Lifestyle

Is your cat clinically OBESE? How to tell if your pet moggy is overweight


Warnings over the obesity crisis in pets are being ignored – and around half of cats and dogs are clinically overweight.

This comes at a cost. Vets today are ­reporting that 60 per cent of insurance claims are obesity related.

Catrin George, from Animal Friends Pet Insurance, said: “Having an ­overweight pet might seem harmless but extra weight can cause ­damage to organs, bones and joints that can never be fixed. We really shouldn’t be giving in to their cute charms.”

During the past three years, deadly conditions linked to pet obesity have rocketed, including high blood ­pressure and heart and kidney disease.

Obese cats are at risk of high blood pressure and heart and kidney disease

 

Pet insurance claims for diabetes and heart disease in cats and dogs have shot up by around a half. And claims for osteoarthritis are up two thirds.

The UK already holds the title of the obesity capital of western Europe – one in four adults.

Now animals are taking after their owners, with 40 per cent of pooches and 50per cent of cats carrying too much weight. Animal Friends, which has donated more than £4million to animal charities worldwide, has launched an awareness campaign.

It says cat owners should be able to feel their pet’s ribs and spine although not necessarily see them.

A cat’s waist should be seen when viewed from the side or above.

If your dog has a rounder face or you can’t feel its spine, it could be obese

 

If a tabby is tubby, ribs cannot be easily felt and they look pear-shaped from above. If they are obese, they will have an obvious sag in the abdomen and no waist visible from above.

The Kennel Club says the signs of obesity are similar in dogs, including owners struggling to see or feel their pet’s ribs, spine or waistline. There may be abdominal sagging and they can have a rounder face.

Dogs can also be reluctant to go for walks or lag behind, excessively pant and appear tired and lazy. They may need help getting up and down and in and out of cars and refuse to play.

■ To check if your pet is overweight and for more on how to help them, visit animalfriends.co.uk/pet-obesity .

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