Pets let themselves go?

How about pet owners stuffing them up like thanksgiving turkeys? Giving them food that makes them multiple times more fat than when giving them food with less fat or food with legs that run away from the cat? Or giving them a huge and continuous supply of food (cats are hunters, part of their instinct is to eat when available, thoug hthey have more self control than dogs on this)

A pet wants a certain amount of energy every day (as does a human). If you give them food that has more fat for the same amount of calories, the pet will grow fatter. It can't eat less or it will be hungry. If it's less fat, it will require less energy to move itself around. Give your pet a limited supply of food that does contain some fat (pets and humans need fat!) but isn't extremely fat. It will not grow fat, it will not need a huge amount of food because it's got a light body to carry around and it will not have a huge amount of food to start the fat cycle on. Done.

I wouldn't point the finger to the pets. they just use natural instincts on an unnatural amount and composition of food.

I think a large deal of the problem is overly petting a pet ("oooh it asks for the food I'm giving, it MUST be very hungry, open another tin for it!"), being overly concerned and disconnected from the natural looks of a pet ("I can see the shoulders of that cat and where the ribs end, it's starving! Open 3 more tins"), and the much food = taking good care link (I stuff my pet, so I always have money and attention to feed it. Never mind its health"). Add more pets living a life where they can move around less (being inside a lot of time, not much free roaming hunting time) without adapting their food on that...


Cats are skinny. Dogs are not fat. Pets will initially react to food, always. Hunters will eat at least partially more than they need if food is available. Keep that in mind and you will save money and keep a sporty, healthy and happy pet. Don't mind what the neighbours say. You are not underfeeding your cat when you can see its shoulders. Look at the big cats and conclude for yourself.

__________________
To the regular visitor of internet bulletin boards it is clear that it's an excellent idea your parents get to choose your real name.