Owners overfeeding their cats are putting them at risk of life threatening illnesses
More than 4 in 10 British moggies are dangerously overweight, according to poll
MILLIONS of cats are at risk of life threatening illnesses because of overfeeding and a severe lack of exercise, experts claimed yesterday.
A survey of vets has found that nearly half of all British felines are overweight.
They say a rise in ‘house cats’, which stay indoors permanently, has sparked a sharp increase in fat cats.
Compared to those which venture outside, these lazy moggies have a much higher risk of developing a number of illnesses, including diabetes, arthritis, heart disease, joint problems and bladder issues.
Housebound cats are also more likely to become stressed, which can then cause a range of behavioural issues, such as scratching furniture and spraying urine.
Diabetes, which is the most common obesity-related illness in cats, is caused by overfeeding in 91 per cent of cases, according to pet insurer Direct Line which polled 100 vets.
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Direct Line's head of pet insurance Prit Powar, said: “Overweight cats are becoming more of an issue. The percentage of obese cats that vets are now seeing is alarming and resulting in long term illnesses for those cats.
“Fortunately, there’s a simple fix. Owners really need to focus on controlling food portions and encouraging their pet to exercise, indoors or outdoors.
“Doing this effectively will help reduce the risk of serious health problems. Veterinary bills can often be costly and many of these illnesses will require multiple trips to the vet and on-going prescriptions.”
PAWS FOR THOUGHT
Dog lovers are being warned about grass seeds getting in their pets paws, which could cause potentially fatal infections.
Pet insurer Animal Friends says the problem will spark more claims this summer than any other, and could set owners back hundreds of pounds in costly vet bills.
The dart-shaped seeds can be a particular issue to those animals with longer fur, which they can easily become embedded in, causing almost 500 injuries last summer.
This type of claim was four times more common than the next leading seasonal illness and costs an average of £337 at the vet.
Owners are advised to try to avoid long grass while walking their dogs and to keep fur trimmed.
Westley Pearson, the company's director of claims, warned: "Make sure to check your dog's body thoroughly for grass seeds after every walk, and take note of any unusual or any different behaviour in your dog."
