UK Fat Cats And Dogs Are Failing To Diet

By humanising our pets were are damaging their health - because we are teaching them our poor eating habits. According to research by Mintel, published by Mars UK this week, over half of UK dogs and around one fifth of cats are now overweight. And, despite a growing awareness of pet healthcare issues, we are turning a blind eye to the problem.

Mars refers us also to 2006 research by Ellen Kienzle and Reinhold Berger, published in The Journal of Nutrition. This found that only 19% of owners of overweight cats recognised that their cat was indeed overweight.

In that same study, the researchers also found that when fed reducing diets, only a small percentage of cats actually lose weight. Yet, in controlled trials, weight reduction can be achieved by food restriction. This, they say, indicates a lack of compliance by owners of cats in implementing weight reducing programs.

Mars UK says that despite the growth of the obesity problem, nearly three quarters of pet owners claim that the weight of their pet is just right. One fifth of us apparently admit that we do not even bother to assess our pet's weight as we do not see it as a concern.

45% of pet owners do not control the number of calories they feed their pet. Almost 90% of dog owners admit to feeding their pets treats over and above their normal meals - including human snacks such as biscuits.

Mars goes on to say that (incredibly), almost half of dog owners admit to not walking their dog at least once a day.

Dr. Alex German, Head of the Royal Canin Weight Management Clinic, is not surprised by the results of the research:

"There is no doubt that as our lifestyles have become more sedentary, so too have the lifestyles of our pets. This combined with the association that pet owners seem to draw between feeding and kindness has led to the current situation, where nearly half of our pets are overweight. What people don’t seem to realise, is the dreadful consequences overfeeding can have."

Dogs and cats are dependent on their owners to monitor their pets' daily food intake. In fact UK law now imposes a Duty of Care on pet owners to provide an appropriate environment, and suitable nutrition, which is not likely to bring harm to their animals. Still, we seem oblivious to well-documented medical concern that obesity in dogs and cats is closely associated with diseases such as diabetes, arthritis, heart disease and strokes.