Obesity in Cats

Obesity is a pathological condition that affects about 40% of dogs and cats and is a serious situation as, from its onset, it acts as a trigger for other diseases such as diabetes or joint problems.

Obesity can be defined as an excessive accumulation of body fat, it is considered that a cat is overweight when it exceeds by 10% its ideal body weight, and it is considered obese when it exceeds by 20% its ideal weight.

The risk of this disorder is particularly important in adult cats aged between 5 and 11 years. However, very often the owner is not able to assess how suitable the cat's body weight is and appropriate and regular veterinary care prove to be a key factor to prevent obesity in cats.

Obesity in cats has no specific cause, instead we must talk about factors of risk which can act negatively on your pet's body and trigger an excess in weight that is highly dangerous to its health.

Let's look at the risk factors which act as triggers in feline obesity:

• Age: Cats aged between 5 and 11 years have the highest risk of suffering from obesity, therefore, preventive measures should begin when the cat is about 2 years old.
• Sex: Male cats are at increased risk of obesity, the risk is further increased in cases of sterilization. Many experts consider feline sterilization to be the main factor associated with obesity.
• Endocrine problems: The use of chemicals can alter the cat's hormonal profile, which decreases insulin sensitivity and predisposes it to body fat accumulation. Other diseases such as hypothyroidism may affect an obese cat.
• Breed: Common or tabby cats have double the risk of suffering from obesity than pure-breed cats, except for Manx breed cats as these possess the same risk as any common cat.
• Environmental factors: A cat that lives with dogs is more protected against obesity, by contrast cats who do not live with other animals and remain in a flat or apartment have a higher risk of being obese.
• Activity: Cats that cannot be physically active outdoors are at increased risk of excess body weight.
• Feeding: Some studies link the use of high-end food with a higher risk of obesity. Cat feed will also be one of the main factors to treat this condition.
• Owner's behaviour: Do you tend to humanise your cat? Do you not play with it and mainly use food as a positive reinforcement? This behaviour has been associated with an increased risk of obesity in cats.

Treatment of obesity in cats requires veterinary care and a firm commitment from the owners. Of the treatments proposed by feline nutrition experts we can distinguish the following stages:

• Initial assessment: The veterinarian must individually assess the degree of overweight in the animal, its health status and risk factors that have acted on the pet.
• Weight loss phase: It is the first phase of treatment and it can last for many months. At this stage it is essential to change the life habits of the cat, establishing a diet for obese cats and a more active lifestyle. In some cases the vet may decide to also prescribe a drug treatment.
• Consolidation phase: This phase must be maintained throughout the life of the cat since its purpose is to keep the pet at a healthy weight. Generally at this stage diet is changed, but not the amount of physical activity. To implement this phase properly, veterinary supervision is essential.

Many owners feel more satisfied and calm when their cat starts to lose a lot of weight very quickly. However, blood tests subsequently carried out indicate that this is not always healthy.

Owner involvement is essential but we should always take into account the indications given by the veterinarian.

This article is purely informative. AnimalWised does not have the authority to prescribe any veterinary treatment or create a diagnosis. We invite you to take your pet to the veterinarian if they are suffering from any condition or pain.

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