Do you find your chubby and fluffy cat cute? Caution; your pet is likely to have a health issue!

While being chubby is normal, cat obesity is something you can't fawn over. It's not normal and neither healthy; in fact, it can decrease your kitty's life expectancy. The results are even more surprising, when approximately 60% of cats, only in the United States are overweight. Also, it's most common in older and less active felines and in other spayed felines whose weight is not in control.

Obesity is one of the most common nutritional disorders which can put them in serious and life-altering health risks. Cats that are given bottomless bowls of their feed are more inclined to become obese.

Here are some common factors that are more likely to make your cat obese and fat:
  • If they are not the purebred, but European shorthair type cats
  • If they are five and ten years old and their physical activity starts declining
  • When they are fed more than the recommended
  • When your cat is depressed, nervous or is suffering from any mental or emotional strain
Whatever the reason can be, if your cat's body starts storing more food, it will likely affect their body. This will also put pressure on the cat's internal system, making them more prone to health issues.

Here how obesity can hamper your feline's health:

Your Cat Is At High Risk Of Having Diabetes:

Whether its human world of the cat world issues like diabetes is common, and if left untreated, it can give rise to severe problems. Your cat's body will not produce enough insulin she needed to balance the content of blood sugar in her body.

Extreme dehydration decreased motor function, dehydration, and lethargy are some common symptoms of diabetes in the cat.

Urinary Disease:

Obesity or overweight can cause FLUTD (feline lower urinary tract disease). As it affects the urethra and bladder, a cat suffering from this have difficulty and pain while urinating. You likely find your cat licking themselves excessively and urinating outside on cool and smooth surfaces.

Straining to urinate, peeing small amounts, frequent attempts to pee, crying while urinating, excessive licking the genital area and showing blood in the urine are some of the major signs of Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease.

Osteoarthritis:

Over weights are more likely to develop Osteoarthritis; it's a degenerative condition of the joints in which the normal cartilage cushion in the joints breaks. In this, the adjacent bones rub with each other, causing pain and a decrease in joint movement.

Clinical symptoms of osteoarthritis in cats include loss of appetite, depression, weight loss, change in behavior, and more.

High Blood Pressure:

High blood pressure or hypertension is one of the most overlooked conditions in pets; however, if neglected, can affect the cat's body system, including heart, nervous system, eyes, and kidney.

You might see bleeding in your pet's eyes and notice retinal changes like swelling and detachment. Seizures, circling, disorientation, dilated pupils, nose bleeding, swollen or shrunken kidney, heart murmurs are some of the most common symptoms of high blood pressure.

Renal Failure:

This is caused by kidney diseases and is one of the prime causes of death in older cats. Old age, genetics, ingesting poisonous substances is some of the most common causes of kidney diseases.

Renal failure in cats is of two types: acute and chronic. While renal failure is associated with a sudden stop of kidney function, chronic renal failure is a progressive deterioration of kidney function. Excessive urination, increased thirst, crackling sound in the jaw, nausea, dehydration, loss of appetite, weight loss are some common symptoms of renal failure.

Obesity can cause mental issues; so rather than running or hiding when seeing symptoms, take your cat to the vet.