Geez, now even dogs and cats are obese.
Your fat pets.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 8 — Overweight Americans and Europeans are overfeeding their pets, too — and putting their health at risk, according to a report issued Monday. The report, from the National Research Council, finds that one-quarter of the dogs and cats in the Western world are obese. As with humans, this puts them at risk of diabetes, heart disease and other health problems. THE REPORT updates recommendations last made in the mid-1980s by the National Research Council, one of the independent National Academies of Science.
For instance, cats and dogs make their own vitamin C, it says, and do not need it added to food. But cats and dogs in the wild need high levels of fat, it added.
The report confirms that cats are carnivores, and need meat products in their diet, whereas dogs can get along fine on balanced vegetarian diets. The best balance of protein and carbohydrates is also different for cats than for dogs.
The report notes that in the wild, cats will catch and eat eight to 12 small animals or birds every day.
Feeding of cats should reflect this — with 12 to 20 very small meals being offered through the day, the report says. (Anyone have time to do this? Thrasher?)
The report advises on how to tell if a dog is too fat — if the ribs cannot be felt, it is probably overweight. Cats should have a slight waist but no roundness of the belly.
