Feline obesity affects a large and growing proportion of companion cats, causing welfare impacts through reduced mobility, increased disease risk, and impaired quality of life.
Feline obesity is a welfare problem that is often invisible to owners because cats rarely show the obvious exercise intolerance and breathlessness that characterizes canine obesity. An obese cat may appear content while experiencing chronic joint pain, difficulty grooming hindquarters, and the metabolic consequences of insulin resistance and fatty liver risk. The welfare trajectory without intervention is progressive: obesity causes arthritis which reduces activity which worsens obesity which increases pain — a cycle that significantly reduces quality of life across years. Prevention through portion control, activity enrichment, and puzzle feeding is far more effective than treatment once obesity is established. The welfare responsibility extends to veterinary education at annual wellness exams — proactively addressing body condition rather than waiting for owners to raise concerns about a cat they perceive as simply well-fed.