Fat Cat Facts
Obese Meaning cats that are 20% or more, heavier than their ideal weight.
Overweight - Meaning cats that are between 1-19% heavier than their ideal weight.
It is estimated over 50% of the UKs cats are overweight.
20-30% of these are Obese.
Cats between 2 and 10 years old are more likely to be overweight.
Cats prefer smaller, more frequent meals.
In the wild they may eat up to 20 meals per day.
Cats are obligate carnivores, meaning they strictly feed on animals in the wild.
Cats naturally eat raw meat; it is perfectly acceptable to feed raw meat in captivity.
Cats teeth are designed to tear meat, not crunch on dry biscuits. Dry food should not be fed to benefit the cats teeth.
Water is a very important part of the cats diet:
o Dry food usually has no more than 10% water.
o Tinned food usually has approximately 75% water.
o Kidney disease is the number 1 killer of cats. Kidney disease is usually the result of lack of water.
o It is important for water to be a part of the food, as they have a very low thirst drive and will not drink as much as they should.
o Starch is a digestible carbohydrate.
o Un-used carbohydrates are stored as fat.
Causes of Obesity
Humans are the number one underlying cause for overweight and obese cats.
Overweight humans are more likely to have overweight pets.
Cats that eat dry food are more likely to be overweight.
Cats often eat when they are bored.
Inactive cats are 16 times more likely to become obese.
Indoor cats are twice as likely to become overweight.
Disabled cats are more likely to be overweight.
Neutered cats are 3 times more likely to become overweight.
A neutered or spayed cat usually has approximately 20% lower metabolism due to being less active. This means they require approximately 20% less calorie intake.
High energy cat food should only be fed to energetic cats. This will not make un-energetic cats more energetic.
The temperature at which your cat is kept at will affect its metabolism. Cats that live predominantly outdoors will need more calories to maintain a higher body temperature. Cats kept in a centrally heated house will need a lower calorie intake.
Effects of Obesity
Obesity shortens life expectancy.
Obesity can cause the following conditions:
o Lower urinary tract disease Several disorders involving the bladder and urethra.
o Lameness Due to arthritis or muscle injuries
o Non-Allergic skin diseases Due to being less able to groom.
o Hepatic lipidosis Fat build up in the liver.
o Cardiovascular disease
o Lower stamina levels and exercise tolerance
o Higher risks when using anaesthetic
o Dystocia Problems giving birth
o Pickwickian syndrome Strain on the lungs due to excess fat, making it harder to breathe
o High blood pressure Leading to heart failure
Obese cats are 7 times more likely to be affected by lameness.
Overweight cats are 3 times more likely to be affected by lameness.
Obese cats are 3 times more likely to get non-allergic skin diseases due to being less able to groom.
Obese cats are twice as likely to die at middle age, between 6 and 12 years old.
By Chris Jones
Director of Pet Club UK Ltd.
http://www.petclubuk.com
Understanding Your Cat
A Behavioral Guide.This small article about cat facts on social behavior and interaction should help you better understand yo...
Income, Poverty, And Health Insurance - What Does One Have In Common With The Other?
It is amazing that most people never think to associate the difficulties of Income with Poverty and Health insurance. No one ...
Home Insurance Can Be Found Much Easier With A Specialist Website
Learning as much as you can about how to make savings on your home insurance can lead to you getting the best deal. One way o...
Should You Buy Dog Health Insurance?
Should you seriously consider buying a dog health insurance policy? Yes, you should. Here's why health insurance for dogs is ...
Understanding Life Insurance Illustrations
Many people feel that trying to get an understanding of Life Insurance Illustrations and taking a crash course in the Greek L...
Interesting Facts You May Not Have Known About Family Health Insurance (Part I)
Family health insurance, as with individual health insurance, can be categorized as either indemnity (fee-for-service) or man...
Your Home Insurance And Making A Claim
When an individual takes out a home insurance policy, he or she will usually think that they are wasting their money. Most ho...
Difficult Times
I am walking in my normal life now, difficult times ahead. The times working in my life, I cannot stretch how far theyll go.
...
Most Health Insurance Schemes Seem Confining In One Way Or Another
Most health insurance schemes seem confining in one way or another as what works financially does not always work in practice...
Health Insurance Risks And Facts
Health insurance is very important as there is always the danger of an unexpected illness or accident that could occur in a f...
Why Not Get A Harley Davidson Tattoo?
If you are thinking about getting a tattoo, and you are into motorcycles, why not get a Harley Davidson tattoo? Harley David...
Increase the Value of Your Home by Installing Wood Flooring
Are you looking for ways to improve the look and the value of your home? Installing wood flooring may be a great option. Whe...
An Introduction To Free Health Insurance Quotes
Health insurance plans can be quite costly, depending on the kind of plan one chooses. For instance, a Fee-For-Service plan i...
Shortcoming In The Healthcare System In Thailand
As Thailand is becoming a destination for medical tourism, attempts are being made to promote Thai health facilities quite ac...
Individual Health Insurance Coverage - A Little Help to Understand The Facts
Choosing the right type of individual health insurance is an important step in looking after yourself. The main three choices...
Cheaper Life Insurance Rates For Special Profiles
There are profiles that typically get very high rates in life insurance -- Be it term life or permanent life. So you've been ...
Save Budget On Offshore SEO
While planning your website promotion budget, consider entrusting site promotion to an offshore SEO. Why?First off, you dont ...
Homeowners Insurance for a Mobile Homes in Michigan
Michigan rates in the top ten percent of states with the most mobile homes. On average approximately 3,000 new mobile homes a...
Tribal Tattoo Designs - Reason And True Meaning
Tribal tattoos is the most popular design in the world and cover over 33 percent of the searches in tattoo designs area and b...
Health Insurance - The Facts You Need To Know
Health insurance is one of the most important kinds of insurance you should consider getting. Why?Because if you ever have un...