Cat obesity affects over half of adult cats and causes significant welfare compromise. Indoor lifestyles and ad libitum feeding are primary drivers of the feline obesity epidemic.
Cat obesity welfare is shaped by the indoor lifestyle that, paradoxically, provides safety at the cost of activity. Cats evolved as active predators whose feeding was interspersed with rest, play, and hunting activity. Ad libitum dry food provision to indoor cats who do limited activity creates conditions for chronic overconsumption. The welfare consequences are significant: obese cats develop arthritis, diabetes, and skin problems while simultaneously losing the mobility to engage in behaviors that support psychological welfare. Transitioning to portion-controlled, puzzle-fed meals that require some active engagement replicates more natural feeding patterns while addressing caloric overconsumption.