Fat pets: Treats aren’t the only way to reward your pet

Even if a house cat is clearly overweight, owners will often disagree. Photo: dpa

When is a dog or cat too fat? If you can no longer clearly see your pet’s waistline or feel their ribs under all the padding of fat, then it’s official and you need to do something about it.

Not unlike humans, overweight animals are at risk of high blood pressure, arthrosis, diabetes and tumours, according to animal welfare experts.