Cat Illnesses - Obesity

The cause of obesity in cats will come as no surprise - overeating. However, metabolism, hormones and a lack of excercise can all contribute to the obese cat's problem.

Apart from the problem of the cat being massively overweight and not doing any excercise, obesity can contribute to a range of other cat illnesses including arthritis, diabetes, heart conditions, liver problems and anal gland disease.

Restriction of calorie intake is the treatment for obesity in cats, but must be done under strict instruction from a vet. A starvation diet or too large a reduction in calories will result in fat being deposited in and around the cat's liver, leading to serious cat illnesses.