If you have a fleshy feline, the weight-loss plan begins with cutting calories. The next step — ramping up your cat’s exercise — may be easier said than done.

Wild cats have evolved to take down prey with short bursts of energy. Afterward, they loll around eating and resting until the next hunt. Like their big cousins, domestic cats aren’t built for sustained activity. They’re all about the sprint, not the marathon. Nevertheless, a fat cat needs to get a move on to burn calories, along with a diet adjusted to reduce calories.

Start by moving food bowls far from regular resting spots so your pudgy pal has to take a hike before eating. Cater to your cat’s love of the chase by moving light beams across the floor, bouncing feather toys, crinkling paper bags or tossing stuffed mice. By doing this for 10 to 15 minutes twice a day, you can help your chubby charge become a fit feline.