Obesity in Cats

Nowadays even our pets are subject to diseases of civilization. Obesity is no good for them as well as for people. Do you know how to tell if your cat is obese and what are its causes and consequences?

While in the past cats spend a great deal of energy to hunting, today they (especially those in flats) live in a very limited area and the majority of them have an unrestricted and all-day-long access to food. And this limited exercising together with excessive intake of calories (caused not only by overeating but by inappropriate type feeding) is the most frequent cause of obesity.

The castration also “helps” to get obese. This is because it changes animal’s metabolism. With growing age, there is also bigger need of quality proteins. So when the choice of the cat’s food is wrong, it can get obese even though it has not enough of such proteins.

Obesity presents health risks

Obese animals generally have a shorter life and and being a relatively bit overweight may increase the risk of serious diseases such as diabetes, diseases of joints and bones, diseases of the heart, liver or lung diseases and urinary tract diseases. Obesity also increases risks associated with anaesthesia and can complicate surgical procedures. Cats which are overweight are also lazier and thus do not support the activity of the intestines and this is bad for their digestion.

How to prevent obesity in cats

Do not choose poor-quality food. When choosing it you should also take the condition of the cat into account – whether it is castrated, how old and active it is and the like. Many producers already categorize cat food according to those criteria so it is no longer a problem.

Each cat should also have enough opportunities to burn its energy. A scratching tree can be good for this purpose or other form of activities, perhaps another cat buddy with which they can chase each other or encourage for playing. Some cats, like my own, are good alone but others need to be initiated to play.

How to fight obesity – lifestyle changes

If you think that your cat is suffering from obesity, consult it with a vet. He may decide that the condition of your cat is so serious that it needs a special health diet. Otherwise he/she can advise what food (it is usually marked as light) you should give your cat and how much. He/she may recommend the purchase of interactive feeders or functional toys.

Obese cat should also not have a permanent access to food. It should get the access to a bowl with food three times a day for fifteen minutes for example. The natural thing to do should be to avoid any treats and leftovers of human food. Try to initiate her physical activity as well.

Have your pet cat already had a problem with being overweight? Have you to solved it? Fortunately, my cat is so active that she could even handle the transition from the outside to the inside. Although she does not have access to the outside as she had in the past, she always runs as crazy at home, chases the dog and often even us so she did not suffer from any change in her weight. :)