Obesity in Cats: Causes, Prevention & Nutrition Management

About This Class

This course offers participants comprehensive knowledge about cat obesity, including its causes, effects, and how to manage it effectively. Participants will learn how to recognize obesity in cats, understand how it impacts their health, and create personalized plans that include diet, exercise, and behavior to best support cats in reaching and maintaining their ideal weight. Special focus is given to nutrition, helping participants choose balanced, species-appropriate diets tailored to each cat’s unique needs. The course also covers the latest research on the connection between nutrition and obesity, includes a case study, and provides practical tips to improve a cat’s health and well-being through diet. By the end of this course, participants will have the tools to prevent, identify, and manage obesity in cats, promoting long-term health through proper nutrition and lifestyle changes.

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Meet the Expert

Dr. Danielle Opetz is the Doctor of Companion Animal Nutrition at Fromm Family Foods, where she is head of product innovation and formulation through progressive research in dog and cat nutrition. Since joining Fromm in 2016 as a Customer Service Representative, she has advanced her career by expanding her role into leadership, training, and nutrition, thereby broadening her experience across various sectors of the pet food industry. She holds a Master’s degree in Animal Sciences and a Ph.D. in Nutritional Sciences, where her research focused on how diet impacts body composition, hormone levels, physical activity, and digestive health in cats. Dr. Opetz is especially passionate about functional nutrition and the microbiome, emphasizing that gut health is fundamental to overall pet well-being. In her role at Fromm, she leads nutritional evaluations, provides technical training, and collaborates across departments to ensure nutrition science drives product development. By combining scientific knowledge with practical industry experience, she leads advancement of companion animal health.

Meet the Expert

Dr. Danielle Opetz is the Doctor of Companion Animal Nutrition at Fromm Family Foods, where she is head of product innovation and formulation through progressive research in dog and cat nutrition. Since joining Fromm in 2016 as a Customer Service Representative, she has advanced her career by expanding her role into leadership, training, and nutrition, thereby broadening her experience across various sectors of the pet food industry. She holds a Master’s degree in Animal Sciences and a Ph.D. in Nutritional Sciences, where her research focused on how diet impacts body composition, hormone levels, physical activity, and digestive health in cats. Dr. Opetz is especially passionate about functional nutrition and the microbiome, emphasizing that gut health is fundamental to overall pet well-being. In her role at Fromm, she leads nutritional evaluations, provides technical training, and collaborates across departments to ensure nutrition science drives product development. By combining scientific knowledge with practical industry experience, she leads advancement of companion animal health.