Overweight cats: prevalence and risk factors.

Body condition was assessed by owners and veterinarians for over 2000 cats presented to 31 private veterinary hospitals in the Northeastern United States. Each owner completed a questionnaire querying potential factors associated with his/her cat's body condition. Veterinarians reported twenty-five percent of cats were overweight (heavy or obese), while owners estimated 29% of their pets were overweight. Apartment dwelling, inactivity, middle age, being male, neutered, of mixed breeding, and certain dietary factors were associated with being overweight.