A quarter of the nation’s cats and dogs are overweight
How well does man really know his best friend when it comes to health and wellbeing? According to a new survey from YouGov for Hill’s Pet Nutrition, a quarter of cat and dog owners surveyed said their pet cats and dogs were overweight for their age and breed.
However, when shown images of different sized cats and dogs, and asked which most accurately reflects their own cat or dog’s weight, their responses revealed that a huge 91% of the nation’s cats and 60% of dogs are actually at risk from health problems caused by obesity ranging from mild to severe risk. In contrast two-thirds (67%) of the owners believe that their pets are about the right weight.
The research also investigated why our pets are perhaps piling on the pounds.
We like to show our pets love by giving them food: Just under one fifth (18%) of dog owners give their pets leftovers from their/ their family’s meals every day and 41% of all cat and dog owners give their animals pet treats every day.
The results appear to show that UK pet owners consider overweight pets to be just as happy as those that are slim. 50% of respondents who were shown pictures of an overweight dog and a slim dog and 42% shown shots of a slim and an overweight cat, claimed that the pets looked just as happy as one another. In fact almost one in 10 (8%) of cat owners surveyed said they would ideally like their own cats to look ‘chubby’.
It would also appear that many pet owners do not take action to help their pets lose weight although 87% claim that they would act if they were told by a vet that their cat or dog was overweight.
The study by YouGov for Hill’s Pet Nutrition to mark the launch of Hill’s Prescription Diet Metabolic Advanced Weight Solution surveyed over 1,000 cat and dog owners in Britain on the feeding habits of their cats and dogs. The study also involved a focus group with ten cat and dog owners to uncover further insights into owners’ feelings for their pets.
According to focus group participant Cara-Marie, who has two cats: “I think underweight animals look worse than overweight ones. Underweight looks more neglected and unloved, in my opinion”
Pet owner Yasmin who has two cats and was also interviewed as part of the focus group, says: “Smudge is slightly fat, so cuddly in a fat way. I just love picking him up and cuddling him whether he likes it or not.”
According to David, who has two cats and two dogs: “My pets come first no matter what happens. If I only had enough money to feed me or them, it would always be them. They are the most important thing in my life.” Sadly, when shown dog images David identified his own dog as resembling a dog that is actually at moderate health risk due to its BFI.
Victoria, who has four cats, when shown a picture of an overweight and underweight dog, said: “The overweight dog is probably loved but lots of people don’t realise they kill with kindness.”
A Hill’s spokesman commented: “Cat and dog owners appear to be showing their love for their beloved cats and dogs through food and overfeeding/treating them, when actually the pets would be much better off and more energetic if they were a healthy weight. Despite the high health risks from obesity, sometimes people don’t realise that ‘love is blind.’
“With half of our nation’s cat or dog lovers (50%) claiming they would be happy if they gave their pet dietetic food if they enjoyed it and lost weight, a weight management pet food that works in real life and is tasty and liked by pets, is the perfect solution.”
Prescription Diet Metabolic is an advanced weight management pet food to help cats and dogs both lose weight and maintain a healthy weight. It is the first weight loss food proven to work in the real world, with 88% of pets losing weight in two months at home.
Metabolic is available in dry and wet formats for dogs and cats - unlike traditional high fibre, low calorie weight loss pet foods, Metabolic uses an innovative, scientifically selected complex of natural ingredients to work with each pet’s energy expenditure to promote fat burning, while maintaining muscle mass.
In addition, Metabolic fits the way pet owners feed their pet – it has a great taste and a formula which reduces the need for the pet owner to measure portions precisely. Metabolic is clinically proven to avoid weight re-gain following a weight loss programme.
For more information on Prescription Diet Metabolic visit: Hillspet.co.uk/Metabolic.