OVERWEIGHT CATS - PREVALENCE AND RISK-FACTORS

Body condition was assessed by owners and veterinarians for over 2000 cats presented to 31 private veterinary hospitals in the Northeastern United States. Each owner completed a questionnaire querying potential factors associated with his/her cat's body condition. Veterinarians r eported twenty-five percent of cats were overweight (heavy or obese), while owners estimated 29% of their pets were overweight. Apartment dw elling, inactivity, middle age, being male, neutered, of mixed breedin g, and certain dietary factors were associated with being overweight.