Obesity affects 30-40% of domestic cats and is associated with diabetes, arthritis, and reduced mobility; prevention through appropriate feeding and activity is far easier than weight loss.
Feline obesity is one of the most prevalent and underrecognized welfare problems in companion cats. Overweight cats experience reduced mobility, joint pain, impaired grooming ability, and elevated risk of life-limiting metabolic diseases. Many owners fail to recognize obesity because it develops gradually and because marketing of cat foods tends to emphasize palatability over nutritional appropriateness. Prevention is dramatically easier than treatment: establishing appropriate portion feeding, providing puzzle feeders that require activity to obtain food, and maintaining body condition from kittenhood prevents the welfare consequences of obesity with minimal management burden.