Top products from r/dechonkers

Some ideas that have worked for my anxious kitty who also didn’t like exercise:

Feliway brand pheromone spray and collar (or any of their other products). It helps the cats feel calm and humans can’t smell them. https://www.feliway.com/us

A timed auto feeder. My cat has harassed auto feeders instead of me, which is a nice break for me.

Indoor hunting feeder (like this brand https://docandphoebe.com/). It mixes exercise and play with food because the cat has to seek out where their food is hidden.

“Puzzle” feeders like this one: https://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Egg-Cersizer-Interactive-Dispenser-Treats/dp/B003H44R5K. Like the hunting feeder, the cat will have to work at least a bit to get his food.

Lots of toys for exercise! I sew mini pillows (about the size of your palm) and fill them with catnip and crinkly paper in addition to normal polyester pillow stuffing. I hide them around the house for the cats to find. They love them and they’re very cheap to make with scrap fabric.

I’ve also introduced more rewards that aren’t food related. Our one cat (Spud) needed to lose quite a bit of weight. It was hard because I love to give him treats when he’s sweet. I started giving him bits of catnip, cat grass, toys, extra cuddles, and brushing him instead. He now has more things he associates with positive behavior that aren’t treats!

I wish you the best!!

I'm not a cat owner, but have had experience with a chonker foster dog. This mat helped her eat wet food much slower and I have a friend who found it useful for her cat. It can make mealtimes last quite a while and it's not the nicest of clean ups, but it does go in the dishwasher!

I did scheduled feeding with stations for a while, but then I found bowls with microchip sensors and now life is great. They're about $140 each but totally worth it. I have 3 of these now

Try different toys. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CLSK69Z is by far the best toys I've found for both my and my mom's cat. You can tie them to a string toy for a little more interactive play as well.

Ethical Pet Spot Colorful Springs, Wide, 10 Pack, Cat Toys https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005X9BIE0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_5R4YDbS1Y6MTH

They make a food bowl for this exact reason. This basically only lets one pet into the designated bowl. SureFlap Bowl Amazon Link

Just buy one of these https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00O0UIPTY/ref

That what we had to do, microchip sensor, skinny kitty eats at own pace when it wants without fear of chonk eating all the food. Chonk has to eat food when it's put in only his bowl.

My boyfriend's cat is in the process too. Other than diet food, we put together a little fishing pole to "cat-fish" with her.

A small retractable fishing pole with elastic string. Tie a catnip mouse & a bell at the end and voila! Cat-fishing.

it’s a spring toy I found on amazon

that

this

that

Feeder we use

and the other one

https://www.amazon.ca/SureFlap-MPF001-SureFeed-Microchip-Feeder/dp/B00O0UIPTY/ref=asc_df_B00O0UIPTY/?tag=googlemobshop-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=292945623020&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=7717862962368233158&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=&hvtargid=pla-530423106392&psc=1. That is the one I've got.