Minnesota Ranks #1 In A Category No Pet Parent Wants

Today is International Cat Day, and we're all about celebrating the furry friends in our lives. But did you know that Minnesotans are falling short when it comes to caring for our pets?

I couldn’t believe it when I saw Minnesota at the top of this list. Sorry, fellow pet parents, this isn’t news you’ll be happy about.

I have to admit, one of my dogs is guilty of falling into this category. But I’m not alone - apparently this issue has doubled among pets in the past decade.

I have tried everything under the sun to help my big boy lose weight. Yes, we call him big boy - he is a chunk. We've done blood work, changed his diet, given him lots of exercise, and nothing seems to help sadly. He was a foster fail and 6 years old already when we took him in.

According to VCA, obesity rates rise with age. In middle aged and senior dogs, the obesity rate was nearly 45%. And unfortunately, I don't know how long he's been overweight.

Did you know that Minnesota has the highest level of obese dogs in America?!

You read that correctly. More than 40% of dogs in Minnesota are considered overweight. We are number one and not in a good way!

Get our free mobile app

According to the report, they think the long winters in Minnesota may be to blame for the high rate of dog obesity, saying all the snow and cold days make it harder to get the dogs out for a walk.

Meanwhile, nearly half of the cats in Minnesota are obese!!

In fact, most cats are overweight - almost two thirds of the kitty population, making them America’s fattest pet. 

This is particularly concerning because obesity affects cats more severely than dogs. For example, overweight cats are nearly 7 times more likely to be diagnosed with skin conditions, compared to 4 times as likely for overweight canines.

Ugh, chubby cats are the cutest, but sadly obesity is a very serious issue and can actually decrease the animal's life expectancy by up to 2.5 years.

Also See: This Minnesota City is Now One of the Best For Single Cat Ladies

Also, specifically for cats, overweight kitties are 4 times more likely to develop urinary issues than felines who weigh a normal amount.

Don't shoot the messenger. A study by Hepper highlights the importance of giving your pet plenty of exercise and keeping treats and table scraps in check to help them stay healthy. Click here to read more about pet obesity.