Researchers in Brazil studied 188 cats and their owners to find out how many cats are overweight and why. They discovered that nearly 3 out of 10 cats were overweight or obese. The study found that certain things increase a cat’s chance of gaining weight, like being older, not exercising much, and living in certain types of homes. Interestingly, owners often didn’t realize their cats were overweight. This research helps pet owners understand what might be making their cats gain weight and what they can do about it.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: How many pet cats in a Brazilian city are overweight or obese, and what things in their lives make them more likely to gain weight
  • Who participated: 188 cats and their owners living in homes throughout Goiânia, Brazil, chosen randomly from different neighborhoods to represent the whole city
  • Key finding: About 29% of the cats studied (roughly 3 out of 10) were overweight or obese. Older cats, less active cats, and cats whose owners had less education were more likely to be overweight
  • What it means for you: If you own a cat, especially an older one that doesn’t play much, you should pay attention to its weight. However, remember that this study was done in Brazil, so results might be different in other places. Talk to your veterinarian about your cat’s ideal weight.

The Research Details

Researchers visited homes across different neighborhoods in Goiânia, Brazil and examined 188 cats that lived there. They used a special scoring system to measure each cat’s body condition—basically checking if the cat felt too thin, just right, overweight, or obese by feeling their ribs and looking at their shape. They also asked the cat owners questions about their own habits, education level, and how they cared for their cats. This type of study is called a ‘cross-sectional study,’ which means researchers looked at everything at one point in time, like taking a snapshot, rather than following cats over months or years.

This approach is important because it shows what’s really happening in people’s homes, not just in veterinary clinics. Many previous studies only looked at cats that had been taken to the vet, which might miss cats that never go to the doctor. By going to homes, researchers got a more complete picture of cat obesity in the community.

The study used a good method by randomly selecting homes from different parts of the city, which helps make the results more representative of all cats in that area. However, the study only looked at one city in Brazil at one point in time, so the results might not apply everywhere. The researchers also found that owners often misjudged their cats’ weight, which is something to keep in mind.

What the Results Show

The researchers found that 28.7% of the cats studied were either overweight or obese—that’s more than 1 out of every 4 cats. This is a significant number and shows that weight problems are common in pet cats. The study identified several things that made cats more likely to be overweight: being older, not being very active, and living in certain types of homes. Interestingly, cats whose owners had more education were less likely to be overweight, suggesting that knowledge about pet nutrition and exercise matters. The owners’ own eating habits also played a role—cats whose owners thought they ate healthily were less likely to be overweight.

The study found some protective factors that helped keep cats at a healthy weight. Having multiple cats in the household was associated with lower obesity rates, possibly because cats play with each other more. The location of the home also mattered—cats in some neighborhoods had different obesity rates than others. One surprising finding was that owners often didn’t recognize when their cats were overweight. When researchers compared what owners thought about their cats’ weight to what the veterinarians measured, there was poor agreement, meaning many owners thought their overweight cats looked fine.

This study adds important information because very few research projects have looked at cat obesity in Latin America by visiting homes. Most previous studies either looked at cats in veterinary clinics or were done in other countries. The obesity rate found here (28.7%) is similar to rates reported in some other countries, suggesting that cat weight problems are a widespread issue, not just in Brazil.

The study only looked at cats in one Brazilian city, so the results might not apply to cats in other places or countries. The researchers couldn’t prove that the risk factors they found actually cause obesity—they only showed that these factors were associated with overweight cats. For example, they found that older cats were more likely to be overweight, but they didn’t prove that age itself causes weight gain. The study also relied on owners answering questions honestly about their habits and their cats’ activities, which might not always be accurate.

The Bottom Line

Based on this research, cat owners should: (1) Monitor their cat’s weight regularly, especially if the cat is older or not very active—talk to your vet about what’s healthy for your cat; (2) Make sure your cat gets regular exercise and playtime; (3) Be honest about your cat’s body condition—don’t assume your cat looks fine if it’s getting rounder; (4) Consider your own eating habits, as they may influence how you feed your cat. These recommendations have moderate confidence because they come from a well-designed study, but more research in different places would strengthen them.

All cat owners should pay attention to these findings, especially those with older cats or cats that don’t exercise much. Veterinarians should use this information when talking to cat owners about weight management. People with less education about pet nutrition might benefit most from learning about healthy cat weights. However, if you live outside of Brazil, remember that local factors might be different.

If you make changes to help your cat lose weight or stay healthy, you probably won’t see results immediately. Most healthy weight loss in cats takes weeks to months. Talk to your veterinarian about realistic goals for your specific cat.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Use the app to record your cat’s weight monthly and take photos from the same angle to track body condition changes over time. Note your cat’s activity level (hours of play per day) and compare it to previous months.
  • Set a daily reminder to play with your cat for at least 15 minutes. Log each play session in the app and track which types of play your cat enjoys most. If you have one cat, consider the benefits of getting a second cat for companionship and activity.
  • Create a monthly check-in where you assess your cat’s body condition using the same method (feeling for ribs, checking waist shape) and record it in the app. Compare trends over 3-6 months. If your cat is gaining weight, discuss with your vet and adjust feeding amounts or activity levels, tracking changes in the app.

This research describes patterns found in one Brazilian city and should not replace veterinary advice. Every cat is different, and what’s healthy for one cat might not be for another. If you’re concerned about your cat’s weight, please consult with your veterinarian before making changes to diet or exercise. Your vet can assess your individual cat’s health and recommend the best approach. This study shows associations between factors and obesity but doesn’t prove cause-and-effect relationships.