Pet obesity: The owners’ views
As many as 3 out of 10 US cat and dog owners consider their overweight pets normal.
The Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP) has warned that 61% of cats and 59% of dogs were classified as overweight or obese last year.
The 2022 State of US Pet Obesity Report, which surveyed more than 1,100 pet parents, found that about a third of pet parents found their pets “normal,” “ideal” or “thin” before learning from their veterinarian that their pet was overweight or obese.
Despite the veterinary classification, many owners consider it normal for their animals to be overweight.
According to the research, 36% of dog owners and 28% of cat owners think their pets’ weight falls within a healthy range.
Overfeeding
Two-thirds of respondents did not feel embarrassed or uncomfortable when told their pets needed to lose weight. However, 17% felt uncomfortable, and 15% believed their pet did not need to lose weight.
More than 7 out of 10 pet parents (73%) agreed that pet obesity was a symptom of overfeeding, while 70% attributed it to poor feeding choices.
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