Muhammad asked:


My cat of 7 years has started getting a little big, so i built a small cat barrier around the treadmill and I’m letting her exercise to lose weight. The cat seems fine going 4 mph, but cats are pretty swift creatures, so can’t I turn it up to 8 or 9mph?

Maxwell

10 Responses to “How fast should my cat go on the treadmill?”

1. Erin on February 23rd, 2010 2:35 pm

   I think 20mph would do the trick. Make sure you don’t feed the cat too, because exercise means nothing if your cat keeps eating like a pig. Water only for a few weeks, make your cat do 20mph on the treadmill for at least 3 hours a day, and your cat will be looking like Mary-Kate Olsen in no time!

   5 thumbs down? Are you all that high-strung that you can’t even take a joke? It’s a troll question, not a serious question. Good Lord.

2. Jordan Staal's #1 Fan on February 25th, 2010 1:19 pm

   I would say treadmill is a bad idea. Feed him/her less no matter how much they cry about it. And buy a laser pointer cats go CRAZY over laser pointers it will lose that weight in no time!

3. Suzy Cutes on February 28th, 2010 10:13 pm

   My, that’s creative. How long are you working him out?. Keep it about 4 mph, which is actually a pretty serious workout, and don’t overdo it — maybe a minute of two of high movement, but keep that to a minimum. Yes cats are swift, but in spurts. Cats can tire and get exhausted very quickly (they have a higher temperature and faster heartbeat to begin with), and remember, they don’t have sweat glands like we do, which can cause toxic buildup in the blood.

   Good luck.

4. Dolly on March 4th, 2010 1:58 am

   Put him on a special cat diet/light food. Dont put him on a treadmill, get him to chase toys on strings. Maybe let him out into the garden to explore, if he is a house cat put him on a harness and take him for a walk round the garden (not to the park that will be scary for him). I have only answered this question for anyone who is genuinly looking for a way to help their cat loose weight. Treadmills are not right for cats. Cats dont run endlessly, they are not long distnace runners. When they run it is for a brief moment when chasing a mouse/bird or running away from something. The treadmill would do more harm than good, as it could harm the cats joints.

5. Lindsay on March 7th, 2010 2:33 am

   This is a dangerous idea. The belt on treadmills goes very fast, and it’s only too easy to get loose items (tails, fur) caught in it. A little pudge is better than a serious injury.

6. Carrie on March 8th, 2010 5:41 am

   30 – 40 mph will definitely do the job. Only feed her lettuce, too, and explain to her that it’s for her own good.

   Also, try getting her a sweat band so the beads of perspiration as she nears exhaustion don’t drip into her eyes.

7. Lady golfer on March 8th, 2010 12:45 pm

   I would tend to agree that a treadmill might not be the best idea for your kitty. If you insist, hopefully there is a place in the “barrier” where she can get off and rest. Domestic cats are fast but only on the short haul, not for any length of time. I would suggest a food for senior cats such as Purina Pro Plan for Seniors…..and less is better than more. If you are giving wet food, stop as there is more fat content in wet food. Your kitty will adjust to the new diet and will not start herself. Hope this helps.

8. cat lover on March 10th, 2010 9:27 am

   Exercise is not the approach that will really work. You need to slowly reduce the number of calories she eats. Cats do what they want for themselves, not for you. I have seen videos posted of cats on a treadmill, but that is not likely a long term proposition.

   Like most hunters, a cat is a short sprint animal. They are not in it for the long term.

9. Fay DeathWray on March 11th, 2010 3:54 am

   about as quickly as you should be headed to the loony bin

10. >'-'< Lisa on March 12th, 2010 2:39 am

    Definitely no faster than this…