Table_5_Owner and Cat-Related Risk Factors for Feline Overweight or Obesity.DOCX

Feline obesity is a highly prevalent disease that poses an urgent and serious challenge. Attempted treatment by weight reduction is often unsuccessful; a new preventative approach that focuses on the role of the owner may be helpful. This study used data collected from an international survey of cat owners designed to assess owner personality and self-control, owner-pet attachment, feeding practices, and the cat's body condition. Owner-reported body condition scores (BCS) of cats were assessed using images adapted from a 5-point BCS system and categorized as a binary dependent variable: overweight/obese (BCS 4–5) and not overweight (BCS 1–3). Owner-reported BCS scores using a verbal BCS scale were also used as a binary dependent variable. Of the 6,835 respondents, 30.5% described their cat as overweight/obese using the visual BCS scale, and 32.5% using the verbal scale. Multivariable logistic regression models were built using stepwise-backward selection. A total of 8 variables were significant using the visual score as the dependent variable, while 11 variables were significant using the verbal score as the dependent variable (p < 0.05). Low owner conscientiousness was associated with an increased risk of feline overweight/obesity (OR = 1.23, 95% CI 1.10–1.38), whereas preference for delayed reward was associated with a decreased risk (OR = 0.84, 95% CI 0.75–0.96). Contrary to expectation, indulgent (OR = 0.76, 95% CI 0.53–0.91) and inconsistent (OR = 0.86, 95% CI 0.76–0.93) feeding practices appeared protective. Other significant variables (p < 0.05) included cat-related factors (age, gender, housing, source) and management-related factors (dry diet, supermarket dry diet, raw diet, stealing, hunting, and measuring food with a scoop). A third multivariable analysis was performed, using results from cats classified as overweight/obese using both scoring methods, compared with cats classified as a healthy weight using both scoring methods. A total of 10 variables were found to be significant (p < 0.05). There was significant overlap of results from all three analyses. The results of this study indicate that feline obesity is a complex problem, with many contributing risk factors. It is essential to recognize the importance of owner characteristics, and that the prevention of obesity in cats may require the development of a range of interventional strategies.

猫肥胖是一种患病率极高的疾病，带来了迫切且严峻的挑战。常规减重治疗往往效果不佳，而以饲主角色为核心的新型预防手段或可发挥作用。本研究使用的数据集源自一项针对猫饲主的国际调研，该调研旨在评估饲主的人格特质与自控能力、饲主-宠物依恋关系、饲喂行为以及猫咪的体况。饲主报告的猫咪体况评分（Body Condition Score, BCS）通过适配自5分量表体况评分系统的图像进行评估，并被归类为二分类因变量：超重/肥胖（体况评分4~5分）与体重正常（体况评分1~3分）；此外，饲主通过文字版体况评分量表报告的体况评分同样被作为二分类因变量。在6835名受访者中，30.5%的饲主通过视觉体况评分量表将自家猫咪归类为超重/肥胖，而32.5%的饲主通过文字版量表得出了相同归类。研究采用逐步向后筛选法构建多变量逻辑回归模型：以视觉体况评分为因变量时，共筛选出8个具有统计学意义的变量；以文字版体况评分为因变量时，则得到11个具有统计学意义的变量（p < 0.05）。饲主尽责性偏低与猫咪超重/肥胖风险升高呈显著相关（优势比（Odds Ratio, OR）=1.23，95%置信区间（Confidence Interval, CI）=1.10~1.38），而偏好延迟回报则与风险降低相关（OR=0.84，95%CI=0.75~0.96）。与预期相悖的是，纵容式饲喂（OR=0.76，95%CI=0.53~0.91）与饲喂行为不一致（OR=0.86，95%CI=0.76~0.93）反而表现出保护效应。其余具有统计学意义的变量（p < 0.05）涵盖猫咪相关因素（年龄、性别、饲养环境、来源渠道）以及饲养管理相关因素（干粮饲喂、超市购得干粮饲喂、生食饲喂、食物偷窃行为、捕猎行为以及用勺计量食物）。研究开展了第三项多变量分析，纳入同时通过两种评分方法被归类为超重/肥胖的猫咪，与同时通过两种评分方法被归类为体重正常的猫咪作为对照，本次分析共筛选出10个具有统计学意义的变量（p < 0.05）。三项分析的结果存在显著的重叠性。本研究结果表明，猫肥胖是一类受多种风险因素共同影响的复杂问题；充分认识饲主特质的重要性，并针对性开发一系列干预策略，对于预防猫咪肥胖至关重要。