ArticlePloS one2018
An international multi-centre cohort study of weight loss in overweight cats: Differences in outcome in different geographical locations.
Article in PloS one, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 12 papers.
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Who cites it
12 citing papers in PubMed, 22 citations in OpenAlex.
- Overweight and Obesity in Dogs and Cats: An Exploration of Animal Welfare and Behaviour Impacts, and Recommendations for Management in Veterinary Primary Care.Animals : an open access journal from MDPI · 2026Review
- A two-center, randomized controlled trial to determine the effect of 12 weeks of caloric restriction with a novel diet in overweight cats with diabetes mellitus.Journal of veterinary internal medicine · 2026Article
- Guidelines for nutritional management of feline diabetes mellitus: a proposed classification system integrating medical considerations.Journal of feline medicine and surgery · 2026Review
- Feline obesity is associated with stronger owner attachment, while indoor confinement increases risk of obesity at an early age in domestic shorthaired cats.Frontiers in veterinary science · 2026Article
- Does the definition of human ultra-processed foods apply to dog and cat foods? A review of pet food processing techniques, their impact on health, and a call for pet food processing classification.Frontiers in veterinary science · 2026Article
- Partial weight reduction protocols in cats lead to better weight outcomes, compared with complete protocols, in cats with obesity.Frontiers in veterinary science · 2023Article
- Survey of Belgian owners' perspectives on quality of life and difficulties during a weight-loss programme in obese cats.Journal of feline medicine and surgery · 2022Article
- Technology-enhanced weight-loss program in multiple-cat households: a randomized controlled trial.Journal of feline medicine and surgery · 2022Article
- Environmental risk factors in puppies and kittens for developing chronic disorders in adulthood: A call for research on developmental programming.Frontiers in veterinary science · 2022Review
- Safety, Tolerability, and Proof-Of-Concept Study of OKV-119, a Novel Exenatide Long-Term Drug Delivery System, in Healthy Cats.Frontiers in veterinary science · 2021Article
- Determining priority welfare issues for cats in the United Kingdom using expert consensus.Veterinary record open · 2019Article
- Factors associated with overweight cats successfully completing a diet-based weight loss programme: an observational study.BMC veterinary research · 2018Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
5 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
introductionFeline obesity is a worldwide concern which has recently been formally classified as a disease by the veterinary community. Management involves invoking controlled weight loss by feeding a purpose-formulated food in restricted quantities and altering physical activity. Most weight loss studies conducted in cats have been undertaken in research cat colonies from single geographic locations. The aim of this multi-centre cohort study was to determine the efficacy of a short-term dietary weight loss intervention in overweight pet cats across a range of geographical locations globally. MATERIALS AND
methodsA 3-month (median 13 weeks, inter-quartile range [IQR] 12-15 weeks) weight loss programme was conducted at 188 veterinary practices in 22 countries, and involving 730 cats, 413 of which completed the programme and had complete data available. All were fed commercially available dry or wet weight loss diets, and median energy intake was 53 kcal/kg BW0.711/day. The Royal Canin Ethics Committee approved the study, and owners gave informed consent. Owners completed behavioural questionnaires assessing begging, physical activity and quality of life (QOL). Linear mixed models were used to assess the respective influence of time, age, and initial body condition score (BCS) on weight loss and behavioural observations.
resultsAt baseline, median age was 72 months (range 12-200 months) and median BCS was 8 (range 7-9). In all, 402/413 cats (97%) lost weight (mean 10.6±6.3%) during the programme at a rate of 0.8 ±0.50%/week. Based upon owner questionnaires, activity and QOL improved (both P<0.001), while begging behaviour decreased (P<0.001) during weight loss. The main factor influencing percentage weight loss was geographical location (P<0.001), with cats in North America losing less weight (median 7.2%, IQR: 4.4-10.4%) than those in both Europe (10.7%, 6-8-15.4%) and South America (10.0%, 6.2-15.4%). Differences in weight loss were also observed amongst countries (P<0.001), with cats in Argentina, Germany, and Italy losing more weight than cats in the USA, and cats in Germany also losing more weight than cats in Portugal. DISCUSSION/
conclusionMost of the overweight cats enrolled in this international multi-centre study successfully lost weight. The reason for the differences in percentage weight loss amongst geographical locations requires further study.
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