Feline obesity is one of the most common nutritional disorders affecting cats, causing chronic welfare impacts through joint pain, diabetes, respiratory difficulties and reduced activity.
Feline obesity causes chronic welfare impacts through reduced mobility, joint pain, increased effort in normal activities and metabolic disease development. Obese cats often cannot groom effectively, leading to matting and skin problems. The relationship between obesity and feline idiopathic cystitis means overweight cats face higher stress-related urinary disease risk. Weight management improves welfare significantly but must be managed carefully to avoid triggering hepatic lipidosis.