Companion Animals

Companion Cat Obesity Prevention and Treatment

Feline obesity affects over 40% of adult cats and causes chronic welfare problems including joint pain, diabetes, and reduced quality of life.

Key Facts

Obesity is defined as weight 15-20% above ideal body condition score
Neutered and indoor cats are at highest risk from reduced energy requirements
Orthopedic pain, diabetes, hepatic lipidosis, and reduced life expectancy result from obesity
Weight loss in cats must be gradual - rapid loss causes fatal hepatic lipidosis
Puzzle feeders slow eating and provide cognitive stimulation alongside calorie restriction

Welfare Considerations

Obese cats experience chronic pain from joints stressed by excess weight, reduced ability to groom, and metabolic disease. Many owners fail to recognise obesity in their cats or underestimate its welfare impact. Prevention through portion control from kittenhood is far easier than treatment. Gradual weight loss with veterinary supervision and enrichment feeding prevents the welfare cost of both obesity and dangerous rapid weight loss.

What You Can Do

Use body condition scoring to assess your cat's weight and consult your vet if concerned
Measure food portions carefully and avoid free feeding dry food
Replace bowl feeding with puzzle feeders to slow intake and increase activity