It’s incredibly easy for us to give in to our cats’ irresistible charm by offering them a few extra treats or an additional serving of food. But doing this regularly can increase the risk of obesity—a life-limiting (and sometimes life-threatening) condition in cats.
According to the latest report from 2014 by the Pet Food Manufacturers Association (PFMA), three out of four veterinarians (77%) believe that the issue of obesity in cats and other pets has worsened over the past five years. Meanwhile, two out of three pet owners (63%) believe their pets face more important issues, possibly unaware of the consequences obesity can have on a cat.
However, 93% of cat owners say they would be concerned if they found out their cat was overweight, which we hope means cat owners are willing to take proper action to address the issue.
Here Are Some More Interesting Statistics from PFMA:
- 63% of pet owners believe their pet is at an optimal weight.
- Veterinarians estimate that around 40% of cats are overweight.
- Only 37% of pet owners know how to properly monitor their pet’s weight.
- 30% of pet owners never check their pet’s weight at all.
- Over one-third of pet owners feed their animals “human” food, which can be too high in fat and sometimes toxic for pets.
- 68% of pet owners do not follow professional advice when determining daily portion sizes. (Often, the guidelines on the back of the food bag are general and not tailored to your specific pet.)
- A chunk of cheese given to a cat is equivalent to us eating nine snacks ourselves.
- Just a 20% increase in body weight can lead to conditions such as diabetes, arthritis, and cardiovascular or respiratory diseases.
Our Recommendation:
We recommend keeping a close eye on your cat’s weight to prevent obesity and making regular adjustments to treats, food quantity, and more—before it becomes too late to make simple changes.
Source: PFMA
Our team may have used AI to assist in the creation of this content, which has been reviewed by our editors.
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