Obesity affects an estimated 40-50% of adult cats and causes significant health problems and reduced quality of life. Understanding causes and effective management improves feline welfare outcomes.
Feline obesity is one of the most prevalent and most preventable welfare problems in companion cats. The combination of highly palatable calorie-dense food available ad libitum, reduced activity in indoor environments, and post-neutering metabolic changes creates conditions where obesity is almost the default outcome without deliberate management. The welfare consequences are significant: obese cats cannot groom effectively, suffer joint pain that reduces mobility further, are at high risk of diabetes and liver disease, and have measurably reduced quality of life. Weight management requires accurate calorie calculation, meal feeding rather than free access, and increased activity through enrichment. Veterinary involvement is important — weight loss should be gradual to avoid triggering hepatic lipidosis.