A fat cat. Photocredit: Elsie esq. http://www.flickr.com/photos/elsie/5062307/sizes/m/in/photostream/
We don’t just have to worry about our own obesity now. It’s the fatness of our pets that’s also causing problems — we’re in danger of becoming — no, have become — a nation of “fatty Fidos and rotund Rovers”, as The Daily Record put it.
A study covering 11,000 pet owners (by veterinary charity PDSA), has shown that we give 12 million of our pets (dogs, rabbits and cats) too many treats and snacks, including, reported The Daily Mail, “takeaways, cheese, crisps and cakes, often on a daily basis.” One in three dogs in the UK are obese – compare this to one in four of the human variety. The problem is more acute in Scotland, reported The Daily Record, with a whopping 89 percent of dog owners admitting to feeding their dogs “inappropriate food.” The report was the largest of its kind, said Petproductmarketing, and was done in tandem with YouGov.
Rabbits get the least amount of junk food, but still get fed toast and cake. Petproductmarketing added it was “a far cry from the hay, fresh greens and rabbit nuggets that they should consume.”
“With so many pets being fed inappropriate diets, the effect on their health is devastating”, Sean Wensley, PDSA senior vet, was quoted as having said in The Daily Mail
The PDSA report also states that 61 percent of the owners think they’re making their pets happy by filling them up with treats. The charity has now launched a “Pet Fit Cub.” The Daily Mail gave as a case study Bailey the Border Collie, a biscuit muncher who “became 60 per cent overweight”; whilst Deco the labrador “ballooned to 8st 6lbs.” However, it is possible to lose weight too — “Lucky the Labrador” went on a “ ‘weight-loss journey’” with his owner, and shed over two stone.
“We always made sure Bailey had lots of exercise, but the titbits we used to give him gradually started piling on the pounds”, said Bailey’s owner Pauline Connor, 48, from Glasgow, quoted in The Daily Mail.
And just for kicks, here’s a video of the world’s fattest cat: