Diet and Feline Obesity

Abstract

An epidemiological study of 2092 cats from 31 privately owned veterinary hospitals determined that 20% of cats were heavy and that an additional 5% were obese (Scarlett et al. 1994). Overweight (heavy and obese) cats were more likely to be male, neutered, middle-aged, living in an apartment, consuming nongrocery-store dry cat foods and two widely used prescribed diets, and not hunting. These findings prompted us to reexamine the cats after 4 y, evaluating associations among body condition, diet and health. In this report, we characterize diet and feeding management in the follow-up study, 1994–1996.