Obesity in cats is an incredibly common concern with many pet parents. It is a preventable disease in cats. According to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, 33.8% of cats in America are obese. Cats are considered overweight when they weigh 10-20% more than their ideal body weight. They are considered obese when they weigh more than 20% of their ideal body weight.
Obesity can cause a cat many problems and can shorten and decrease their quality of life. Obesity in cats can cause heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, high blood pressure, skin problems, and bladder stones. Also, overweight cats that stop eating are at risk for developing a disease called hepatic lipidosis. Your veterinarian will be able to diagnose a cat with obesity by using a body condition score chart. There are dog and cat charts and I have attached the cat body condition score chart below. Your veterinarian may want to run some bloodwork to check for underlying diseases that can cause or be the result of obesity.
