it more comfortable to lean to the side a bit. As long as she is getting around normally, and isn't "stumbly" or off balance when she walks, you don't need concerned. Get her on a weight loss regimen, and consider talking to your vet about whether they think she may have some arthritis. If you vet thinks thats part of the issue, she/he may recommend supplements for arthritis or occasional pain medication. Weight loss is also advisable in cases of arthritis. Here is an article with advice on cat weight loss: https://www.petcoach.co/article/weight-loss-programs-for-overweight-obese-cats/ Here is a site to help you calculate how much you should be feeding her: https://petnutritionalliance.org/cat.php I hope that helps you! Thank you for asking PetCoach!

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