Cat obesity affects an estimated 30-50% of pet cats in developed countries and is associated with reduced lifespan, chronic disease, and diminished quality of life requiring proactive prevention and management.
Feline obesity causes chronic welfare impacts that owners often fail to recognise because weight gain is gradual. Obese cats find grooming difficult, develop painful arthritis, are at high risk of type 2 diabetes requiring daily insulin injections, and have reduced ability to engage in natural play and hunting behaviour. The quality of life of an obese cat is substantially diminished even when it appears comfortable. Weight management requires owner commitment to measured feeding, resistance to begging behaviour, and often dietary transition to more appropriate food types. Multi-cat households present special challenges when cats need different caloric intakes. The underlying issue is that the indoor domestic environment is profoundly mismatched to the physiological needs of a small carnivore adapted for active hunting. Enrichment that reintroduces activity and foraging challenge is both a welfare improvement and an obesity prevention strategy.