Cat Weight Management and Obesity

Feline obesity is one of the most common preventable welfare problems in companion cats; targeted weight management significantly improves long-term health.

Key Facts

An estimated 25-40% of cats in the UK are overweight or obese.
Obesity predisposes cats to diabetes mellitus, hepatic lipidosis, joint disease, and reduced lifespan.
Indoor-only, neutered, and male cats are at highest risk of weight gain.
Cats are obligate carnivores requiring high protein diets; high-carbohydrate diet design may contribute to obesity.
Slow weight loss (1-2% body weight per week) is essential — rapid weight loss causes hepatic lipidosis.

Welfare Considerations

Obese cats experience impaired mobility, heat intolerance, grooming difficulty (they cannot reach hindquarters easily), and increased risk of diabetes and joint disease. The quality of life impact is significant and cumulative. Weight management in cats requires a different approach than dogs — caloric restriction must be gradual, the diet must remain protein-rich, and multiple feeding locations and food puzzles can support appropriate food-seeking behaviour. Cats that lose weight too rapidly from illness or severe caloric restriction develop hepatic lipidosis — a dangerous secondary complication. Owner commitment to measured feeding, increased activity, and regular weight monitoring is the cornerstone of successful feline weight management.

What You Can Do

Have your cat weighed and body condition scored at every veterinary visit.
Measure food portions precisely using a kitchen scale rather than estimating.
Use puzzle feeders and multiple small meals throughout the day to encourage activity.
Aim for weight loss of no more than 1-2% of body weight per week to avoid hepatic lipidosis risk.