Abstract
Obesity is one of the most common health problems in cats in Western countries. A genetic component in the development of obesity was accepted in humans as well as rodents. In cats a genetic background as underlying cause of the overweight phenotype of obesity was proven with help of segregation analysis in the cat family of the Institute of Animal Nutrition of the Vetsuisse Faculty University of Zurich. An autosomal recessive major gene and a possible polygenic component were assumed and a heretibility of 0.41 ± 0.06 was calculated1.The aim of the present study was to test the hypothesis that cats developing overweight have a higher food intake already during their growth phase.
Wichert, Brigitta