CATDOLL : How harmful is obesity to cats?

The harm of obesity to cats:

1. Obesity increases the load on the joints, greatly increasing the probability of cats suffering from bone and joint diseases. In severe cases, it may even cause cats to become paralyzed. Excessive weight increases the pressure on the joints. Older cats may suffer from osteoarthritis. Overweight cats are five times more likely to limp than normal cats.

2. It puts a burden on the heart and respiratory system. Being overweight will increase the probability of high blood pressure and the burden on the heart. Because the heart plays a role in transporting blood in the body, if the weight is overweight, the heart needs to transport blood to a larger range, which will put too much burden on the cat's heart and affect its health.

3. Fatty liver. If you are fasting for a short period of time, your body will be short of energy. At this time, the liver will absorb energy from the body's fat to supply energy, playing a key role. However, if you are overweight, unnecessary excess fat will accumulate in liver cells, affecting the normal function of the liver.

4. Obese cats are more likely to suffer from calcium deficiency, which may cause them to have symptoms such as fear of heights, slow movements, and lethargy.

Ways to help your cat lose weight:

1. Cats have a relatively fragile stomach, so it is best for pet owners to feed them cat food in small amounts and multiple times. It is not recommended to supply a large amount of cat food at one time. Cats should be fed low-calorie, low-fat, high-protein cat food.

2. Obese cats generally don’t like to move, so pet owners should find ways to guide their cats to move. According to the cat’s preferences, they can add some cat-specific play facilities at home, such as cat climbing frames, cat scratching boards, etc. The owner should also take more time to play and exercise with the cat.