Cat Obesity
What are the Cat Obesity?
If a cat weighs 10–20% more than its optimal body weight, it is deemed overweight; if the additional fat exceeds 20%, it is considered obese. Up to 63% of cats in wealthy nations suffer from feline obesity, making it a fairly prevalent condition. Obesity may strike any breed of cat.
Your pet’s weight increases the risk of serious health problems like arthritis, cardiovascular disease, endocrine and metabolic disorders, and a compromised immune system. Middle-aged (8–12 years old) cats who are neutered and spend most of their time indoors are more likely to develop obesity. Feeding and diet plans are crucial for controlling weight.
Reasons for Cat Obesity:
Two types of variables contribute to feline obesity: diet-specific factors and animal-specific ones.
Factors unique to animals :
- Age: Compared to younger or older cats, middle-aged cats (8–12 years old) are more prone to be overweight.
- Neutered: Compared to unneutered cats, neutered male and female cats typically have a greater hunger.
- Environment: Due to increased inactivity and fewer possibilities for calorie-burning exercise, indoor cats—or cats with limited outside access—are more likely to be overweight.
- Underlying medical conditions: Choosing the right meal for weight control might be difficult if you have food allergies. Arthritis and joint pain can limit movement, which lowers energy expenditure and raises the chance of weight gain.
Signs of Obesity in Felines:
In addition to obvious weight increase, obesity symptoms include:
- Having trouble leaping or going upstairs
- More sitting or laying down and a refusal to get up and move about
- Absence of a noticeable waist
- Pet parents’ incapacity to feel hip or rib bones
- Untidy, untidy, and unclean hair coat
- The collar continues to tighten.
- More gas flowing and/or fewer bowel motions
Why are cats so prone to obesity?
Cat obesity has become more common in North America due to several aspects of our Western lifestyle. The majority of cats’ lives are spent inside. They consume fewer calories each day since they are no longer forced to travel and search for food.
More options with more calories per cup or can are now available as pet food producers have progressively raised the energy density of diets over time. Furthermore, it is simple for cats to consume more calories than they require when they are allowed to eat at their discretion, which involves leaving food in the dish all day. In the end, cats will inevitably acquire weight when their caloric intake surpasses their caloric expenditure, resulting in overweight and obesity.
What is the ideal weight for my cat?
The appropriate weight for your cat will vary depending on their breed, age, gender, and unique situation. The appropriate weight for your cat will be determined by your veterinarian, however as a general rule of thumb:
Depending on their size and breed, kittens will gain weight each month until they reach adulthood, while older cats may weigh anywhere from 3.6 to 4.5 kg.
There is no one-size-fits-all method for determining a cat’s weight. Speaking with your veterinarian is the only method to determine the precise weight that your cat should have.
Identification of Obesity in Felines:
To determine whether your cat is obese, a specialist must evaluate them because cats of different breeds and ages are believed to have varied appropriate weight ranges.
During a physical examination, your veterinarian will use a body condition assessment scale to evaluate whether your cat is fat. While some clinics employ a scale of 1 to 5, the most often used bodily condition score falls between 1 and 9.
A cat that receives a score of 1 on the body condition evaluation scale is very thin, with their spine and ribs readily visible. A cat with a score of 9 is fat and has obvious abdominal swelling that makes it impossible to feel the ribs during a physical examination. Our goal is to get the middle values on the bodily condition evaluation scale, which are regarded as average.
Your veterinarian could advise your cat to have diagnostic tests done in addition to a body condition score test. To rule out medical issues such as an underactive thyroid that might be the cause of the weight gain, this testing may involve blood tests. In cats, this ailment is quite uncommon.
Any drugs your cat is taking that might cause weight gain should be disclosed to your veterinarian. A thorough report on your cat’s food may also be requested by your veterinarian.
What role does my cat’s weight or obesity have in their pain?
Obesity and excess weight increase the risk of osteoarthritis (OA) and joint degeneration, which can result in chronic pain. Until recently, veterinarians believed that the increased joint wear and tear was the main cause of the increased discomfort and inflammation linked to OA in overweight and obese cats.
We now understand that a portion of the pain associated with OA and joint illness is caused by inflammation, which is caused by hormones and other substances secreted by physiologically active adipose tissue. This vicious cycle is exacerbated by being overweight or obese.
Management of Cat Obesity:
Following the diagnosis of your cat’s obesity, your veterinarian will develop a weight management and treatment plan. Avoid making dietary changes for your cat without first seeing a veterinarian since rapid weight loss can potentially result in major health issues, such as fatty liver disease.
Changing the cat’s food, exercise routine, and medication is usually the first step in treating obesity in cats.
Nutrition
One of the best ways to cure feline obesity may be through dietary changes. Any dietary changes must be made gradually, under supervision, and in consultation with your veterinarian. Do not, however, drastically or suddenly cut back on your cat’s food intake.
Your cat will probably be put on a weight-loss program by your veterinarian, which will monitor their food consumption and weight. Certain cat food items, such as Purina’s Pro Plan Weight Management, may also be suggested or prescribed by your veterinarian.
It has been demonstrated that giving a weight loss diet would produce greater outcomes than cutting back on the amount of ordinary food.
Work out
Your cat may maintain a healthy weight range with regular activity. The majority of cats require a minimum of 30 minutes of daily activity, which should be divided into brief play bouts lasting 10 to 15 minutes each.
Your cat will become more active and lose weight if you let them outside. It could be a little more difficult for indoor cats to keep active. Try utilizing interactive toys that will keep your indoor cat moving around to stimulate play.
You might want to think about taking your cat outdoors on a leash and pet harness if you’re unsure if it’s safe to do so.
Drugs
Your veterinarian will talk about options or changes if your cat’s weight gain is due to medication.
If a medical issue, such as hypothyroidism illness, is the cause of the weight increase, your veterinarian could suggest a therapy that will also address the weight gain.
Cat Obesity Prevention and Recovery
Obesity prevention is essential. Early on in your cat’s life, you may prevent weight gain by being aware of the risk factors and managing them with your veterinarian. Your cat will have to control their weight for the rest of their lives after they have accumulated too much weight and are deemed obese.
Following the initiation of a weight loss program, it’s critical to keep an eye on your cat’s development. You must get a reliable scale for your house and become acquainted with the body condition scales that your veterinarian employs. You can keep an eye on your cat’s development at home with these gadgets.
It’s crucial to have patience during the lengthy process of weight control. Losing weight in your cat may not happen right away and may take a lifetime. Rather than expecting instant results and giving up on the weight-reduction plan when they don’t materialize, more patient pet parents tend to set more reasonable targets for their cat’s weight loss throughout her lifespan.
Follow-ups with your veterinarian are crucial for success since your cat’s weight-reduction plan will also need to be reviewed several times throughout their life, depending on factors including age, the effectiveness of the weight loss, and the emergence of any underlying issues.
The health hazards that overweight cats confront
Being overweight or obese significantly raises your cat’s chance of developing various illnesses, many of which can be fatal and need expensive future treatment. Additionally, it may impair their overall mobility and grooming skills, which are crucial for their innate habits.
Obese cats are more susceptible to the following health issues:
- diabetes and urinary disorders
- arthritis (the weight increases the strain on the joints)
What are some ways to keep my cat from ever getting fat?
The following are some practical methods for keeping cats from gaining weight or becoming obese:
Provide a suitable diet. For assistance in selecting the best diet for your cat’s life stage and health, see your veterinarian. Instead of an all-purpose foodstuff, kittens require a diet that is specifically designed to satisfy their nutritional demands as they develop. When to go from kitten formula to adult food might be advised by your family veterinarian.
A kitten formulation is not the greatest option for adult cats since their demands differ from those of kittens. Many senior cats need a different nutritional composition than the adult chow they’ve been eating for years since they age and alter at different rates. It is important to assess and feed senior cats as individuals. There may be special dietary needs for cats with specific illnesses or ailments.
Serve servings that are measured. Controlling portions is essential. Ask your veterinarian for a recommended portion size and follow it because cat food bags and cans sometimes overestimate how much food a cat needs to consume each day.
Establish regular mealtimes and stick to them. The idea that cats must graze or eat whenever they want is untrue. Cats pick up on the availability of food and its absence immediately. You may reduce what you might think is begging behavior by adhering to set mealtimes.
Take into account interactive feeding toys. Cats may work for their food with these toys, sometimes known as enrichment feeders. In addition to eating more slowly, cats who have to solve a problem or smell and hunt for food also use a few extra calories.
Promote more outdoor activities that are safe. If at all feasible, expose your cat to the wide outdoors to increase their daily level of exercise. To promote movement, some cat owners might construct an outside cage with ledges at different heights. Many cats can be trained to walk on a leash for a little more mobility while they are out and about, and they typically prefer to walk at the front rather than the back, like dogs do. Instead of a leash on the collar, cats prefer a tight-fitting harness on the body.
Increase indoor activity. Apart from food-dispensing interactive toys, there are other interactive toys like laser pointers or dangling feathers that let kids play and chase for hours. To encourage your cat to locate the new food source, you can also turn one of their meals into a food scavenger hunt. Lastly, since cats may be taught many of the same behaviors as dogs (e.g., come, sit, stay, up on the sofa), think about using positive incentive training.
Monitor their physical state. At every appointment, your cat’s body and muscle condition score can be evaluated by your veterinarian’s healthcare team. If your cat is overweight, your veterinarian can offer an estimated optimal body weight to use as a guide for weight loss. Regular evaluations can help you monitor your cat’s health.
Arrange for weigh-ins. We remain honest when we are held accountable. To keep track of your cat’s weight and body condition score in their medical file, schedule routine weigh-ins at your veterinarian’s office either monthly or every other month. Early detection of upward or downward trends allows for small feeding modifications. Making little changes is usually simpler than making big changes.
How to control your cat’s weight in a home with many cats:
If you have many cats, it might be more challenging to control their weight if one of them develops obesity. The overweight cat should be fed in a different room, and any food left over from other cats in the house should be thrown out.
Make an effort to keep your overweight cat’s food out of reach if they are grazers. This may be accomplished by making a hole in a cardboard box that is big enough for the other cat to fit through but too small for your overweight cat. It could be necessary to assist them in discovering where their food has moved. You may still need to have separate feeding stations, but you may also utilize microchip feeders, which only let that cat consume that food.
Since cats prefer to live alone, sharing a home with other cats, including siblings, can be stressful. While some cats may lose weight while under stress, others may binge.
FAQs
What is the lifespan of an obese cat?
According to statistics, fat cats often live 5–10 years, which is 5 years less than the average lifetime of healthy cats, which is 10–15 years. Compared to their slim counterparts, cats aged eight to twelve who are obese have a 2.8-fold higher death risk.
What signs of obesity are present in cats?
A cat that is extremely obese will have a swollen belly with no discernible waistline, substantial fat deposits across the lumbar region, face, and limbs, and ribs that are not felt behind a thick layer of fat.
What causes cats to gain weight?
Environment: Due to increased inactivity and fewer possibilities for calorie-burning exercise, indoor cats—or cats with limited outside access—are more likely to be overweight. Underlying medical conditions: Choosing the right foods for weight control might be difficult if you have dietary sensitivities.
When does a cat qualify as obese?
As a general rule, cats are deemed overweight if their weight is 10–20% more than their optimal weight. When a cat weighs more than 20% more than their optimal body weight, they are classified as obese.
Are cats who are overweight in pain?
Obesity and excess weight increase the risk of osteoarthritis (OA) and joint degeneration, which can result in chronic pain. Until recently, veterinarians believed that the increased joint wear and tear was the main cause of the increased discomfort and inflammation linked to OA in overweight and obese cats.
What if I feed my cat too much by mistake?
Cats have evolved to eat little and frequently, so if you’ve been unintentionally overfeeding them, gradually reduce the quantity over a week or two and divide their limit into two or more meals so they may graze throughout the day. Your cat should be encouraged to move more as well.
References
- Ardente, A., DVM PhD. (2024, November 11). Obesity in cats. PetMD. https://www.petmd.com/cat/conditions/digestive/c_ct_obesity
- Wag. (2022, November 12). Obesity in cats. Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, Recovery, Management, Cost. https://wagwalking.com/cat/condition/obesity
- Overweight, Obesity, and Pain in Cats: Prevention and Action Plans | VCA Animal Hospitals. (n.d.). Vca. https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/overweight-obesity-and-pain-in-cats-prevention-and-action-plans
- Cat obesity – How to keep your cat healthy | Cats Protection. (n.d.). https://www.cats.org.uk/help-and-advice/diet/cat-obesity