The veterinarians were surprised to find cats putting on extra weight so early in life. By one year of age, some 15 percent of cats in the survey were already overweight. And by two years of age, nearly 20 percent had landed in the "heavy" or "obese" categories.

Results of the 2,000-cat obesity study were reported in the International Journal of Obesity (Vol. 18 Supplement 1, 1994). Results of the follow-up study will be presented at the Eighth Symposium of the International Society for Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics July 8-11 in Paris.

Tips for cat weight-watchers

James R. Richards, D.V.M.

Director, Feline Health Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University

• Schedule regular weigh-ins at your veterinarian's office. Veterinarians have scales that are sensitive enough to pick up slight changes in weight in an 8- to 15-pound animal, changes that are very important when we're trying to see if our attempts to get weight off the kitty are effective. Just like going to Weight Watchers meetings for humans, there is a motivational factor in regular weigh-ins.

• Make sure the cat is eating what he's supposed to eat and nothing but. Avoid those calorie-rich snacks.

• Ask your veterinarian if a special weight-reduction diet is appropriate for your cat.

• Don't go overboard. Too rapid a loss in weight can have detrimental health eff
  '"/>