If you've been indulging during lockdown, some of your pets might be in the same boat.
Treat yourself. That's the phrase used by a lot of people recently. Sure we're stuck indoors, what else is there to do.
Aside from having a treat or two, a lot of us are spending more time at home with pets, and this is having an effect on their weight.
According to a survey - one in five cats have put on extra pounds during the pandemic.
The research was carried out by the Cats Protection charity based in the UK.
They said they found many household cats are almost 50% heavier than they were a year ago.
But how much weight gain are we talking about?
About 58% of cats in the US are overweight, partially due to overfeeding. Here's how much you should really be feeding your furry friend: https://t.co/JVrmW6j35m pic.twitter.com/8h2ATsNeBg
— Fetch (@FetchByWebMD) January 22, 2021
According to The Times, a cat usually weighs between 9 and 11 pounds.
The study has shown that these cats have typically gained from 2 to 5 pounds as a result of the pandemic.
A 'fat cat' might seem humorous, but the charity has warned that obese cases can lead to a risk of diabetes, and even joint problems.
More than one in four cat owners have admitted to overfeeding since the very first lockdown in March.
One in three have admitted to allowing cats visit neighbours and eat there too.
Charity spokesperson Maggie Roberts says cats are "quite clever animals" and can fall into a routine trap if they are overfed regularly.
So there you have it. Maybe think twice about that third packet of whiskas.
