Companion Animal Welfare

Cat Welfare and Obesity Assessment

Feline obesity affects over 50% of cats in some surveys and causes significant welfare harm. Accurate assessment and structured management improve outcomes.

Key Facts

Over half of UK cats may be overweight or obese
Obesity causes joint pain, diabetes mellitus, urinary disease, and reduced lifespan
Body condition scoring using a 1-9 scale provides consistent assessment
Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) provides accurate body composition measurement
Weight loss in cats must be carefully managed to avoid hepatic lipidosis

Welfare Considerations

Feline obesity causes chronic welfare harm through multiple disease pathways. Early recognition using body condition scoring and structured management prevents the accumulation of obesity-related disease.

What You Can Do

Learn to body condition score your cat and assess monthly
Measure food portions and account for treats in calorie calculations
Seek veterinary guidance before starting a weight loss programme
Never allow rapid weight loss in cats - slow, managed reduction is essential