Cat obesity affects an estimated 40-60% of companion cats and causes significant welfare compromise through chronic disease, reduced mobility, and shortened lifespan. Prevention and management are both achievable.
Feline obesity causes chronic welfare compromise through multiple pathways: excess weight stresses joints causing arthritis pain, metabolic strain increases diabetes risk, and the difficulty of grooming hard-to-reach areas causes hygiene problems and skin disease. Unlike canine obesity where increased appetite is often the primary driver, feline obesity frequently results from inappropriate feeding practices — free-feeding ad libitum dry food — combined with insufficient physical activity. Weight loss in cats must be gradual: maximum 1-2% body weight per week to avoid triggering hepatic lipidosis. High-protein, low-carbohydrate wet food diets are more effective for weight loss than dry food restriction. Puzzle feeders simultaneously reduce caloric intake, slow eating, and provide behavioral enrichment. Cats that have lost significant weight often show dramatic improvement in mobility, grooming, and activity level.