Fat cats! Charity urges pet owners to put their pampered felines on a DIET after finding 20% of animals have pile on the pounds during the Covid-19 crisis as Brits stuck at home overfeed them with treats
- Cats Protection charity say one in five cats have put on weight during pandemic
- Owners have admitted to over-feeding their pets while stuck at home all day
- Charity took in cats Dixie and Scootie who were overweight when they arrived
Pampered cats have been piling on the pounds during the Covid-19 crisis as British owners spoil them at home, an animal charity has claimed.
Research from the Cats Protection charity says one in five cats have put on weight due to their owners over indulging them at home, with more than a quarter of owners admitting they had overfed their pet since March 2020.
Before the pandemic, it was estimated over three million of the UK’s pet cats were overweight, with the charity suggesting one in five more have gained between one and 2.25 kilograms in weight over the last year.
Maggie Roberts, Director of Veterinary Services for Cats Protection, said: ‘This survey suggests the extra time we’ve spent indoors with our cats has led to us over-indulging them, which owners did out of love or to make their feline feel like a family member.
Pampered cats have been piling on the pounds during the Covid pandemic as owners spoil them at home. Pictured, six-year-old Dixie who weighed 1.7 stone when she arrived at the charity
Pictured, overweight cat Scootie who was taken in by the charity’s National Cat Adoption Centre in Sussex in April this year
‘Sadly we are doing them more harm than good as overweight cats are at significant risk of diabetes, joint problems and urinary infections.’
‘At a time of year when many of us go on a diet, it’s advisable to ask your vet if your cat needs one too.’
Overweight cat Scootie was taken in by the charity’s National Cat Adoption Centre in Sussex in April last year because her owner was no longer able to care for her.
She was put on a strict weight regime after weighing in at a huge 1st 8lb – with the ideal weight for a domestic cat around 8-10 pounds.
Scootie was put on a strict weight regime after weighing in at a huge 1st 8lb – with the ideal weight for a domestic cat around 8-10 pounds
Twelve-year-old Scootie is one of the largest cats the charity had ever cared for, and Danielle Draper, manager of the centre, said in a blog post staff were ‘shocked’ to see the size of the animal.
‘She finds it hard to clean herself and needs encouragement to exercise’, said Danielle, ‘We’ve placed her on a very strict diet so she loses the weight in a controlled way’.
Danielle explained that because of her weight, Scootie will be at a higher risk of diabetes, arthritis and heart trouble, and that the cat will enjoy a much more active lifestyle once she’s slimmed down.
She said: ‘Cats can be very persuasive and it can be hard not to give in to the pleading meows for a treat or two.
‘But Sootie’s story is a really good example of when too many treats can cause a real problem.’
Another cat currently on their weight loss regime is six-year-old Dixie, who was brought in to Cats Protection weighing 1.7 stone
With a strict diet and fitness regime has managed to shed 3lb since August, bringing her weight down to 1.4 stone
Another cat currently on their weight loss regime is six-year-old Dixie, who once again serves as a warning to owners not to over feed their cats while stuck at home.
She was brought in to Cats Protection weighing 1.7 stone but with a strict diet and fitness regime has managed to shed 3lb since August, bringing her weight down to 1.4 stone.
Centre Manager Adrian Ferne said in another post Dixie’s size meant she was unable to clean herself and is at significant risk of health problems such as diabetes and arthritis.
He added: ‘While it’s ok to pamper our pets every now and then it’s also important not to overfeed felines as it will do more harm than good’.