Fat cats
Owners who let their pets get too fat could face 12 months’ jail, or a fine of £20,000 under controversial new government rules.
A new Animal Welfare Act, published this week states that overfeeding pets is a “serious welfare concern”.
The act, published by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, gives explicit details on how to care for cats, dogs and horses. It includes new rules that states dogs must not be left in direct sunlight in a car, or walked in the heat of the day.
If you’re a pet owner, you might want to familiarise yourself with the new code. Although breaking the code is not an offence, courts will use it to judge whether owners are guilty of animal cruelty.
Your cat should not be too fat or too thin. You can assess your cat’s weight by gently seeing if you can feel its ribs; if they are hard to find it may be overweight. If the ribs and backbone are prominent, then your cat may be underweight and ill.
