obesity - It means a cat more than 20% heavier than the ideal weight.
Overweight - Ideal weight means 1 to 19% heavy cat.
o Over 50% of British cats are estimated to be overweight.
These 20-30% are obese.
o Cats between 2 and 10 years old tend to be overweight.
o Cats prefer smaller, more frequent meals.
o In the wild we have 20 meals a day.
o Cats are absolute carnivores, which means they feed strictly on wild animals.
o Cats generally eat raw meat. Eating captured raw meat is totally acceptable.
o Cat teeth are not dry biscuits but are designed to tear the meat. Dried food should not be fed to benefit cat teeth.
Water is a very important part of a cat's meal:
o Cat feeding is generally 75% water.
o Dry food usually contains less than 10% of water.
o Canned foods usually contain about 75% of moisture.
o Kidney disease is the number one killer of cats. Kidney disease is usually the result of water shortage.
o Because thirst is very few and can not be drunk, it is important that water becomes part of food.
o Cat excretes enzyme's amylase. From the pancreas. Amylase is used to break down carbohydrates. Supplying too much carbohydrate is fatal, but a small carbohydrate level of 3 to 5% is ideal.
o Fiber is non-digestible carbohydrate.
o Starch is a digestible carbohydrate.
o Unused carbohydrates are stored as fat. Cause of obesity
o Humans are number one under causes of overweight and obesity cats.
Humans with overweight are more likely to have pets that are overweight.
o It is highly likely that cats eating dried foods are overweight.
o Cats eat often when they are boring.
o Inactive cats are 16 times more likely to become obese.
o Indoor cats are twice as likely to get overweight.
o Disabled cats are more likely to overweight.
o Breeded cats are three times more likely to get overweight.
o Neutralized or castrated cats usually have about 20% lower metabolism due to their lower activity. In other words, you need to reduce caloric intake by about 20%.
o High energy cat food should be given only to energetic cats. This will not make the energyless cat more cheerful.
o The temperature at which your cat is kept has its metabolism affected. Cats raised primarily outdoors need more calories to maintain a higher body temperature. Cats stored in the central heating house need lower caloric intake.
The effect of obesity
Obesity shortens life expectancy.
o Obesity causes the following conditions:
o Diabetes - diabetes
o Lower urinary tract disease - several disorders related to bladder and urethra.
o Lameness - due to arthritis or muscle injury
o Non allergic skin disorder - because it can not be maintained.
Hepatic lipidosis - fat accumulates in the liver.
o Cardiovascular disease
o Declines in physical fitness and decreased exercise tolerance
o High risk of using anesthetics
o Anorexia - Problems of childbirth
Pickwick syndrome - Extra fat causes distortion in the lungs, making breathing difficult
Hypertension - leading to heart failure
Overweight cats are four times more likely to develop diabetes
o Obesity cats are seven times more likely to be affected by claudication.
An overweight cat is three times more susceptible to claudication.
o Obesity cats are three times more likely to have less allergic skin diseases.
o Obesity cats are twice as likely to die in the middle age between the ages of 6 and 12.
