Article

Overweight or obese cats presented to Australian veterinary practices: Risk factors and prevalence

Authors:
To read the full-text of this research, you can request a copy directly from the authors.

Abstract

The objectives of this study were to estimate the prevalence of overweight cats attending Australian veterinary clinics and to identify predictor variables for cats being categorised as overweight and obese. Of the 973 cats reported as being other than underweight, approximately half were male and 919 were neutered. Two hundred and seventy-three were categorised as overweight (26.2%) and 69 (6.6%) as obese. Prevalence increased with age up to 10 years, then declined. Surprisingly, rural and semi-rural cats were more likely to be reported in the overweight and obese weight categories compared with urban cats. In the overweight and obese weight categories, domestic breeds were more likely to be reported than exotic breeds and desexed and male cats were more likely to be reported than entire and female cats.

No full-text available

Request Full-text Paper PDF

To read the full-text of this research,
you can request a copy directly from the authors.

... One example is cat breed. Whereas early studies indicated that domestic crossbred and Manx breed were more susceptible to obesity (Scarlett and Donoghue, 1996;Robertson, 1999;Lund et al., 2005;McGreevy et al., 2008), recent research has challenged this proposition and reported no significant difference in obesity prevalence between crossbred and purebred cats (Colliard et al., 2009;Courcier et al., 2010;Courcier et al., 2012). Similarly, male sex has been identified as a risk factor for obesity in cats in some studies (Scarlett and Donoghue, 1996;Robertson, 1999;Lund et al., 2005;McGreevy et al., 2008;Courcier et al., 2012) but not in others (Sloth, 1992;Russell et al., 2000;Colliard et al., 2009;Courcier et al., 2010;Cave et al., 2012; http://dx.doi.org/10. ...
... Whereas early studies indicated that domestic crossbred and Manx breed were more susceptible to obesity (Scarlett and Donoghue, 1996;Robertson, 1999;Lund et al., 2005;McGreevy et al., 2008), recent research has challenged this proposition and reported no significant difference in obesity prevalence between crossbred and purebred cats (Colliard et al., 2009;Courcier et al., 2010;Courcier et al., 2012). Similarly, male sex has been identified as a risk factor for obesity in cats in some studies (Scarlett and Donoghue, 1996;Robertson, 1999;Lund et al., 2005;McGreevy et al., 2008;Courcier et al., 2012) but not in others (Sloth, 1992;Russell et al., 2000;Colliard et al., 2009;Courcier et al., 2010;Cave et al., 2012; http://dx.doi.org/10. 1016/j.prevetmed.2017.05.021 0167-5877/© 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. ...
... Rowe et al., 2015). Likewise, other risk factors such as neutering (Scarlett and Donoghue, 1996;Robertson, 1999;Russell et al., 2000;Lund et al., 2005;McGreevy et al., 2008;Colliard et al., 2009;Courcier et al., 2010;Cave et al., 2012), middle age (Kronfeld et al., 1994;Scarlett and Donoghue, 1996;Lund et al., 2005;Kienzle and Berglert, 2006;McGreevy et al., 2008;Colliard et al., 2009) and inactivity (Scarlett and Donoghue, 1996;Allan et al., 2000) are significant only in some studies. ...
Article
Obesity is regarded as one of the most significant welfare issues in companion animals. Some risk factors affecting body condition in cats have been determined, but many remain controversial. The current study aimed to investigate the risk factors for overweight and underweight in cats in metropolitan Sydney. Electronic patient records for 11 years (2005–2015) were acquired from a feline primary practice in metropolitan Sydney. The 9-point BCS evaluation in each visit was classified into three groups: underweight (1–3), ideal-weight (4–6) and overweight (7–9). Multinomial logistic regression was used to identify the risk factors for underweight and overweight. The risk factors tested included: breed, hair length, sex, neuter status, age at neutering, age at visit, microchip status, lifestyle, reason for the clinic visit and the number of visits by a cat in a calendar year. The body conduction score (BCS) examiner was included as a confounder. Over the 11-year period, 4,020 cats had made 18,349 visits to the clinic, from which BCS records were available for 15,659 visits (85.3%), with 834 cats (5.3%) being underweight, 12,362 (79.0%) being ideal-weight and 2,463 (15.7%) being overweight. Although various cat breeds showed a different tendency for body condition, British Shorthair and mixed-breed cats were more likely to be overweight. Non-illness related visits and middle age (7–11 years old) were also risk factors for overweight. The risk factors for underweight included purebred cats (apart from British Shorthair and Burmese), medium-or-long hair, being intact, increase in age, not having a microchip and illness-related visits. Sex was not a significant risk factor for either overweight or underweight. The study demonstrated that the risk factors for overweight and the protective factors for underweight were not necessarily the same, highlighting the importance of investigating the risk factors for underweight and overweight separately in future research.
... The frequency of obesity in pet cats combined with its significant adverse effects means that prevention and management are critically important for maintaining optimal health and welfare of cats. Effective prevention and management of feline obesity require accurate identification of obesity in individual cats, as well as appreciation of its prevalence and knowledge of risk factors, which several recent studies have investigated (Allan et al. 2000;Russell et al. 2000;Lund 2005;McGreevy et al. 2008;Colliard et al. 2009;Courcier et al. 2010;Cave et al. 2012;Courcier et al. 2012;Corbee 2014). Different methods of assessing body composition and categorising the level of obesity have been developed. ...
... The results of multiple studies published in the last 15 years suggest that, in western countries, any-where from 11.5% to 63% of pet cats are overweight or obese (Allan et al. 2000;Russell et al. 2000;Lund 2005;McGreevy et al. 2008;Colliard et al. 2009;Courcier et al. 2010;Cave et al. 2012;Courcier et al. 2012;Corbee 2014). This wide variation in prevalence is likely due to several factors. ...
... In addition, the population of cats studied varied in terms of size and type. Three studies each assessed between approximately 1000 to 8000 cats (Lund 2005;McGreevy et al. 2008;Courcier et al. 2012), but the others each enrolled only around 100 to 400 cats, making the results more prone to biases (Allan et al. 2000;Russell et al. 2000;Colliard et al. 2009;Courcier et al. 2010;Cave et al. 2012;Corbee 2014). In some studies, the cats were chosen from a random selection of households in a predetermined area (Allan et al. 2000;Russell et al. 2000;Cave et al. 2012). ...
Article
Full-text available
Obesity is recognised as the most common multifactorial nutritional disorder of pet cats. Studies from several countries have indicated that between 11.5% and 63% of cats are overweight or obese. Breed, age, sex, reproductive status, the pet-owner relationship, owners' perceptions of their cats' body condition, type of diet, frequency of feeding, and environment have all been identified as potential risk factors for the development of obesity in cats. Obesity has significant implications for feline health and welfare as it has mechanical and metabolic effects and can predispose cats to conditions such as diabetes mellitus type 2, hepatic lipidosis, lameness, oral cavity disease, urinary tract disease, dermatological disease, and neoplasia. An important aspect of preventing and managing obesity is the evaluation of body condition to determine ideal body weight and to formulate an appropriate weight loss plan. Several methods have been developed for this purpose. This review uses recent scientific literature to discuss various aspects of feline obesity, including its prevalence, proposed risk factors, pathogenesis, associated conditions, and methods of assessment.
... Therefore caution should be taken when relying on ownerreported body condition scores in investigations of risk factors for feline obesity, and should not be used when assessing prevalence. Factors which increase the risk of feline overweight/obesity identified from previous studies include being male (Robertson, 1999;Lund et al., 2005;McGreevy et al., 2008;Colliard et al., 2009;Courcier et al., 2012), neutered (Sloth, 1992;Scarlett et al., 1994;Fettman et al., 1997;Robertson, 1999;Russell et al., 2000;Lund et al., 2005;Colliard et al., 2009;Courcier et al., 2010Courcier et al., , 2012), mixed breed or non-pedigree (Scarlett et al., 1994;Robertson, 1999;Lund et al., 2005;McGreevy et al., 2008), living in single-or two-cat households (Robertson, 1999), confinement indoors (Sloth, 1992;Scarlett et al., 1994;Robertson, 1999), living in a rural or semi-rural area (McGreevy et al., 2008), inactivity (Scarlett et al., 1994), middle age (Sloth, 1992;Scarlett et al., 1994;Harper, 1998;Russell et al., 2000;Kienzle and Bergler, 2006;McGreevy et al., 2008;Colliard et al., 2009;Courcier et al., 2012), increasing age (Cave et al., 2012) longer leg length (Allan et al., 2000;Cave et al., 2012), owner underestimation of their cat's body condition (Allan et al., 2000;Colliard et al., 2009;Cave et al., 2012), feeding ad libitum or free-choice (both terms used to describe food made continuously available) (Russell et al., 2000;Harper et al., 2001;Kienzle and Bergler, 2006), feeding in meals two or three times a day (Courcier et al., 2010), feeding treats two-three times a week (Russell et al., 2000), premium or therapeutic food (Lund et al., 2005), fresh meat, kitchen scraps or additional treats added to a cat's regular food, using extra food or a cat's favourite dish as a treat instead of play, more frequently providing food rewards when cat begs for food, watching a cat eating, and a close owner-cat relationship (Kienzle and Bergler, 2006). These previous studies have all been cross-sectional in design, resulting in uncertainty over the causal direction of associations observed between putative risk factors and obesity. ...
... Therefore caution should be taken when relying on ownerreported body condition scores in investigations of risk factors for feline obesity, and should not be used when assessing prevalence. Factors which increase the risk of feline overweight/obesity identified from previous studies include being male (Robertson, 1999;Lund et al., 2005;McGreevy et al., 2008;Colliard et al., 2009;Courcier et al., 2012), neutered (Sloth, 1992;Scarlett et al., 1994;Fettman et al., 1997;Robertson, 1999;Russell et al., 2000;Lund et al., 2005;Colliard et al., 2009;Courcier et al., 2010Courcier et al., , 2012), mixed breed or non-pedigree (Scarlett et al., 1994;Robertson, 1999;Lund et al., 2005;McGreevy et al., 2008), living in single-or two-cat households (Robertson, 1999), confinement indoors (Sloth, 1992;Scarlett et al., 1994;Robertson, 1999), living in a rural or semi-rural area (McGreevy et al., 2008), inactivity (Scarlett et al., 1994), middle age (Sloth, 1992;Scarlett et al., 1994;Harper, 1998;Russell et al., 2000;Kienzle and Bergler, 2006;McGreevy et al., 2008;Colliard et al., 2009;Courcier et al., 2012), increasing age (Cave et al., 2012) longer leg length (Allan et al., 2000;Cave et al., 2012), owner underestimation of their cat's body condition (Allan et al., 2000;Colliard et al., 2009;Cave et al., 2012), feeding ad libitum or free-choice (both terms used to describe food made continuously available) (Russell et al., 2000;Harper et al., 2001;Kienzle and Bergler, 2006), feeding in meals two or three times a day (Courcier et al., 2010), feeding treats two-three times a week (Russell et al., 2000), premium or therapeutic food (Lund et al., 2005), fresh meat, kitchen scraps or additional treats added to a cat's regular food, using extra food or a cat's favourite dish as a treat instead of play, more frequently providing food rewards when cat begs for food, watching a cat eating, and a close owner-cat relationship (Kienzle and Bergler, 2006). These previous studies have all been cross-sectional in design, resulting in uncertainty over the causal direction of associations observed between putative risk factors and obesity. ...
... Therefore caution should be taken when relying on ownerreported body condition scores in investigations of risk factors for feline obesity, and should not be used when assessing prevalence. Factors which increase the risk of feline overweight/obesity identified from previous studies include being male (Robertson, 1999;Lund et al., 2005;McGreevy et al., 2008;Colliard et al., 2009;Courcier et al., 2012), neutered (Sloth, 1992;Scarlett et al., 1994;Fettman et al., 1997;Robertson, 1999;Russell et al., 2000;Lund et al., 2005;Colliard et al., 2009;Courcier et al., 2010Courcier et al., , 2012), mixed breed or non-pedigree (Scarlett et al., 1994;Robertson, 1999;Lund et al., 2005;McGreevy et al., 2008), living in single-or two-cat households (Robertson, 1999), confinement indoors (Sloth, 1992;Scarlett et al., 1994;Robertson, 1999), living in a rural or semi-rural area (McGreevy et al., 2008), inactivity (Scarlett et al., 1994), middle age (Sloth, 1992;Scarlett et al., 1994;Harper, 1998;Russell et al., 2000;Kienzle and Bergler, 2006;McGreevy et al., 2008;Colliard et al., 2009;Courcier et al., 2012), increasing age (Cave et al., 2012) longer leg length (Allan et al., 2000;Cave et al., 2012), owner underestimation of their cat's body condition (Allan et al., 2000;Colliard et al., 2009;Cave et al., 2012), feeding ad libitum or free-choice (both terms used to describe food made continuously available) (Russell et al., 2000;Harper et al., 2001;Kienzle and Bergler, 2006), feeding in meals two or three times a day (Courcier et al., 2010), feeding treats two-three times a week (Russell et al., 2000), premium or therapeutic food (Lund et al., 2005), fresh meat, kitchen scraps or additional treats added to a cat's regular food, using extra food or a cat's favourite dish as a treat instead of play, more frequently providing food rewards when cat begs for food, watching a cat eating, and a close owner-cat relationship (Kienzle and Bergler, 2006). These previous studies have all been cross-sectional in design, resulting in uncertainty over the causal direction of associations observed between putative risk factors and obesity. ...
Article
Obesity is considered the second most common health problem in pet cats in developed countries. Previous studies investigating risk factors for feline obesity have been cross-sectional, where reverse causality cannot be ruled out. This study is the first to use prospective data from a large scale longitudinal study of pet cats ('Bristol Cats') to identify early-life risk factors for feline overweight/obesity at around one year of age. Data analysed were collected via three owner-completed questionnaires (for cats aged 2-4 months, 6.5-7 months and 12.5-13 months) completed between May 2010 and August 2013. Owner-reported body condition scores (BCS) of cats at age 12.5-13 months, using the 5-point system, were categorised into a dichotomous variable: overweight/obese (BCS 4-5) and not overweight (BCS 1-3) and used as the dependent variable. Cat breed, neuter status, outdoor access, type of diet, frequency of wet and dry food fed and frequency of treats fed were analysed as potential risk factors. Of the 966 cats for which data were available, 7.0% were reported by their owners to be overweight/obese at 12.5-13 months of age. Descriptive data on type of diet fed at different cat ages suggest that a dry diet is the most popular choice for UK domestic cats. Significant potential explanatory variables from univariable logistic regression models were included in multivariable logistic regression models built using stepwise forward-selection. To account for potential hierarchical clustering of data due to multi-cat households these were extended to two-level random intercept models. Models were compared using Wald test p- values. Clustering had no impact on the analysis. The final multivariable logistic regression model identified two risk factors that were independently associated with an increased risk of feline obesity developing at 12.5-13 months of age: restricted or no outdoor access and feeding dry food as the only or major (>50%) type of food in the diet at age 12.5-13 months. The same relationship was revealed when only variables containing prospective data were included in the multivariable model. The study highlights the importance of a cat's early environment in the risk of obesity developing in early adulthood. The amount of food fed, opportunities for exercise and BCS of cats with no or restricted outdoor access and cats fed a dry diet should be monitored, especially whilst cats are aged below one year, to reduce the risk of overweight/obesity developing. Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier B.V.
... Nevertheless, prostate cancer has been documented in both entire and neutered cats, and no epidemiological studies have yet been conducted to find a predisposition (Palmieri, Fonseca-Alves & Laufer-Amorim, 2022). Additionally, male cats have been identified as being at greater risk of being overweight compared to female cats (Courcier et al., 2012;Martins et al., 2023;McGreevy et al., 2008). Overweight is also more frequent in neutered cats than in entire cats, peaking at around 9 years of age (Martins et al., 2023). ...
Article
Full-text available
The domestic cat (Felis catus) has been a popular companion animal for about 12,000 years, initially valued for rodent control before evolving into pets that provide affection and companionship. Unlike dogs, cats were not selectively bred for specific roles until the late 1800s, resulting in breeds defined primarily by appearance, which sometimes leads to genetic disorders. Modern animal welfare concerns emphasize longevity and health, prompting research into factors affecting cat lifespans, including sex, reproductive status, and breed. This study aims to expand on previous UK research by analyzing these interactions and highlighting the potential negative impacts of pure breeding on cat health. Data from 7,708 cats receiving veterinary care in the UK during 2019 were analyzed, focusing on reproductive status, breeding status, age at death, and sex. Data were analyzed using ANOVA and Cox proportional hazards models to assess survival differences. The overall mean lifespan of cats in the UK is 11.83 years. Analysis indicates that male cats live shorter lives than females, attributed to higher trauma rates and health issues among males. Neutered/spayed cats generally exhibit longer lifespans compared to entire cats. Tom cats have the shortest lifespan, while spayed females (mollies) live the longest. Moggies tend to outlive both pure and cross-bred cats, suggesting that genetic diversity may contribute to greater longevity. The results of this study emphasize the influence of sex, reproductive status, and cat type on feline lifespan, highlighting the need for targeted health interventions, particularly for male cats. The findings underscore the complex interplay of genetic and environmental factors in determining the health and longevity of domestic cats. This research not only contributes to existing knowledge but also advocates for the consideration of these variables in future studies and veterinary practices.
... However, these cats were still living in an urban environment, so differences in energy expenditure and body condition were unlikely to be substantial (20). An Australian study found that rural and semi-rural cats were more likely to be overweight and obese compared to urban cats (23). It is possible that although rural cats expend more energy with an active, outdoor lifestyle, they may have access to other food sources, whereas urban or indoor lifestyles may have a more controlled daily food intake. ...
Article
Full-text available
Obesity is the most common nutritional problem in companion animals today, and Australian British shorthair (BSH) cats have been shown to have a greater likelihood of being overweight relative to other cat breeds. The objectives of this research were to quantify bodyweight (BW) and body condition scores (BCSs) of BSH cats attending first opinion practice in Australia for the period 2008–2017 and to determine if: (1) being classified as overweight was associated with geographical location (urban versus rural and socio-economic index); and (2) BW recorded in the first 12 months of life was associated with length of life beyond 12 months. Electronic medical records from BSH cats were obtained from VetCompass Australia and used for BW and BCS analysis. Desexed males ( n = 971) had the highest mean BW followed by entire males ( n = 79), desexed females ( n = 815), and entire females ( n = 82). The desexed males, desexed females, and entire females had a mean BCS classified as overweight using a 1-to-9 point BCS scale. The entire male population was the only group with a mean BCS classified as ideal. No statistically significant association between BW and urban-rural status and no consistent trend between BW and socioeconomic deprivation was found. For cats with at least one BW measurement in the first 12 months of life that was ≤3.3 kg, the age when 20 percent of the group had died or were euthanised was 12.3 (95% CI 11.7 to 13.1) years. For cats with at least one BW measurement in the first 12 months of life that was ≥3.3 kg age, the age when 20 percent of the group had died or were euthanised was 6.6 (95% CI 5.2 to 6.6) years. This was a substantial clinical difference in survival. The study concluded that a large proportion of BSH cats attending first opinion veterinary clinics in Australia between 2008 and 2017 (48%) were classified as overweight. Cats less than 12 months of age that were greater than 3.3 kg had a shortened lifespan beyond 12 months of age compared with cats that were less than 3.3 kg.
... Results regarding the cat's gender and neuter status also corresponded with previous studies; in our study neutering was found to be a risk factor for obesity in both male and female cats, using both the visual and verbal scores as dependent variables (3,59,60). It is well-established that removal of gonadal estrogen dramatically increases appetite in both males and females for the 6-12 month period following neutering, subsequently increasing the risk of obesity (61,62). ...
Article
Full-text available
Feline obesity is a highly prevalent disease that poses an urgent and serious challenge. Attempted treatment by weight reduction is often unsuccessful; a new preventative approach that focuses on the role of the owner may be helpful. This study used data collected from an international survey of cat owners designed to assess owner personality and self-control, owner-pet attachment, feeding practices, and the cat's body condition. Owner-reported body condition scores (BCS) of cats were assessed using images adapted from a 5-point BCS system and categorized as a binary dependent variable: overweight/obese (BCS 4–5) and not overweight (BCS 1–3). Owner-reported BCS scores using a verbal BCS scale were also used as a binary dependent variable. Of the 6,835 respondents, 30.5% described their cat as overweight/obese using the visual BCS scale, and 32.5% using the verbal scale. Multivariable logistic regression models were built using stepwise-backward selection. A total of 8 variables were significant using the visual score as the dependent variable, while 11 variables were significant using the verbal score as the dependent variable (p < 0.05). Low owner conscientiousness was associated with an increased risk of feline overweight/obesity (OR = 1.23, 95% CI 1.10–1.38), whereas preference for delayed reward was associated with a decreased risk (OR = 0.84, 95% CI 0.75–0.96). Contrary to expectation, indulgent (OR = 0.76, 95% CI 0.53–0.91) and inconsistent (OR = 0.86, 95% CI 0.76–0.93) feeding practices appeared protective. Other significant variables (p < 0.05) included cat-related factors (age, gender, housing, source) and management-related factors (dry diet, supermarket dry diet, raw diet, stealing, hunting, and measuring food with a scoop). A third multivariable analysis was performed, using results from cats classified as overweight/obese using both scoring methods, compared with cats classified as a healthy weight using both scoring methods. A total of 10 variables were found to be significant (p < 0.05). There was significant overlap of results from all three analyses. The results of this study indicate that feline obesity is a complex problem, with many contributing risk factors. It is essential to recognize the importance of owner characteristics, and that the prevention of obesity in cats may require the development of a range of interventional strategies.
... We acknowledge that it is difficult to disambiguate the development of the musculoskeletal disorders and obesity. It appears that male dogs are less likely to be diagnosed as obese even when heavier perhaps, as has been proposed in various breeds of cats because of having a larger frame [61]. Also some of the causal factors of DJD have (often inconsistent) sex predispositions reported in the literature [52][53][54], so if males are more inclined to obesity this might be offset by a lower tendency to certain diseases which lead to secondary DJD. ...
Article
Full-text available
Background Labrador retrievers are reportedly predisposed to many disorders but accurate prevalence information relating to the general population are lacking. This study aimed to describe demography, mortality and commonly recorded diseases in Labrador retrievers under UK veterinary care. Methods The VetCompass™ programme collects electronic patient record data on dogs attending UK primary-care veterinary practices. Demographic analysis covered all33,320 Labrador retrievers in the VetCompass™ database under veterinary care during 2013 while disorder and mortality data were extracted from a random sample of 2074 (6.2%) of these dogs. Results Of the Labrador retrievers with information available, 15,427 (46.4%) were female and 15,252 (53.6%) were male. Females were more likely to be neutered than males (59.7% versus 54.8%, P < 0.001). The overall mean adult bodyweight was 33.0 kg (SD 6.1). Adult males were heavier (35.2 kg, SD 5.9 kg) than adult females (30.4 kg, SD 5.2 kg) (P < 0.001). The median longevity of Labrador retrievers overall was 12.0 years (IQR 9.9–13.8, range 0.0–16.0). The most common recorded colours were black (44.6%), yellow (27.8%) and liver/chocolate (reported from hereon as chocolate) (23.8%). The median longevity of non-chocolate coloured dogs (n = 139, 12.1 years, IQR 10.2–13.9, range 0.0–16.0) was longer than for chocolate coloured animals (n = 34, 10.7 years, IQR 9.0–12.4, range 3.8–15.5) (P = 0.028). Of a random sample of 2074 (6.2%) Labrador retrievers under care in 2013 that had full disorder data extracted, 1277 (61.6%) had at least one disorder recorded. The total number of dogs who died at any date during the study was 176. The most prevalent disorders recorded were otitis externa (n = 215, prevalence 10.4%, 95% CI: 9.1–11.8), overweight/obesity (183, 8.8%, 95% CI: 7.6–10.1) and degenerative joint disease (115, 5.5%, 95% CI: 4.6–6.6). Overweight/obesity was not statistically significantly associated with neutering in females (8.3% of entire versus 12.5% of neutered, P = 0.065) but was associated with neutering in males (4.1% of entire versus 11.4% of neutered, P < 0.001). The prevalence of otitis externa in black dogs was 12.8%, in yellow dogs it was 17.0% but, in chocolate dogs, it rose to 23.4% (P < 0.001). Similarly, the prevalence of pyo-traumatic dermatitis in black dogs was 1.1%, in yellow dogs it was 1.6% but in chocolate dogs it rose to 4.0% (P = 0.011). Conclusions The current study assists prioritisation of health issues within Labrador retrievers. The most common disorders were overweight/obesity, otitis externa and degenerative joint disease. Males were significantly heavier females. These results can alert prospective owners to potential health issues and inform breed-specific wellness checks.
... The results support previous findings that vets tend not to discuss a cat's weight with owners. McGreevy et al. (2008) revealed that vets completing a questionnaire on pet obesity where they were asked to assess the BCS of cats they saw only informed the owner of the cat's BCS in just under half the reported cases. Furthermore, vets may not just fail to discuss weight with owners but fail to document the overweight or obese status on the cat's medical record, suggesting that they may not consider the condition to warrant a formal diagnosis. ...
Article
Obesity is considered the second most common health problem in pet cats in developed countries. This study used prospective data from a longitudinal study of pet cats (‘C.L.A.W.S.’, www.bristol.ac.uk/vetscience/claws) to identify early-life risk factors for feline overweight/obesity occurring at around two years of age. Data were collected via five owner-completed questionnaires (for cats aged two–six months, six months, 12 months, 18 months and two years respectively) completed between May 2011 and April 2015. Owner-reported body condition scores (BCS) of cats at age two years, assessed using images from the 9-point BCS system (Laflamme, 1997), were categorised into a dichotomous variable: overweight/obese (BCS 6–9) and not overweight (BCS 1–5) and used as the dependent variable. Of the 375 cats with owner-reported BCS, 25.3% were overweight or obese at two years of age. Multivariable logistic regression models were built using stepwise forward-selection. To account for potential hierarchical clustering due to multi-cat households two-level random intercept models were considered but clustering had no impact on the analysis. Models were compared using Wald tests. Six factors were significantly associated with overweight/obesity at two years of age: being overweight or obese at one year of age (OR = 10.6, 95%CI 4.4–25.3); owner belief that BCS 7 was the ideal weight (OR = 33.2, 95%CI 8.5–129.4), or that BCS represented overweight cats but they would not be concerned if their cat were classified in this category (OR = 2.7, 95%CI 1.2–6.2), at questionnaire five completion; vets advising owners that the cat should lose weight, or making no comment on their weight, between one and two years of age (OR = 12.1, 95%CI 3.2–44.9 and OR = 3.9, 95%CI 1.5–10.3 respectively); owners giving their cat treats when they “felt happy” with them at 18 months of age (OR = 2.7, 95%CI 1.0 − 7.3); feeding ≥250 g wet food daily between two and six months of age (OR = 2.7, 95%CI 1.2–5.9), and feeding dry food as the only or major part (> 50%) of the diet at two years of age (OR = 2.1, 95%CI 1.0–4.2). These findings have the potential to reduce the current high prevalence of a widespread problem by informing preventive advice, and as such improving the health and welfare of pet cats.
Article
Full-text available
Obesity, is a life-threatening condition common among various animals, is a multisystemic disorder that may affect the gastrointestinal system, urinary system, reproductive system, respiratory system, and musculoskeletal system. According to various studies, more than 50% of cats and dogs are obese. Many proinflammatory and inflammatory cytokines, hormones, and enzymes play a part in the production of fat tissues that lead to obesity. Excessive deposition of fats give rise to conditions involving inflammation, oxidative stress and damage, immunomodulation, hyperlipidemia, dyslipidemia, neoplasia, hypothyroidism, and insulin resistance. This review paper acquires the knowledge of various scientific manuscripts to discuss the development and consequences of obesity in pets especially cats and dogs.
Article
By definition, the companion-animal niche demands merely that animals must provide companionship. At first glance, this may seem easy enough, but the forces that contribute to success in this niche are complex. Indeed, success as a companion is rarely measured in terms of biological fitness, and empirical measures of the breeding value of stock remain elusive. The challenges in the niche are manifold and reflect the need for companion animals to show behavioural flexibility, an attribute variously labelled compliance, tolerance, and even forgiveness. The borders of the niche are blurred and there is often negligible communication between buyers and suppliers of companion animals. In addition, demand for a given phenotype is subject to considerable flux. Paradoxically, companion animals may be victims of their own success. We value the social feedback they provide and yet often leave them alone for lengthy periods. There is an inherent tension between the desire to share the company of these animals and the reality that some humans find an animal's need for social contact, and indeed many species-specific behaviours, unacceptable. Also, the animal-sense of owners may be declining, reflecting reduced community exposure to animals in non-companion contexts, such as on farms and as modes of transport. Often, in the case of dogs, the companion-animal niche is occupied by a breed that was developed to work in a specific role that required endless energy and high reactivity. We select for conformation and movement in what were once working animals and yet many owners reject animals for behavioural traits that were subject to scarcely any primary selection. Since neutering of companion animals is, for many excellent reasons, now so common, the genes of outstandingly suitable pets are routinely lost to the gene pool. Companion animals may be living longer and yet, as they age, the dog-human relationship can shift diametrically. Senior dogs often become less appealing to and yet more dependent on, and needful of attention from, their owners. In Australia, urban companion-animal ownership per capita is declining in tandem with falls in living space. Despite this reduced demand, the pet industry uses positive imagery and targeted research to promote pet acquisition, helping to maintain a situation in which supply generally exceeds demand. This results in the annual euthanasia of thousands of excess animals in shelters and pounds. The pet industry also motivates owners to be consumers so it is unsurprising that expenditure on pets in Australia is rising. Sometimes food is promoted as a means of demonstrating affection. In many developed nations, unfortunately, pet owners have the resources to respond to marketing (among other forces) by overfeeding animals, often to the point of obesity. Obesity is considered to be a significant welfare problem for companion dogs. In summary, it seems that these shifts and growing paradoxes are making the companion-animal niche more challenging than ever. Perhaps science will help make the niche more predictable, but this alone will not guarantee the welfare of the animals that occupy it.
Article
Reproductive consequences of male spacing patterns have received relatively little attention in nonterritorial mammals, in particular in group-living species, where most studies have focused on the relation between social rank and reproductive success. We investigated the effects of spacing pattern on male reproductive success within a social, nonterritorial, promiscuous population of stray cats, Felis catus. Male home ranges overlapped home ranges of many females, consistent with a promiscuous mating system. Furthermore, males with the largest home ranges included the most female home ranges; they successfully reproduced with these females and had the highest reproductive success. Home range size predicted male reproductive success even when controlling for the effect of social rank. However, males also reproduced with females whose home range did not overlap their home range, suggesting that males can make quick excursions outside their home range to find new mating opportunities. We conclude that, in group-living situations, a male's ability to maintain a large home range may be one of the principal causes of variation in mating success in the stray cat.
Article
Data from 56 small animal practices in Sydney were collected to examine the median ages of canine and feline patients. The median age of the dog population was younger than that of the cat population suggesting lower rates of entry as would occur with a declining owned-cat population.
Article
Obesity is the most common malnutrition of pet animals. Risk factors include the pet's age, gender, activity level, owner attitudes toward obesity, and alterations in intrinsic and extrinsic controls of feeding behaviour and differences in resting metabolic rate. The power of clinical nutrition in veterinary practice can be expressed through careful client and pet evaluation and by dispensing proper advice on diet selection and feeding quantity. A weight management programme should be conducted under the direction of the professional veterinarian using scientifically formulated weight reduction diets and a programme of exercise deemed medically appropriate.
Article
SUMMARY This paper reviews food allergy and intolerance in dogs and cats. Adverse reactions to ingested food components can affect many systems and can produce signs involving the skin, gastrointestinal tract, respiratory tract and central nervous system, and these clinical signs are reviewed. Most basic food ingredients have the potential to induce an allergic response, although most reactions are caused by proteins. In particular, dogs and cats can become sensitive to cow's milk, beef, fish or cereal. Food allergy and intolerance is rare in dogs and cats, although the incidence in practice is difficult to establish. Clinical signs are quite variable, depending on the individual response, although the major clinical sign is pruritus. Diagnosis can be difficult, as there is no single test available to help the clinician to confirm or refute the presence of food sensitivity. Diagnosis is based on dietary investigation in the form of elimination diets and test meals. Elimination diets for dogs include lamb, chicken, rabbit, horse meat and fish as sources of protein, with rice or potatoes. Successful elimination diets for cats include lamb, chicken, rabbit or venison, with rice. Improvement in clinical signs while on the elimination diet is suggestive of food allergy. The diagnosis should be confirmed by feeding the original diet, with the development of clinical signs within 7 to 14 days of feeding.
Article
To determine whether maintenance energy requirement (MER) to maintain stable body weight (BW) is substantially lower for spayed female cats than for sexually intact female cats and to assess whether an equation commonly used to estimate MER would accurately predict caloric need in spayed cats. Prospective study. 10 spayed and 5 sham-operated young adult female cats. During an acclimatization period, initial daily food allowance was determined by estimating MER as 1.4 x (30 x BW + 70), then adjusted weekly to maintain BW within 200 g of baseline. Ovariohysterectomy (OHE) or sham laparotomy was performed at week 7, and the study was continued for 15 additional weeks (period 1). To correct for a presumptive effect of continued musculoskeletal growth that resulted in some cats becoming unacceptably thin during period 1, the study was repeated over an additional 10 weeks (period 2), using a new estimate of MER calculated from BW measured after reestablishing normal body condition. Substantial restriction in food allowance was necessary to prevent BW gain in the OHE group during both periods. Caloric intake of spayed cats in dietary balance was significantly lower than that of control cats at the end of each study period. Sexually intact cats appeared to self-regulate food intake, whereas spayed cats tended to eat all food available to them. Significant differences were not detected between OHE and control groups in observations of physical activity before or after surgery. The equation used to predict caloric needs overestimated the apparent MER for spayed and sexually intact cats. Ad libitum feeding of spayed cats may be inadvisable, and careful monitoring of food allowance, relative to body condition, is suggested to prevent excessive weight gain.
Article
Few controlled studies have been made of the possible mechanisms and physiological consequences of weight gain after cats have been neutered. In this study, six male and six female cats were gonadectomised and compared with five entire male and six entire female cats, before they were neutered and one and three months later. The neutered males gained significantly more weight (mean [SEM] per cent) than the entire males (30.2 [5.2] v 11.8 [2.3]) and the entire females gained 40.0 (7.3) v 16.1 (3.3) per cent, (P < 0.05). The castrated males gained more weight as fat than the sexually intact males (22.0 [3.3] v 8.8 [4.5] per cent, P < 0.05). There was a significant increase (P < 0.05) in daily food intake after neutering. Spayed females underwent a significant decrease in fasting metabolic rate (83.7 [5.5] v 67.2 [2.3] kcal/kg bodyweight0.75/day P < 0.05). Gonadectomy had minimal effects on serum thyroid hormone concentrations, the resting or fasting metabolic rates in males, or on indices of glucose tolerance.
Article
To determine the association between body condition and disease in cats. Prospective study. Information on 1,457 cats without major illnesses from 27 veterinary hospitals in the northeastern United States. Cats that had body conditions determined from 1991 to 1992, using a set of 6 body condition silhouettes, had their health experiences and body conditions assessed for the subsequent 4.5 years. Cats were described by the following 6 body conditions: cachectic, lean, optimally lean, optimal weight, heavy, and obese. Data obtained from medical records and owner interviews were collected, using standard forms. Associations between body condition and specific diseases were analyzed. Findings in cats with body conditions other than optimal were compared with findings in cats with optimal body condition. Compared with optimal weight cats, heavy cats were 2.9 times as likely to be taken to veterinarians because of lameness not associated with cat bite abscesses. Obese cats were also 3.9 times as likely to develop diabetes mellitus, 2.3 times as likely to develop nonallergic skin conditions, and 4.9 times as likely to develop lameness requiring veterinary care. Cats considered thin (cachectic and lean) were 1.7 times as likely to be presented to veterinary hospitals for diarrhea. Results of this study substantiate reports of health risks associated with excess body weight in cats. Efforts to reduce weight in heavy and obese cats can lead to reduced risks of diabetes mellitus, lameness (presumably related to osteoarthritis and soft-tissue injuries), and skin problems unrelated to allergies. Cachectic and lean cats are more likely to have diarrhea that is not associated with a definitive diagnosis.
Article
A randomly selected group of cat-owning households (n = 458) were interviewed to determine the diet of their cats (n = 644) in the week prior to the survey and to identify dietary and other factors which were associated with obesity. All cats were categorised by their owners as underweight, correct-weight or overweight and the weight of 127 cats was also recorded. Nearly all cats were fed commercially prepared dry pet food (90.5%) or canned pet food (84.6%) in the week prior to the survey. Nineteen percent of cats were classified as overweight. Although the make-up of a cat's diet was found not to be associated with its weight or weight category, cats fed dietary supplements or those which had not received a specific kitten diet when <6 months of age were more likely to be overweight after univariable analysis. Logistic multiple regression was used to investigate the effect of putative risk factors on obesity while controlling for other factors. Overweight cats were more likely to be cross-bred (OR = 2.1), neutered (OR = 2.8), living in houses with only one or two cats (OR = 1.8), male (OR = 1.4) and predominantly confined inside a house (OR = 1.4). Obesity is influenced by a variety of factors including host, dietary and management factors and these must be considered when developing weight control programmes for cats.
A 16 cross-sectional study of risk factors for obesity in cats in New Zealand
  • Allan Fj
  • Pfieffer Du
  • Jones Br
  • Esslemont Wiseman
ALLAN FJ, PFIEFFER DU, JONES BR, ESSLEMONT DHB & WISEMAN MS (2000). A 16 cross-sectional study of risk factors for obesity in cats in New Zealand. Prev Vet Med 46:
Obesity in the dog and cat. Vet. Annual 14 th Edn
  • Anderson Rs
ANDERSON RS (1973) Obesity in the dog and cat. Vet. Annual 14 th Edn. J. Wright, Bristol. 19 182-186
SW (1991) Occurrence and management of obesity in companion animals
  • R S Anderson
ANDERSON, RS (1973) Obesity in the dog and cat, Veterinary Annual, 14 th edn, Ed Grunsell, p182, J. Wright, Bristol CRANE, SW (1991) Occurrence and management of obesity in companion animals, J Small Anim Pract 32:275
Obesity in cats: prevalence and prognosis
  • J M Scarlett
  • S Donoghue
SCARLETT, JM & DONOGHUE, S (1996) Obesity in cats: prevalence and prognosis, Vet Clin Nutr 3:128
(1992) Practical management of obesity in dogs and cats
  • J W Simpson
  • Anderson Markwell
  • Pj
SIMPSON, JW, ANDERSON, RS & MARKWELL, PJ (1993) Clinical Nutrition of the Dog and Cat, p56, Blackwell Scientific, Boston SLOTH, C (1992) Practical management of obesity in dogs and cats, J Small Anim Pract 33:178