Feline obesity is an epidemic in domestic cats, causing chronic joint pain, diabetes and reduced lifespan, yet it remains widely unrecognized by owners who perceive overweight cats as normal or healthy.
Cat obesity is a silent welfare crisis driven by the mismatch between feline evolutionary history and modern domestic feeding practices. Indoor cats with unlimited access to energy-dense food and limited opportunities for predatory activity accumulate excess weight that causes measurable suffering: joint inflammation limits mobility, hepatic lipidosis is painful and potentially fatal, and diabetic cats require lifelong insulin management. The social normalization of overweight body condition means many owners resist veterinary advice to reduce food portions, viewing a heavier cat as well-fed rather than overfed. Addressing feline obesity requires both owner education and veterinary courage to prescribe weight loss despite emotional resistance.