Feline Obesity and Weight Management: Welfare Guide

Key Welfare Considerations

• Obesity impairs cats' ability to groom, jump, and engage in natural predatory behaviours.
• Excess weight contributes to diabetes mellitus, hepatic lipidosis, orthopaedic pain, and urinary disorders.
• Body condition scoring (BCS) on a 9-point scale should be performed at every veterinary visit.
• A BCS of 8-9 indicates obesity, with ribs imperceptible under fat cover and waist absent.
• Free-choice feeding of high-calorie dry diets is a primary driver of feline obesity.
• Neutering reduces metabolic rate by approximately 20%, requiring dietary adjustment to prevent weight gain.
• Weight management requires accurate food measurement, ideally by weight rather than volume.
• High-protein, moderate-fat, lower-carbohydrate diets support lean mass retention during weight loss.
• Puzzle feeders and food dispensing toys increase activity and mental stimulation during weight loss programmes.
• Target weight loss rate of 0.5-1% body weight per week minimises hepatic lipidosis risk.
• Hepatic lipidosis risk during rapid weight loss in cats makes slow, monitored reduction essential.
• Regular weight checks at 2-4 week intervals allow diet adjustment and owner engagement.
• Environmental enrichment is critical alongside dietary management to increase activity levels.
• Multi-cat households require individual feeding management to prevent competitive overconsumption.
• Achieving and maintaining healthy weight significantly improves lifespan and quality of life in cats.