| Feline obesity creates serious health risks for your | | | | * Keeps his circulatory system healthy |
| kitty friend. Carrying extra weight around overloads | | | | * Moves oxygen to all cells in his body |
| all his organ systems, which can lead to pain and | | | | * Helps his digestion |
| disability, as well as an early death. There's nothing | | | | * Releases energy |
| funny about a fat cat. And nearly half the felines in | | | | * Keeps him from being bored and getting depressed |
| the United States are considered obese. | | | | You can see that exercise is essential. Your kitty's |
| The most common problem associated with obesity | | | | health depends on him being able to move around. |
| in kitties is diabetes. If your buddy is overweight, he's | | | | None of us were meant to sit around all the time, |
| two to four times more likely to develop this serious | | | | doing nothing! |
| health problem. The incidence of this disease among | | | | Liver problems and obesity go hand in hand. The liver |
| our furry friends has doubled since 1990. Treatment | | | | is the most important organ in his body. It stores fat, |
| can be quite involved and very expensive, requiring a | | | | so if he's overweight, too much fat builds up in his |
| large commitment of time and money from you. | | | | liver, which can result in decreased liver function. And |
| Preventing this deadly disease is much easier than | | | | if he stops eating for 24 hours for any reason, this |
| treating it. | | | | can develop into a life-threatening condition called |
| Obese cats are more apt to develop skin problems, | | | | hepatic lipidosis, or fatty liver disease. A kitty with |
| These aren't caused by allergies, like many skin | | | | this condition usually requires tube feeding to save his |
| problems, but are a result of poor health. Dry skin is | | | | life. |
| very common, along with feline acne. Another | | | | Surgery can present many problems for a feline |
| problem is that if your kitty is too fat to groom | | | | who's too heavy. There are several reasons why it |
| himself properly, he can develop large nasty sores on | | | | takes an overweight kitty to come out of anesthesia |
| his bottom. These can be extremely painful for him, | | | | after surgery. These drugs are taken up by the fat |
| and can result in infections. | | | | in his body, and the fatter he is, the longer it takes |
| Your overweight buddy is also three to five times | | | | for his body to break them down. Plus many |
| more likely to develop joint problems and arthritis. | | | | anesthetic drugs are broken down by his liver. A |
| This is due to the stress his extra weight is putting | | | | fatty liver is less efficient in removing these drugs. |
| on his joints, especially if he should jump down from | | | | The quality of your furball's life will suffer if he's |
| a high place. Studies have shown that obese kitties | | | | carrying too much weight around. He may be irritable |
| produce abnormal cartilage, too, which can make him | | | | because he's hurting, or because he's uncomfortable. |
| more prone to injuries. | | | | If you don't want him to face health problems and an |
| If it's too painful for him to move around much, he'll | | | | early demise, you need to limit his food intake. Most |
| get even less exercise. And regular exercise is | | | | cats are heavy simply because we're feeding them |
| necessary to keep his joints flexible. This is a vicious | | | | too much! |
| cycle that can be hard to break. | | | | If your buddy is not obese, take steps now to |
| Besides using calories, exercise also provides the | | | | prevent it from happening. If he already is, it's up to |
| following health benefits: | | | | you to work with your vet to find a way to help |
| * Tones his muscles | | | | your kitty lose weight. Your furry friend's life |
| * Helps him to breath better | | | | depends on you. |