Recognizing Cat Obesity, Causes and Signs

How Can I Tell if My Cat Is Overweight?

One method to tell if your cat is overweight is to feel along their rib cage. You should be able to feel their ribs beneath a light cushion of fat when applying gentle but firm pressure with your hands. If you have difficulty locating them, your cat may be overweight. If you can't feel your cat's ribs at all, this means they're covered by a thick layer of fat, indicating obesity.

Another common method to evaluate a cat's weight is to assess their body condition score, which categorizes body condition on a scale of one to nine. To try this at home, look down at your cat from above while they're standing. Ideally, the sides of their body will form a straight line, with a slight indent behind the ribs (their waist). If it's difficult to identify their waistline or their body bulges on either side, forming more of an oval shape, your cat is likely overweight or obese.

Your veterinarian can weigh your cat and examine their overall body condition to help you understand where they fall on this scale.

How Excess Weight Impacts Your Cat

Feline obesity is associated with many adverse health effects and impact quality of life. Your cat may not be able to jump up to tall surfaces like they used to. Obese cats often can't groom themselves sufficiently, particularly toward the back and rear end. This can result in matted fur, skin infections and even urinary tract infections.

Carrying excess weight also strains the joints, which can lead to or worsen existing arthritis in cats. Overweight cats are more likely to experience complications under anesthesia, too. Finally, obese cats are at increased risk of developing feline diabetes mellitus, a chronic illness that often requires lifelong management.

What Is the Life Expectancy of an Obese Cat?

Considering these associated health complications, obesity can take years off your cat's life expectancy. However, while important, weight is only one of several factors influencing longevity. Also, lifespan isn't the only consideration. Even overweight cats who live long lives can experience reduced quality of life. So, no matter how you slice it, preventing cat obesity is worthwhile.

Causes of Cat Weight Gain

The most common cause of cat weight gain is overfeeding. This can happen slowly without you even noticing, especially as cats get older and their metabolisms and activity levels slow down. Older cats have different nutritional needs than young cats. So, continuing to feed your cat the same amount and type of food you always have once they reach middle age may result in weight gain. Typically, older cats become less active and may need less food.

Ask your vet for their cat food recommendations after your cat is spayed or neutered. Their food should account for the associated decrease in your cat's metabolic rate to reduce the risk of putting on excess weight.

Certain medications and medical conditions can also cause weight gain in cats. So, consult your veterinarian if you notice your cat's changing condition.

Risk Factors for Weight Gain

Some cats are at higher risk of becoming overweight or obese. As mentioned earlier, spaying and neutering a cat, while important, can lower your cat's metabolism. Indoor cats are at higher risk of obesity since they generally don't get as much exercise. That said, keeping your cat indoors is still the safest option.

Free feeding your cat — allowing them to graze on a bowl of kibble throughout the day — can also contribute to weight gain. This may be particularly true in multi-cat households since it can be difficult to monitor who eats what, compromising portion control.

Keeping Your Cat at a Healthy Weight

But how do you treat obesity in cats, exactly? Your veterinarian is the best resource to answer this question, as it depends on your cat's unique circumstances. Helping your cat lose weight may include therapeutic nutrition, exercise programs, scheduled feedings and portion control.

Take your cat to their regular veterinary appointments, and schedule an appointment if you have any concerns in the meantime. Your vet can rule out any underlying health issues that could be contributing to weight gain. From there, they can give you guidelines for your cat's ideal weight and recommend a plan to help them get there.