76% OF CATS ARE OVERWEIGHT

Excess weight in animals is characterized by a body weight that is more than 15% of the ideal and is a common occurrence in veterinary medicine.

In many cases, it is caused by excessive calorie consumption and reduced physical activity. The following can contribute to this

• Poorly balanced diets (in terms of quality and quantity);
• Lack of time for owners to keep their pets active.

Being overweight affects the way the body functions and can increase the risk of certain diseases appearing in cats, such as Diabetes Mellitus, reducing their average life expectancy.

HOW TO ASSESS YOUR CAT'S WEIGHT 

To monitor your cat's weight at home, you can use the Body Condition Index (BCI), outlined at the end of this document.

 The ICC is a scale from 1 to 9, in ascending order of body fat, based on observation and palpation of specific areas of the animal's body. A cat is considered to be of ideal weight if it is classified as 4 or 5 according to this scale.

The best way to clarify this and other animal health issues is to talk to your vet. The vet can help you analyze your cat's weight, draw up a dietary plan suited to its characteristics (breed, sex and age) and advise you on different ways to keep it active.

At your pharmacy you'll also find various options for feeding your four-legged friend, as well as toys to help keep him distracted and thus active. Ask your pharmacist for advice on these and other ways to keep your pet healthy and happy!

Image: Body Condition Index in dogs (adapted from WSAVA Global Nutrition Committee, 2013)

copyright © by the National Association of Pharmacies 

revision: june 2018

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