fat cats

I think it's sad to see pets that are obviously obese - and yes, I'd say it counts as "cruelty". (Don't even get me started on dog breeders who strive for some absurd notion of aesthetic perfection that causes an entire breed significant pain...) Having said that, one of our elderly cats is a little porky. But I think that's okay; his days of climbing up the curtains and chasing seagulls are sadly passed! Now he is in his cattish retirement: sitting in front of the fire, only rising to squeak for bacon every now and then... (Well, it's not so bad! )

My cat used to be the fattest cat, like literally putting Garfield to shame. I realized after moving from the city to the country that alot of it was his surroundings. He didn't want to go and hunt or adventure in the city because of all the danger and noise. Plus he was depressed because he hated his surroundings so much so all he'd do was eat and sleep. Poor kitty. Now hes all slim and muscle and I barely have to feed him because he's too busy outside hunting for mice & birds! I think if your friend was overfeeding them you should alert them of the health risks for the animal, and recommend a change of diet and possible some more exercise.

We've had pets over the years and they weren't overfed or fat. The dogs were farm dogs, (blue cattle dogs)so they were very active. The only "pet" I have at the moment, apart from my pet rock that a friend gave me, is my hubby and he is well fed but not overweight.

There are four cats that live with us. Two belong to us and the other two belong to our neighbors, but prefer staying with us and eating our cat food. One of our visiting cats eats like a pig and never gains weight. I seldom see her sister eating anything, though she seems to want whatever the other cats are eating, and she's a porker. Both cats have regular vet visits and are perfectly fine. We have no idea why one is so fat and the only so tiny.

fat cats uh huh, well i used to have a cat many years ago, i always fed it the amount it required, yes you are right giving all the time is like inadvertent cruelty - it will be like it will die if won't eat anything for a day... well we always fed the cat when we used to eat, the cat would come and brush herself on my leg and beg for food, it would pleadingly look at me and i would be like - ehh let me eat first and then your chance would come .. hmm as rude as i sound here i was not, i loved my cat.. after i would finish my eating i would give it the appropriate amount and just sit to watch it eat, hmm maybe i am not that mean after all mhm... okay she used to leave crumbs at times but she seldom gets anything extra apart from her meals, we did not want to make it a habit to give her extras i bet the cat could have cursed me sometime

Where I used to live, there was an absolutely gorgeous cat who used to hang around outside the local shop, and roll over to show his belly to anyone who passed who might give it a rub!Lol! He was lovely, and I'd always stop to pet him. But his belly actually trailed the ground. I'd never seen anything like it! I don't know if it was down to the owners totally over indulging him, or people going into the shop giving him tidbits, or a combination of both, but poor wee soul! My cat, Poppy, has put on a bit of beef over the last year, but she still has the shape she should have, and is quite muscular under her "layer", and she's 9 now, so just slowing down a bit. But if it became a health issue, I'd definitely start buying the lite cat food.

You are right, Jb..I think there should really be some sort of responsibility on the part of passer-bys as well as pet owners. The pets and stray animals should not ever be overfeed because just like humans, there might be complications.

My best friend had a dog that was getting too fat and she took him to the vet and the vet suggested that she ration his food. He was actually beginning to waddle and she was concerned about his hips. She had to be very careful about keeping the dog food in the garage or outside the back door where the dog couldn't get it - when it was in the pantry, he figured out how to get the door open and he chewed a hole in the bottom of the bag and helped himself. Also one time we had taken the kids somewhere and we grabbed takeout for them for lunch. Instead of having them eat in the car (they were younger so they were kinda messy), we brought the food back and made them plates. We put the boys' chicken nuggets and fries on the counter but we put the girls' food on the small table. The dog came tearing in through the garage and went over and ate her daughter's lunch. I was able to rescue one of the plates but not both. Her daughter cried because the dog inhaled her food! Eventually he did lose the extra weight and became healthy again but he was never a dog you could just feed extra scraps or allow to eat until he was full. He would never be full..... he was just like a person who was prone to obesity. If you controlled his intake, he was fine. If you let him have free reign, he got fat.

My animals have food down all the time and they don't overeat. My 14 cats are all a healthy normal weight. I have a couple of dogs that are maybe a few pounds too heavy but it is not from overeating their food.. because that is usually available to them.. but the extra pounds are from snack and treats and people food. They love that stuff and between me and my roommate, they get to lick our bowls or she gives them cookies not knowing that I already did. But they are still quite active running and jumping in the yard, so I don't worry about it too much.

we have 4 cats.while they're not overfed,they're not really skinny.they have some extra meat on their bones.they're not too fat.I guess it's because they just sleep the whole day.they don't really go out and play.

i do not have any pets right now but there was a time when i had an aquarium. the fishes seemed to be always hungry. luckily i was informed beforehand to ration the feed. the way they rushed towards feed sometimes did made me take pity on them and put some extra feed but occasionally and not regularly. i have also noticed that obesity is a problem with pet animals and not free animals. perhaps it is linked to availability of food and physical movement of animals...

I am very careful that my dog only eats dog food. I don't let him eat anymore than he needs.

Its just like parents who overfeed their children. They think they are being good and caring parents and they probably are. But you have think of their health also. The same thing for pets. They will eat everything that you put in front of them. But you have to set limits because they are obviously not going to. And take them for walks so they can burn off their energy. It is sad to see these pets that are so overweight, they can't walk or even have a hard time breathing.

I feed my 4 cats wet food at least once a day and i leave water and 2 different kids of dry cat food out (in 2 different places in the house) 2 of my cats are normal weight and 2 are kind of chubby. I feed my dog people food (i'll make her some of what ever i'm going to eat) and a can of dog food a day. I have tried every kind of dry dog (and cat) food for her and she refuses to eat it!

I have always told friends this ,Is why they make dog food.It only makes sense,If people only new, how our foods have bad effects their furry friends .I doubt anyone would do it intentionally,But a lot of times like owner like pet. The worst thing,I hear is its just a little...It is indeed on the grounds of abuse ,but comes with ignorance and love.What's a person to do ? Some must just live and learn sad as it may sound,at the expense of others animals included.

I have a fat cat, and he is my best friend. He never gets people food but since we have two cats, it is difficult to feed the younger (slimmer) one without having him sneak in to raid her food dish. Sometimes she even requests food just to give it to him. But Buff is 7 years old and does'nt climb and play as much anymore. His favorite things are eating and sleeping. He is 23 pounds and solid (no fluff) and quite healthy.They both have dry food available all the time and share a 3 oz can of wet food for "dinner" so no real difference in diet. I have tried picking up his dry food at night but it just makes him more agressive at stealing Cricket's food later, so there is just not much we can do about his overeating habit.

hello Jb, I don't mind having a Fat cat since he may not be able to out run me when he's at that weightbut of course, with that i want my cat to be fat because i want them to be healthy as well. my cat is normal weight but i noticed a few loose pounds since he's only eating cat food now.but i do believe having a fat cat leads to complications and probably life shortage.

I think obesity in animals and humans is kind of a taboo thing- being called "fat" is always an insult and frowned upon, and the message of feeling comfortable in your body is advocated, but being overwieght is biologically bad for you. There are some people and animals that just have more fat cells in their bodies, and are prone to being bigger whether or not they like it.

For cats, I like to see them overweight, that's super cute! For dogs, as fit as possible. People describe woman as cat and man just like dog here. I know fish is very greedy for food. Even eat to die.

"fat cat" can be taken as someone rich and powerful.