Feline obesity is one of the most prevalent and preventable welfare problems in companion cats. Excess weight causes chronic pain, reduces mobility, and shortens lifespan significantly.
Obese cats experience chronic pain from joint stress and reduced quality of life from limited mobility and grooming difficulty. The welfare impact is often invisible to owners who associate a round cat with health. Treating feline obesity requires veterinary guidance, structured feeding schedules, calorie-controlled diets, and environmental enrichment to encourage movement. Prevention through portion control from kittenhood is far easier than treating established obesity.