Thread: Number Of Fat Cats, Portly Pooches Rising

WASHINGTON -- We're not the only ones fighting the battle of the bulge -- our pets are gaining too much weight as well.

A newly released report by the National Research Council says as many as one-fourth of cats and dogs in the Western world are overweight. The council's 450-page report outlines revised nutrient guidelines for pets' diets.

Veterinary nutritionist Kathryn Michel at the University of Pennsylvania said she's seen more overweight pets in recent years, particularly cats, and that the problem seems to occur at younger ages.

She said one reason is that people think of their pets as members of their families and show them affection by sharing food and offering treats.

Michel said you don't have to ignore those hopeful eyes looking up -- just cut back on how much you give, especially when it comes to table scraps.

Like people, obese pets have a greater risk of developing diabetes, heart disease and other health problems.

The report also tells pet owners when they should be concerned about their pets' weight. For example, if an owner can't feel a dog's ribs, the animal is probably overweight. Fat deposits on the back and base of the tail, or lack of a discernable waist when viewed from above, are other clues that a dog is eating too much.

And a dog is not getting enough to eat if its ribs and pelvic bones can easily be seen, or if no fat can be felt on its bones. These signs may even indicate some loss of muscle mass.

A dog is at an ideal weight when the owner can easily feel the ribs with a minimal amount of fat, and when the waist is easily observed behind the ribs when viewed from above.

The report suggests that owners may also choose a low-calorie "diet" dog food or food high in fiber, which may help the dog feel full without consuming too many calories. But experts warn that too much fiber can reduce the absorption of important nutrients.

When it comes to cats, if they look overweight, they are overweight, the report said. A cat is underweight if it feels bony, has little or no fat on the ribs, or appears to "cave in" just behind the ribs.

At an ideal weight, a cat appears well-proportioned, shows a moderate waistline behind the ribs, and has a thin covering of fat over the ribs and abdomen.

To help your overweight feline lose weight, the report says you should put less of the same food in its bowl, while still allowing it to eat at all times of the day.

My cat just has large bones I mean just because his belly swings when he walks fast doesn't mean he's fat. I have a fat cat and a skinny cat. And no, it's not because the fat one is always eating the skinny one's food.

sounds like my cats

I have a porker and a skinny one ( but with a swinging belly)

My two kitties have gotten a little overweight, so we've cut back on how much food they get... you'd think we were starving them from the way they act! They get upset if they can see the bottom of the bowl. I think it's because they were both strays so they get nervous if it looks like the food is running low (although they should have realized by now that we will refill the bowl, we've had them for one and two years). I've started buying the indoor formula Cat Chow Purina just came out with, it's supposed to help keep indoor cats' weight down and I hope it helps.

Our kittys both stay inside and the youngest is gettin a little belly but nothin over-weight and our oldest has always been skinny no matter how much she ate or we feed her(we only feed them once in a blue moon)

The cat is in great shape. It's harder to tell with the dogs since they are mutts so you don't know what breeds they came from. Bonnie looks pretty fit but Clare always looks like a chunk. I can't say that she's fat but she's had knee surgery so she can't run around like she used to. So she's my little chunk of love.