Cats are considered lucky in Japan, and owners of the popular pets spend big on their care. But how do you...

Having an overweight pet could cost owners £1,500 in vets’ bills per visit, claims data has revealed. Common health problems caused by excessive weight include cruciate ligament injuries, urinary tract disease, diabetes and arthritis. Addressing cruciate ligament injuries can mean swallowing a whopping bill of £1,578.28, and urinary tract disease costs for cats are skyrocketing to a jaw-dropping £752.06. Data from pet insurer ManyPets shows, on average, pet owners are forking out £682.65 for a trip to the vets for diabetes, while arthritis costs are coming to £476.61. However, 51 per cent of cat and dog owners are already concerned about their pets’ weight, a separate poll of 2,000 pet owners found. And nearly one in five (18 per cent) with a cat or dog could encounter these bills soon as they believe their pet already is carrying more weight than it should. With almost a fifth (19 per cent) admitting they are already shelling out more to tackle their pets’ fluctuating size. The research was commissioned as part of the ManyPets ‘Why Weight?’ report and launch of its Obesity Learning Hub. Steven Mendel, chief executive and co-founder of the pet insurer, said: “We understand it can be difficult to resist rewarding pets with extra treats, and heart-breaking to say no to them when they’re asking for more food. “But, with obesity associated health problems becoming more and more prevalent, we urge pet parents to think twice to save their pets. “We’re proud to have launched our Obesity Learning Hub to offer tips and veterinary approved advice for pet parents everywhere.” The research went on to find, with the rising cost of living still looming large for many pet owners, 22 per cent have been forced to make cutbacks to their pet’s lifestyle. Almost half (49 per cent) of these are now opting for lower quality brands of food, and 37 per cent have reduced their spend on healthcare. But 88 per cent believe they would be able to recognise the signs a pet is potentially getting to an unhealthy weight, yet only 31 per cent regularly keep an eye on their pet’s weight. Moreover,39 per cent will only visit the vets in an emergency – all of which point to an increase in weight going unchecked. In a bid to help keep weight down, 76 per cent do try to keep their four-legged friends as active as possible, while 75 per cent limit the number of treats or table scraps they give out. The study, carried out via OnePoll, found of those with an overweight pet, 22 per cent feel as if their cat or dog is ‘always hungry’. While a puzzled 19 per cent scratch their heads over their pet’s weight as they don’t think they eat an excessive amount. Steven Mendel added: “While many pet owners believe it should be straightforward to spot if their cat or dog is putting on weight – it’s often easier said than done. “In most cases, gaining weight is very gradual, meaning it can be trickier to identify - especially if pets are not attending the vet regularly. “We’re hopeful that with the right course of action and identifying the signs early, longer term pet health problems can be avoided in the future.” Read More Cat owner reunited with pet Tux after emotional Lyft ride saga Dogs’ facial markings could play a role in how close they are with owners Moment cat stuck inside boat’s hull after fire is rescued by firefighters Cat owner reunited with pet Tux after leaving her in a Lyft What you need to know about depression during menopause – as Carol Vorderman opens up Linda Evangelista describes relationship with Gerald Marie as a ‘MeToo marriage’

TOKYO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov 14, 2023--

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Cats and dogs have both brought us many iconic memes over the years, and the pup behind one of the most recognisable viral images – Cheems the shiba inu – has passed away, his owner has announced. Cheems, real name Balltze or ‘Ball Ball’, was popularised online for his love of cheeseburgers or a “cheemsburbger”, and appeared in “Swole Doge vs Cheems” and “bonk” memes too. He was not the pup behind the ‘doge’ meme, however – with that being a shiba inu named Kabosu who, despite reports in December 2022 that she was critically ill with leukaemia, is still smiling away in adorable photos on Instagram. In their post to the social media platform on Friday, Balltze’s owners confirmed Cheems “fell asleep” during a surgical procedure known as thoracentesis, which concerns the removal of fluid or air from around the lungs. He had been battling cancer, with his owners hoping to arrange chemotherapy following the surgery. The owners wrote: “Don’t be sad, please remember the joy that Balltze brought to the world. A shiba inu with a round smiling face connecting you and me, he has helped many people during the pandemic and brought a lot of joy to many of you, but now his mission is completed. “I believe he is running freely in the sky and having a lot of delicious food with his new friends. He will always be inside my heart. “I hope he can continue to bring joy to everyone in the online world, that’s my only humble request.” Tributes soon poured in for Balltze, with Twitter/X users resharing some of their favourite memes of the beloved pup: https://twitter.com/PupperNelson/status/1692848881095111118?s=20 https://twitter.com/RealSpikeCohen/status/1693120280225362193?s=20 https://twitter.com/ManuelNFTs/status/1692937774955925565?s=20 https://twitter.com/babywhalegg/status/1692929323353755831?s=20 Rest in peace to a very good boy. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

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