Can a cat die or be harmed from being over fed?

Answer 1

Yes they can. Just like humans, if a cat is over fed becoming overweight they risk diseases such as diabetes and heart problems; not to mention the stress on joints. Even though cat's can normally control their eating, being tamed they become reliant on you knowing how much they need and they will eat what's put in front of them. Just be careful and monitor their weight. If you notice them gaining a bit cut back just a little. You don't want to under-feed them either.

Answer 2

Obesity is harmful for any animal but I have never heard of a cat overeating. A cat will usually just eat a little at a time throughout the day.

Answer 3

Most cats know when to quit eating and don't over eat. However if you do have cat that is overeating it can adversely affect his health. The best thing to do is to give the cat measured meals a few times a day (food bags will tell you how much a cat of that age/weight should be receiving.)

Answer 4

Yes a cat can be harmed for being over fed if he gets to fat from over eating and it reaches his heart it can cause him to not be able to walk properly it could give him heart damage which could possibly kill him that depends on the damage. the best way to make sure your cat isn't being over fed is to make a food schedule and give certain
amounts make sure u don't give him to much but also make sure u don't give him to little. we did the same with our two cats and they are the average weight for a cat.

Answer 5

Yes, definitely, they can get diabetes, the main result of over feeding. Don't put too much food out at a time, my cat got fat and being an indoor cat not having much exercise only eating and sleeping, she is older so doesn't play much either. She developed diabetes, doesn't need shots only special diet. So please just put a little food each time in the morning and evening, you can give her some dry diet food for snacks but limit them also. I only wish that I knew all this before she got diabetes, now I blame myself, so limit her intake of food.

Answer 6

yes, over weight cats can have some serious health problems just like overweight people. I suggest feeding the recomended daily portion of food over 2-4 meals a day.

Answer 7

It can die and have kidney, liver, heart... you name it. Over eating can harm a cat the same way it can harm us. Plus for some reason some cats have been known gorge themselves which can lead to a twisted stomach and packed intestines.

Answer 8

Yes. My granddaughter's cat is bulimic. She can have only 1/4 cup of food in the morning and 1/4 cup of food at night. If fed any more she throws up.

Some cats do not have the instinct to eat only what they need. It is supposed to be related to the fact that in the past they were feral. And if your cat is an "alley" cat or as we like to call it Heinz 57 variety, that feralness is not that far back in their pasts. That's when they eat as much as they can when they can because they don't know where the next meal will come from.

Answer 9

In the long term yes, they do die. Overfeeding causes obesity, and obesity is as dangerous in animals as it is humans. Do not underestimate it.

Obesity leads to joint and heart problems, as caused by the extra weight putting strain on the body. It can also lead to diabetes and urinary problems, particularly common in male cats. Most animals I see that have diabetes, arthritis, heart problems or urinary problems are overweight, and it's my job to diet them back down to size. Of course it would be better if they hadn't got fat in the first place, they might not be suffering!

People mostly overfeed their animals out of love, effectively 'killing them with kindness'. It's sad, especially because fat animals are often NOT happy - or at least, not as happy as they could be. It's worth a few sad little stares from your pet for a while to get them used to a diet.

Contrary to popular belief, cats will often overeat, they've become used to this thanks to our domestication of them. Dogs are still more likely to be fat, but there are plenty of enormously obese cats out there!

If you need some diet advice for your cat feel free to email me, because it's my speciality:-)

Chalice

Answer 10

Yes, although it's not going to happen immediately. Obesity in cats (and dogs for that matter) is a growing problem. It's also just as bad for cats as for humans.