Chubby cats are adorable, funny and look wonderfully huggable. But being fat isn’t healthy for a cat. Just like people, overweight cats find it harder to move, get sick more often and can suffer because of their weight. Here’s a collection of photos of fat cats to make you smile, and a reminder of why it’s so important not to overfeed our pets.
Experts estimate that more than half of pet cats in the US are overweight or obese, and the numbers are similar in the UK. Excess weight raises a cat’s risk of diabetes, arthritis, urinary problems, liver disease and skin problems, and can shorten its life.
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Why Is There No “World’s Fattest Cat” Record?
Over the years, many very heavy cats have made headlines, some weighing more than 40 lb (18 kg), several times a healthy weight. Many of these cats had been overfed for years with treats and table scraps, and some developed diabetes and could barely walk a few steps without resting. Fortunately, many of them were later put on a vet-supervised diet and lost weight.
Guinness World Records stopped accepting entries for the heaviest pets years ago, precisely so that owners wouldn’t be encouraged to overfeed their animals. Love your pets the right way!
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How Can You Tell If Your Cat Is Overweight?
- Feel the ribs. You should be able to feel your cat’s ribs easily under a thin layer of fat, without pressing hard, but not see them.
- Look from above. A cat at a healthy weight has a visible waist behind the ribs.
- Look from the side. The belly should tuck up slightly, not hang down or bulge. (A small, loose flap of skin on the lower belly, called the “primordial pouch,” is normal in many cats.)
- Ask your vet. Your vet can score your cat’s body condition and tell you its ideal weight.
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How to Help a Chubby Cat Slim Down
- Talk to your vet first, to rule out health problems and set a safe target weight. Cats should lose weight slowly: crash diets can cause a dangerous liver disease called hepatic lipidosis.
- Measure your cat’s food carefully with a kitchen scale or measuring cup, and feed the amount your vet recommends for its ideal weight, not its current one.
- Cut down on treats, which should make up no more than about 10% of daily calories, and never feed table scraps.
- Feed meals instead of leaving food out all day, and try puzzle feeders, which make your cat work for its food.
- Play with your cat every day: wand toys, laser pointers that end with a real “catch,” and climbing trees all help burn calories.
- Weigh your cat regularly to track progress.
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