Did you know that obesity in cats is the number one health problem in most countries where cats are kept as pets? It is estimated that 40 percent of American cats are obese. The most common cause of feline obesity is overfeeding.

"Cats tend to be grazers," said Kurt Iverson, external relations for the Iams Co. "By tightly controlling the daily feeding to the recommended guidelines...most problems can be avoided."

Contrary to what you may think, feeding your cat every time he or she begs is not a loving thing to do. "Three pounds on a cat is like 40 pounds on an average human," said Iverson.

Dry cat food is another cause of feline obesity. The problem is that cats need high protein diets and most dry foods have high carbohydrates content.

Obesity leads to serious health problems

Feline obesity leads to health problems, including diabetes, kidney and liver disease, heart problems, arthritis, and non-allergic skin conditions. Obese cats are also five times more likely to become lame because the excess weight puts “stress on joints, muscles and ligaments.”

In 1989, a study was conducted which surveyed 2,000 cats at 31 veterinary clinics in the Northeast. The study found that 25 percent of the cats surveyed were overweight, 20 percent were “heavy,” and five percent were considered obese.

“Too much extra weight is not healthy for the cat,” said Janet Scarlett, D.V.M., associate professor of epidemiology in Cornell's College of Veterinary Medicine, and one of the researchers in the study.

A follow up study of the same cats four years later revealed that obese cats are:

1. Four-and-a-half times more likely to develop diabetes
2. Seven times more likely to require treatment for lameness
3. Three times more likely to develop non-allergic skin conditions, probably because obese cats can’t reach every part of the body when grooming themselves
4. Twice as likely to die in middle age (six to twelve years old)

How to tell if your cat is obese

Are you wondering if your cat is obese? Here’s how you can tell: Feel the side of your cat. If you are able to feel the ribs, your cat is not obese. You can also stand over your cat and look at his or her waist. There should not be a bulge in your cat’s waist.

A feline weight-loss program

The first step in developing a weight-loss program for your cat, is to make an appointment with your veterinarian. During your cat’s examination, ask the veterinarian how much you should feed your cat. Then plan time to spend with your cat helping him or her to play.

Veterinarian James R. Richards, director of the Feline Health Center at Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, says, “Exercise is the most effective thing we can do for overweight animals.” He suggests finding a toy you can both play with, “something that dangles on the end of a line, for example -- and get that cat off the couch a couple times a day.”