Feline Obesity

Meow, April 19th, 2012, found at: http://goo.gl/LvSjg

Meow is a 40 lb., two year old, white tabby cat that’s full of love. His previous owner was eighty seven years old. She could no longer take care of him. In Albuquerque, New Mexico, Meow is at the Santa Fe animal shelter. He is on a special diet until he loses some weight. Meow is currently with a foster family to help him lose weight so he can be put up for adoption. 

Meow may be huge, but he has not quite set the record! Susan Montoya Bryan has recorded this in her article:

“That record belongs to Himmy, a tabby from Australia that weighed almost 47 pounds. The shelter said Guinness World Records has since stopped accepting applications for the record over concerns it would encourage people to overfeed their animals. In Meow's case, the shelter is awaiting blood test results to make sure he doesn't have any additional health problems.”

Although it may seem quite adorable, having an overweight animal is extremely dangerous. A normal sized cat should typically weigh between 7-12 lbs. Animal obesity is not something to joke around with. Animals and humans have the same health risks for obesity. There is much more pressure on the heart and joints. The Association for pet Obesity Prevention stated that "50 million US Cats are estimated to be Overweight or Obese." There are many diseases that come with obesity, such as: Cardiovascular disease, Diabetes, Hepatic lipidosis, and Cystitis. After a cat gets so big, it becomes harder for he/she to exercise like they should.

If you're cat is over 12 lbs, you may need to take it to the vet. You can never be too safe when it comes to your animal.