Cat obesity is a very serious problem that can accelerate into more complications. Is your cat obese? Know by reading the article below. It may be adorable to have a cat that is a bit on the fat side but that means he is exposed to numerous health risks that come with being obese. It is important for you to know if your cat is obese or not so that you can immediately act on it. Nothing beats a healthy cat. Statistics say that more than half of the cats are actually overweight while about a quarter of them are obese.
Definition Of Cat Obesity
Cat obesity is when your cat is storing more fat the normal in its body. Obesity is not clearly detected by weight. Cat obesity arises when a cat eats too much and does not move a lot which causes the calories from his food to be converted into long-term energy sources called fats. This is common among female felines who are spayed as well as older cats.
The problem does not stop at the excess fats. It also escalates to other complications like cardiovascular diseases, liver disease, osteoarthritis, and even diabetes. It also causes difficulties for your cat to breathe as well as a shorter lifespan.
Symptoms And How To Identify Cat Obesity
The primary way you can identify obesity is by using a charting method called body condition scoring. The chart may range from 1 to 5 or 1 to 9. Being scored a 3 to 5 is relatively normal while going to the end of the scale means that your cat is obese. The scoring is done by a veterinarian or by comparing your cat’s body to what is indicated in the chart.
You can identify obesity by placing your hands on the sides of your cat. Firmly stroke this area until you can feel the ribs of your cat. If you can feel the ribs of your cat then that means he is not obese. If you cannot feel the ribs, your cat is overweight. Visible ribs indicate an underweight status.
Another sign that your cat is overweight is if he has a swinging pouch that is located between his hind legs. Another sign of obesity is if the anal area of your cat looks dirty or unkempt. This is a sign because obese cats often have difficulties reaching that area to clean it. Another sign is if he has a greasy patch along the back because that means he also cannot access that area for cleaning. Snoring or wheezing are likewise signs of obesity in cats.
Treatment
Your veterinarian is usually the one that describes the treatment in order to combat obesity. Your job as a pet owner is to follow up on the prescribed treatment to make sure that your cat is in the right direction towards a healthier lifestyle. The treatment plan is usually a combination of a prescribed diet and exercise. The goal is to make him burn more calories so that he can eliminate the visceral fats that pose serious harm to his health.
