Pet Party Line is a column written by Beth Byrd and is featured weekly in The Citizen News, one of our local newspapers.

Recipes for 'Fat Cats'

Q: How can I keep my cat’s weight under control?

A: Some 16 million cat owners have more than one cat, which makes it hard to put one on a special diet. Use multi-cat formula food and set out mini-meals around the house to make him hike for his dinner. Spoil them with low-cal snacks and substitute a belly rub or grooming for a great zero-calorie reward. Cats are Olympic-level loungers and need a reason to move. Create fun activities (dangling a feather on a string, playing with Ping-pong balls and chasing laser lights) to get his little heart pumping. Also, contrary to popular myth, neutering does not make your cat fat. You should neuter your pet! WE control our pet’s food and we are the ones who need to change. When we overfeed them, we literally may be loving them to death.

Here is a low cal “turkey ball” recipe to try: 1/2 cup chopped turkey, 1 can drained tuna, 2/3 cup dry cat food, 1 tbsp. diced veggies (optional). Mix all ingredients. Form into small balls. Chill for an hour. Roll each ball in bread crumbs or wheat germ. Keep refrigerated until ready to treat your kitty!