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What's Wrong With Feline Obesity?
Obesity in cats causes many of the same problems as in humans, ultimately leading to a shorter, less enjoyable life...and more trips to the vet - no-one likes that! Here is a list of medical issues that obesity causes in cats, many of which are common to humans, and many of which will lead to more inactivity and greater obesity.
- Cardiovascular problems - plaque buildup and a cat too large for its heart cause too much work for the heart, causing an early death. A tired heart leads to more inactivity and greater obesity.
- Compared with normal weight cats, obese cats have 4 times greater chances of diabetes, which leads to a great number of medical problems. Click here for more info on feline diabetes
- Breathing difficulties - There is only so much space inside your cat, and with more fat, there's less room for her lungs, so she gets less oxygen, has to work harder to breathe and will spend all her time just laying around... causing greater obesity.
- Decreased immunity to all types of infections - as in humans, extra fat has been associated with a less active immune system.
- Difficulty cleaning themselves due to lack of flexibility. Because they can't clean themselves properly, obese cats have 3 times as many non-allergic skin conditions and infections as normal weight cats.
- Higher incidence of lower urinary tract infections such as cystitis.
- A greater weight causes stress on muscles and bones. This leads to pulled, strained and torn muscles and to arthritis. These conditions, in turn, lead to more inactivity and greater obesity.
- Decreased liver function (the liver helps rid the body of toxins), and increased chance of a potentially deadly condition called hepatic lipidosis.
- Stress and depression from a sedentary, lethargic lifestyle, especially if they are too large and inflexible to groom properly. A clean cat is a happy cat, and a fat cat can't get as clean as a healthy cat.
No Crash Diets!!!
It's very important that your cat be allowed to lose weight slowly. If you try to drastically cut your cat's food intake you could cause him to go into starvation mode which triggers hepatic lipidosis resulting in liver failure and possibly death. This, among other reasons, is why I cannot stress enough that it is important to consult your vet when considering major changes in your cat's diet. Your vet can be a great help in determining how much weight your cat should lose and over what time span. If your cat's able to get up and move, the first thing you should do is make them move around. This can be achieved using many different types of stimulating toys, some which dispense food, treats, or catnip to inrease kitty's stimulation and excitement. Below are some links to sites which can further explain some of these feline obesity complications |
Watch This Space for Fat Cat Videos and Links to More Cat Health Sites
'Feeding Your Cat'- Homevet.com
'Cat Exercises'- CatChannel.com
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