Obesity affects an estimated 25-40% of pet cats in high-income countries. It causes chronic pain, reduces lifespan, and dramatically diminishes quality of life — yet is largely preventable.
Obese cats experience a cascade of welfare harms. Excess weight puts mechanical stress on joints, causing chronic arthritis pain that owners often misinterpret as normal ageing. Obese cats are less able to groom themselves, leading to painful matting and skin problems. The risk of developing diabetes mellitus — itself a serious welfare condition — increases substantially with obesity. Hepatic lipidosis, a potentially fatal liver condition, can be triggered by any period of reduced food intake in obese cats. The psychological welfare dimension is often overlooked: indoor cats without environmental enrichment are food-motivated because eating provides the only significant activity in an otherwise unstimulating environment. Addressing obesity requires both dietary management and environmental enrichment that provides alternative sources of engagement and reward.