Cat Obesity: Health Risks, Diet, and Prevention
Key takeaways:
Obesity can increase your cat’s risk of serious health issues, including heart disease, arthritis, and high blood pressure.
There are visual signs you can look for to tell if your cat is obese, such as not being able to see their ribs.
It can be tricky to help your cat lose weight, but you can accomplish it through carefully monitored diet and exercise.
To keep your cat healthy, you probably worry about things like vaccinations, flea control, and choosing quality food. But you could be overlooking one of the greatest dangers to your cat’s health: being overweight.
An estimated 60% of cats in the U.S. were overweight or obese in 2018. This extra weight can have serious implications on your cat’s health. Fortunately, there are many ways to help your cat shed some pounds and stay at an optimum body weight.
What are the health risks with cat obesity?
Obesity poses several major risks to your cat’s health. It can increase your cat’s chances of developing several serious medical conditions like:
Arthritis
Lameness
Urinary disease
Skin conditions
Heart disease
Osteoarthritis
High blood pressure
Shorter lifespan
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If your cat ever needs surgery, being overweight can also increase the chance of anesthesia-related complications.
What causes cats to become overweight?
Dr. Jamie Whittenburg, director of Kingsgate Animal Hospital in Lubbock, Texas, explains that while cats in the wild expend lots of energy hunting, modern cats are much less active. Less activity combined with too much access to food can lead to weight issues.
“Combining a sedentary lifestyle with diets that are high in carbohydrates leads to obesity,” says Dr. Whittenburg, who is also a veterinarian at Cat World. “But the only reason cats are overweight is due to overfeeding. Owners control the number of calories the cats [eat].”
There are also several risk factors that contribute to the chances of your cat becoming obese:
Age: As cats age and reach senior status, they become less likely to be overweight. Your cat is most likely to be obese between ages 5 to 11.
Breed: Mixed-breed cats are more likely to be obese than purebred cats such as naturally slimmer purebred breeds like the Siamese and Abyssinian.
Neutering: Neutering your cat often reduces roaming behavior, which may cause male cats to gain weight after surgery.
When you’re aware of these risk factors, you can be extra careful in watching your cat’s weight and diet.
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How do I tell if my cat is overweight?
You can look at your cat from the top and side to tell if they are obese. They will look balanced in proportion and not show much fat in their belly region.
“[Looking from above,] cats should have a tuck to their silhouette just in front of their hips,” notes Dr. Whittenburg. “The ribs and spine should be easily [felt]. If they are not easily felt and the cat does not have a tuck, then your cat is too heavy.”
If your cat is too heavy, you may have trouble feeling their ribs. Looking down at your cat, you might notice a slight waist or find that your cat’s waist has disappeared. If you can feel heavy fat over your cat’s face and legs, then your cat is at the upper end of the obesity scale.
You may notice that your cat becomes less energetic and playful as they gain weight, too.
How do I help my cat lose weight?
Dr. Whittenburg recommends making an appointment for a general health check with your cat’s vet if your cat is overweight. They will be able to rule out potential conditions contributing to your cat’s weight.
From there, your vet can help to create a plan to help your cat safely lose weight. “That plan should include both restricted calories as well as increased activity,” says Dr. Whittenburg.
It’s important to understand that, just like in humans, healthy weight loss in cats is a gradual process. Trying to get your cat to lose too much weight too quickly can result in serious conditions like liver failure.
Instead, stick to your vet’s recommended weight-loss plan. It’s usually safe for cats to lose between 0.5% and 2% of their body weight per month. This typically equates to about 0.25 to 0.5 pounds per month.
What is a recommended diet for overweight cats?
A diet for weight loss will likely be different than just feeding less of your cat’s normal food. Your vet can recommend the appropriate food to try with your cat. Otherwise, your cat may not get all the protein, vitamins, and nutrients they need to stay healthy. Your cat’s normal diet may also be too high in fat.
“Cats are obligate carnivores and do better on diets that contain a high level of moisture and low carbohydrates,” says Dr. Whittenburg. “This may be in the form of wet food or a specially formulated home-cooked diet. If the cat has medical issues, there may be a prescription diet that is required.”
Your vet can calculate how many calories your cat should eat each day to effectively lose weight. Then, you can determine how many cups of food is equal to that total calorie count. Don’t forget that treats will add calories to your cat’s daily intake, so it’s best to restrict or eliminate treats to keep your cat at the target calorie count.
You can also consider feeding your cat using food puzzles or automated feeders. These tools can help slow down your cat from eating too much too quickly. Puzzle feeders have the added benefit of giving your cat a little bit of extra activity as they hunt for their food.
How much exercise should my cat get?
The duration of the exercise session will also depend on your cat’s age, weight, and the amount of exercise your cat previously received. Your vet can provide you with more advice based on your cat’s situation and health. But a general rule of thumb is to try for 5-minute play periods 3 times per day.
It’s important to tailor an exercise plan to your cat’s health. “For example, playing with toys that cause the cat to jump or start and stop quickly are hard on the joints and wouldn't be recommended for heavily overweight cats or cats with arthritis,” says. Dr. Whittenburg.
You may have to experiment with different toys and exercises until you find something that appeals to your cat. Your goal is to get your cat pouncing, leaping, and active during these playtime sessions.
Finding a toy or enrichment activity that your cat truly enjoys playing with can help to keep your cat interested and engaged during exercise time. You may need to focus on interactive play. Here are some potential options:
Wand toys that fly through the air
Wand toys that drag along the ground
Balls or mice that cats chase when thrown
Crinkle tubes
Cat trees for climbing
Leash training for safe outdoor exploration
What can I do to prevent my cat from getting overweight?
One of the best ways to prevent feline obesity is to avoid free feeding your cat. Rather than leaving a bowl of dry food out all day long, use canned food. Canned food often has a higher protein content than dry food — and it contains fewer carbs, too.
When you feed canned food, you’re more likely to feed structured meals that your cat eats in a single sitting. By feeding your cat at set meal times, you can better control how much your cat consumes, helping to regulate their weight.
If you have multiple cats in your home, feed your cats separately, so you can regulate how much food each cat eats. Remove any remaining food after 15 or 30 minutes to prevent your cat from coming back for snacks all day long.
The bottom line
Obesity has serious health implications for cats, and it can reduce the quality of your cat’s life. If your cat is overweight, be sure to consult with your vet to develop a personalized weight-loss plan for your cat. Your cat’s plan will likely include both diet and exercise changes. Helping your cat to lose weight will take some effort, but it will result in a healthier, happier cat.
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References
Association for Pet Obesity Prevention. (n.d.). Weight reduction in cats — General information.
Association for Pet Obesity Prevention. (2019). 2018 pet obesity survey results.
Association for Pet Obesity Prevention. (2019). The 5 biggest questions you must ask about pet obesity: How to check, what to feed, and how to exercise.
Cline, M. G., et al. (2021). 2021 AAHA nutrition and weight management guidelines for dogs and cats. Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association.
Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. (n.d.). Obesity.
Pet Nutrition Alliance. (n.d.). Calorie calculator for cats.
Rand, J., et al. (2004). Feline obesity: Causes, consequences and management. World Congress of the World Small Animal Veterinary Association.
Scherk, M. (2008). Obesity: A complete programme to help cat clients. World Congress of the World Small Animal Veterinary Association.
Shmalberg, J. (2013). Treatment of obesity in cats and dogs. Today’s Veterinary Practice.
