An obese cat is far more likely to suffer from health problems than a cat that's a healthy weight. Obese cats have a reduced quality of life and a shortened life expectancy. This article lists the main health problems that obese cats face, and tells you how you can check if your cat is overweight.

Some of the most common cat health problems that obese cats face are:

Cardiac problems:
The strain on the heart and clogging up of the blood vessels can cause heart failure or a heart attack.

Lung problems:
Extra fat on the chest prevents proper lung expansion, so the cat gets out of breath easily. Lung
infections such as bronchitis are more likely to develop.

Skeletal problems:
The extra weight the cat's skeleton has to carry takes its toll. Stiff joints, back problems and arthritis may eventually develop.

Diabetes:
The cat's body can't cope with all the excessive food, so its blood sugar rises. If this can't be controlled, it may need insulin injections.

Liver problems:
Deposits of fat on the cat's liver can cause liver failure to develop.

Urine problems:
Urinary tract infection is more likely to occur in an obese cat than a healthy one, because an obese cat can't keep his butt clean by washing it - because he can't reach it.

Weakened immune system:
Obese cats are less able to fight off infections than their healthy counterparts.

In addition, giving anesthetics to obese cats is much more risky than with healthy weight cats. Diagnosis of illnesses is more difficult because the extra fat hinders the vet's examination.

What does all this mean for an obese cat? A reduced quality of life and a shortened life expectancy. For the owner, amongst other things, it means considerably higher vet's bills.

If you think your cat may be overweight but you're unsure, look at him from above. You should be able to see a waistline below his ribs. If he's long haired, you may not be able to see it, but you should be able to feel it. Also, you should be able to feel his ribs.

If your cat is overweight, it's in his and your interests to get him back to a healthy size. You should visit your vet in the first instance, who will advise you on the best diet and feeding regime for him.

Liz Allan has 25 years experience of caring for cats. For more cat health advice, and more information on cats, including advice on dealing with cat behavior problems, http://www.cat-behavior-explained.com