Prevalence: Studies suggest that 25-39% of pet cats in the UK and USA are overweight or obese, making feline obesity one of the most prevalent welfare problems in companion cats.
Welfare Impacts of Obesity
Overweight cats experience significant welfare compromise across multiple dimensions:
Musculoskeletal: Excess weight exacerbates osteoarthritis pain and impairs mobility
Metabolic disease: Obesity is a major risk factor for type 2 diabetes in cats; diabetic cats require insulin management and may experience hypoglycaemic episodes
Hepatic lipidosis: Obese cats that stop eating (due to illness or stress) can develop fatal hepatic lipidosis within days — a life-threatening emergency
Urinary tract: Obesity increases risk of FIC episodes and urolithiasis
Grooming: Obese cats cannot reach all body regions for grooming, leading to matting, skin infections, and faecal contamination
Reduced lifespan: Obese cats have significantly shorter lifespans than lean cats
Why Cats Become Obese
Indoor lifestyle, free-choice dry food feeding, neutering (which reduces metabolic rate and activity), and multi-cat competition for food are major contributors. Owners frequently underestimate body condition score and perceive normal-weight cats as thin. Human feeding behaviour — responding to food-solicitation behaviour with treats — also plays a role.
Weight Assessment
Body condition scoring (BCS) on a 9-point scale is the standard assessment. A score of 5/9 is ideal; overweight is 6-7/9; obese is 8-9/9. Muscle condition score (MCS) should be assessed alongside BCS to distinguish fat accumulation from loss of lean tissue. Regular weight measurement at veterinary visits enables trend monitoring.
Evidence-Based Weight Loss
Prescription weight management diets: higher protein, lower calorie density; maintain lean muscle mass during weight loss
Target 1-2% body weight loss per week — faster loss increases hepatic lipidosis risk
Measure food precisely — ad lib feeding makes portion control impossible
Puzzle feeders and food enrichment extend mealtimes and increase activity
Increase calorie expenditure through interactive play
Regular weight monitoring with adjustment of ration as target weight is approached