Fat cats. Fat cat: causes of obesity
How often does a fat cat seem funny to us, and his sluggishness and clumsy movements cause a smile! And we sometimes do not see anything wrong if our pet is slightly well-fed, and even if not slightly. After all, he is so cute! He just loves to eat. And it’s hard to resist pampering him with delicious food!
Alas, excessive appetite and excess weight are not signs of health at all. Quite the contrary. Therefore, you should not be touched by the plumpness of your four-legged pet.
Why is obesity dangerous?
Obesity- the disease itself, besides, it is a serious prerequisite for the development of many diseases. Excess weight contributes to the development diabetes mellitus, urolithiasis, provokes inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis), various diseases endocrine system, liver, heart, as well as joint diseases and skin problems. The animal often becomes inactive, gets tired quickly, and when playing or active movements shortness of breath appears. Agree, this is no longer amusing!
What is obesity?
Obesity (lat. adipositas - obesity and lat. obesitas - fullness, obesity, fattening) - fat deposition, weight gain due to adipose tissue. An animal is considered overweight when its weight is 15% higher than normal. The norm for each cat is individual, depending on the breed, sex, size and other factors. The weight of champion cats from the Guinness Book of Records is 20-23 kg (look).
In cats, unlike humans, the skin is attached more loosely and is therefore very mobile. In this regard, full cats there are no thick folds, and excess fat usually forms on the ribs and under the abdomen.
If obesity during the cat's growth period is associated with increase in the number of fat cells, then for a later period of life it is typical increasing their size.
Causes of excess weight in cats and kittens:
How can you determine how much your pet’s weight differs from the ideal? You can calculate your desired weight using the table below.
Who is guilty?
A cat living in nature does not suffer from obesity. At home, this disease is very common - overweight About 40% of male cats have. The main reason obesity in cats is wrong image life. And, as a rule, their owners are to blame for this!
The most common mistake cat owners make is... improper feeding, and overfeeding your pets. Cats cannot eat most of what we eat: fried, salty, pickled, sweet, baked, spiced. At home, it is difficult to prepare food that would satisfy all the needs of the cat’s body and contain all the necessary nutrients, trace elements, minerals and vitamins. required quantities and in correct ratios.
It is much wiser to use good industrial cat food, specially designed taking into account their needs and characteristics, and feed them according to the specified daily intake.
Another drawback of owners is insufficient physical activity for their pets. A sedentary lifestyle causes them to become overweight.
So, we’ve sorted out the question of who is to blame, now let’s look at the question
What to do?
Fortunately, obesity in cats is easier to treat than in humans. How? The recipe is simple - reduce the calorie content of food and increase physical activity.
To protect your cat's health, you must adhere to proper diet, use balanced food and monitor its volume. Simply put, feed your cat correctly! - about it
Manufacturers of ready-made food produce special diets for sterilized cats and cats, as well as for animals with overweight. These are foods with reduced fat content, which reduces their calorie content, and the fiber used in them prolongs the state of satiety.
All that is required to prevent obesity is not to follow the lead of animals begging for food, but to feed them strictly the amount required for normal physical fitness!
And to maintain your pet in this normal form, you should give him at least 15-20 minutes a day, forcing him to move actively with the help of his favorite toy or providing him with special ones. sports complexes- about it
Physical exercise burn calories, develop muscles, improve respiratory and digestive function, strengthen the heart muscle and lead to a reduction in the amount of food consumed.
(!)In addition, constant cooperative games They also strengthen the emotional connection between humans and animals. Be friends with your pet!
If you are significantly obese, it is better to consult a veterinarian. Only a specialist will be able to correctly determine the cause of its appearance, give recommendations for treatment and draw up an optimal diet for a four-legged patient. Having rid your pet of excess weight, you will save his health.
The most popular pets, of course, are cats. Many people consider their pets to be friends and companions who are always nearby. When a kitten appears in the house, few people remain indifferent to the little fluffy ball. Over time, the kittens grow up, and after a few years a fat cat is already imposingly walking around the house, as in the photo and video in our article.
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The fattest cats
In the animal world, as well as in humans, there are some individuals with overweight. But not all of our younger brothers worry about this and certainly don’t have a complex. The fattest cats in the world love to sleep and bask in their favorite warm places. At the same time, they simply love to show off on camera, making both themselves and their owners popular, who dote on them, feed them generously and literally carry them in their arms. That is why cats and cats are sometimes amazing with their size and body weight.
1st place - Tulle
Perhaps the leader among fluffy domestic fat cats can be safely called a cat named Tulle, who lives in Denmark. He is only 6 years old, but over the years the little red furry has gained weight of 19.5 kg. His owners say that the fattest cat in the world is not able to look after himself. He is also not interested in cat courtship, and he has never caught mice, because he simply is not able to do it.
Most of all, Tulle likes to doze near the TV, and when he sleeps peacefully, he can be mistaken for a large fluffy ottoman or pillow. Surprisingly, the cat is absolutely healthy, except for obesity, and he owes his large weight to his owners. They pamper him and do not refuse his constant desire to eat something tasty.
2nd place - Garfield
Next after Tulle, the handsome Garfield can rightfully be called a fat man. The cat is very similar to the movie hero, but he probably weighs more, since his weight is 18 kg. Like the hero of the film of the same name, Garfield is an amateur tasty food, good night and lying on the sofa. It was this way of life that led to the fact that the fat cat entered the first ranks of fluffy fat people.
3rd place - Xiong Yuzhong
Another fat cat named Xiong Yuzhong lives in one of the provinces of China. Its weight is about 17 kilograms. The owners love their fluffy fatty very much and this glutton’s diet always includes fresh meat, the amount of which is never less than 1 kg per day. He is not interested in birds, cats, or walking on rooftops. His very favorite hobby consists of lying on the couch and watching everyone fuss around.
4th place - Otto
Otto the cat, who weighs 16 kilograms and lives in New Jersey, suffered from arthritis and veterinarians had to treat him by cutting his diet. So after several months of treatment and special diet Otto has lost about 3 kilograms and feels great. He has a beautiful color - black and white.
5th place - SpongeBob
Not so well-fed, but also a popular fat man, lives in New York in an animal shelter. His name is SpongeBob and this “baby” weighs 15.5 kg. The cat lives in the largest enclosure of the shelter, where he can always move around, which he does without much desire. And here good mood he is provided for when it is time to eat, although the shelter employees take care of his health and the fat man follows a diet. Interesting video You can see the largest pet below.
What about kittens?
When a kitten, red, black or white, appears in the house, everyone is happy about it. His owners are ready to give him attention and care from the very first days. They pamper him with treats, as a result of which the kitten turns into a real glutton and gradually gains weight. Such cute and funny fluffies, plump and calm, loved by their owners, certainly cheer up and give a lot of positive emotions.
However, you should not chase the leaders of the presented rating. It’s enough just to create an animal full conditions for life and development, give him your love and care. Even without excess weight, male cats will undoubtedly be happy.
Photo gallery
Video “Very funny fat red cat”
In the video, we invite you to watch how a cat, despite its rather large size, does not lose its mobility and playfulness.
Sorry, there are no surveys available at this time.Feeding pets is a real pleasure. By buying expensive food and various treats, owners strive to express their love and care for cats. Animals, in turn, gratefully eat everything that is provided to them, and this inevitably affects their weight.
Animals that resemble a swollen ball in shape do not always remain dexterous and flexible, but their clumsiness looks very funny and amusing. This forces people to Once again look at photos and videos of such cats, which makes such pictures one of the most popular.
There are many fat cats in the world, but not all of them were able to win titles and titles. The owners of some made sure that their pets became famous throughout the world thanks to their excellent appetite and excess weight.
Australian fat man
The largest officially recorded weight of a cat was recorded in Australia. The owner of the record 21.3 kg was a well-fed cat named Snowball, who more closely resembles a huge white snowdrift. The fat animal, despite being overweight, showed miracles of longevity for the following parameters: Snowball lived for 10 years, after which he died due to respiratory failure, which is not surprising. If an adult had the same degree of obesity, his weight would exceed 270 kg.
Otto
In second place is a cat living in America. The owner took his fat pet Otto to the veterinary clinic in order to euthanize the animal, since the cat had become so fat that he had difficulty moving around the house and could not go to the toilet on the tray, since his butt no longer fit there. The veterinarians persuaded the man not to euthanize the pet, but to try to gradually limit his food intake to stabilize his body weight. After six months of following a special diet, the fat man was able to lose significant weight, which made his life much easier, but pushed him out of the rankings.
Record holder Meow
Third place in the Guinness Book of Records was taken by a cat with the funny name Meow, who was the size of a medium-sized dog. He was only one and a half years old when his previous owner, who lived in Santa Fe, turned to a cat shelter to transfer a problem animal to specialists for permanent residence.
The fat pet reached a weight of 18 kg, which made caring for him more difficult, especially considering the woman’s advanced age (at that time she was 87 years old). Specialists began to adjust his diet and tried to return the animal to normal indicators. Meow has become the star of several shows and television programs dedicated to the rules of nutrition for pets. A strict diet helped him get rid of several kilograms and soon there were people who wanted to take home the popular cat, but the consequences of obesity made themselves felt: Meow died in a shelter at the age of two due to pulmonary failure.
Spongebob square….belly
The fourth position belongs to another American resident - a fat red cat named SpongeBob. The weight of this nine-year-old pet is 15.5 kg. Unlike previous heavyweights, a medical examination showed that all his health indicators were in impeccable condition. But in order to avoid possible problems in the future, experts recommended adjusting the diet and putting the fat cat on a diet, since overweight can cause pathologies of joints, muscles, etc.
Elvis
Elvis the cat, who, alas, is not included in the Guinness Book of Records, since this category was banned in 2015 due to the risk to the lives of pets whose owners deliberately feed their animals. This fat man is German and lives in Germany. On this moment Elvis reached a weight of 17.5 kg, which exceeds all acceptable standards. Because of extra pounds he has a whole bunch of diseases - from diabetes to muscle tissue atrophy. He moves with great difficulty, has breathing and heart problems, so the owners intend to take his nutrition seriously and gradually achieve weight loss, which will extend the years of Elvis’s life. A special advisory group of four veterinarians has been created to monitor his health and rate of weight loss.
Despite the fact that fat cats look very funny and make us touch, many animal rights organizations warn that the task of a caring owner is to keep their pet's weight under control, because obesity can lead to many diseases and, as a result, , to an early death.
Fat cats from the Internet
The appearance of furry fatties on the Internet never goes unnoticed. People are ready to look at them every day, so their photos and videos are always in the top. Some get thousands and sometimes millions of views in a matter of days and become real celebrities. Often, when looking at such photos, you immediately want to go on a diet yourself. Sometimes fat cats try to get lost among the interior or blend in with the environment.
On the Internet you can find photographs of fat bellies getting stuck in various holes - this is the time to think about an emergency diet!
But still, most of them, at any weight, feel like the most beautiful and graceful creatures who have come into our lives for us to constantly admire them, regardless of whether they are fat or not.
In addition to photographs, owners of fat cats constantly strive to capture their pets on video, so we can enjoy watching fluffy fat cats having fun, funny asking for food or playing around like little children.
Cats are magical creatures. Since ancient times, people have believed that these animals protect their home from various otherworldly influences, prevent the penetration of spirits, ensure harmony and peace in the family, and have a healing effect. Many of our contemporaries believe that there is no such thing as too much happiness, so they feed their furry pets to immense proportions. Agents of the Guinness Book of Records are interested in who is the fattest cat in the world. We present to your attention the rating of such pets.
1. The list is headed by the fattest cat named Himmy. His owner Thomas Weisz, who lives in Australia (Queensland), announced the staggering weight of his pet - 21.3 kg. Some sources mentioned a cat named Snowball from Scotland (Aberdeenshire), who allegedly weighed 44 kg. In fact, his weight was determined in pounds, so in kilograms (20 kg) he fell short of the record holder by 1.3 kg. Himmi, despite his considerable weight, lived for 10 years and died of respiratory failure.
2. The title of fat cat went to Otto from New Jersey. The owners took him to the clinic to euthanize him because the purr had become so fat that he couldn’t even fit into his litter box. Veterinarians sounded the alarm: euthanizing a young cat weighing 16 kg was clearly an inhumane act. They suggested putting him on a diet. As a result, Otto lost 3 kg of live weight and his championship in the Guinness Book of Records.
3. His place was taken by a white and red cat named Meow (Santa Fe, New Mexico). Meow's weight was 18 kg. It was he who caused the death of the animal in May 2012.
4. SpongeBob from New York climbed to the pedestal of heavyweight cats in the same year. This fat cat weighs 15.5 kg. Despite his considerable weight, according to the results of an examination conducted by veterinarians, SpongeBob does not experience any significant health problems. Nevertheless, his owner was recommended to reduce the diet and change the animal’s nutritional system.
Many people like fat cats - they are so lazy that they cannot climb onto the sofa on their own. A fat cat seems to thank its owner for caring with its weight, but, unfortunately, such a cat is unhappy.
Its weight is considered normal if the bones are not visible, but the ribs can be felt; in turn, in overweight cats the ribs cannot be felt.
Risk factors:
- Feeds rich in starch and carbohydrates are very beneficial for the animal. Living in nature, they eat only caught prey, and cat food contains a lot of protein and little starch. Therefore, the cat’s body converts the lack of starch in food into fat deposits.
- European cats are more prone to obesity than other purebred cats.
- The risk of obesity appears in cats from the age of 5 years, as the animal's activity decreases.
- Obesity is more common in cats than in cats.
- When spaying and castrating animals, their appetite increases and their energy needs decrease. After sterilization in the body hormonal changes promotes the formation of adipose tissue.
- Living in wildlife cats eat 10 times a day, so domestic cats must receive small portions of food often to be healthy.
- Nervous and depressed cats eat more to gain a feeling of satisfaction.
- Loneliness and absence physical activity may also lead to obesity.
Excess weight worsens a cat's life and causes many diseases, such as:
- Inflammation of the joints, as they are subject to greater stress. As the animal's mobility decreases, arthritis continues to progress.
- Diabetes, which often plagues overweight cats. However, diabetes can be prevented by reducing your cat's body weight.
- Inflammation urinary tract, because the cat moves less. Some cats even have difficulty getting into a sand box.
- Skin diseases, because cats wash themselves less - their overweight bodies do not allow them to turn normally.
- Liver disease. If an overweight cat stops eating for any reason, it can eventually lead to severe liver failure.
- Disease of cardio-vascular system, as well as respiratory tract disease.
Since a cat is a small animal, weight loss may be difficult to notice. Ideally an achievement optimal weight can be achieved in 6-12 months. The transition to a new food should be gradual. When an animal needs to follow a diet, make sure that the cat does not eat its food at one time. daily norm. Most the best option for a daily diet - divide food into 3-4 servings. Food can be hidden so that the cat has to look for it.
Food labeled “Light” is not suitable for weight loss because it can cause starvation and insufficient supply of essential nutrients to the body. Light food is suitable for animals that have already reached ideal weight, but who have a predisposition to obesity.
If the cat has already reached its goal normal weight, you need to make her move. Movement keeps the cat in normal weight body, keeps muscles toned and supports heart function. Games with the owner help strengthen the relationship between the animal and the person. Toys encourage your cat's prey drive and should be similar to the prey, meaning they move unpredictably, make sounds and are small. At the end of the game, the cat must be given the opportunity to grab the “victim” to avoid feelings of disappointment.
Active games cats with their owner will bring a lot of joy and help create close connection together. The cat will keep it for a long time good health and will live longer if you play with it more often.
