Obese dogs and cats to be offered range of diet meals

Grown fat on their owners' indulgence, the nation's cats and dogs could soon be joining their overweight masters and mistresses on diets, thanks to the introduction of the first complete low-calorie pet food range by a supermarket chain.

The fat-busting products follow a report from the pet charity Blue Cross which revealed that at least 20 per cent of animals treated at its hospitals were obese.

Tesco said yesterday that it was about to start taste tests on a range of low-fat pet foods, which should be on shelves by early summer.

Sam Nundy, a Tesco spokesman, explained that the range could be "the biggest thing to benefit cats and dogs since the invention of pet food itself".

Mr Nundy said: "We know that Britons are among the world's greatest animal lovers and that it's extremely hard to refuse a yelping dog or cat some food - especially as these pets seem to be forever hungry. With this range of reduced fat pet food, owners will at last have more control over their cats' and dogs' dietary needs without needing to offer them less."

The taste trials will involve up to 10 cats or dogs trying out each product. The range will include reduced fat "wet" meat and fish dishes plus "dry" biscuit and chocolate-style treats.

Mr Nundy said: "Like our other healthy eating brands these products won't suffer in taste and pets will not notice that they have a reduced fat content.

"The taste trials will be conducted in the same way that we create any of our new food ranges - by offering a variety of dishes. Until we are satisfied that they will be loved by cats and dogs they will not be put on the market."

The Blue Cross said that in Britain as many as 1.6 million dogs and 1.8 million cats could be at risk from health problems because of their weight. Caroline Reay, head vet at the Blue Cross animal hospital in Merton, south London, said: "Most overweight pets will have a health problem, such as heart disease or diabetes, which has been caused by or exacerbated by their weight. It's very sad because many of these pets no longer have a decent quality of life, as they have great difficulty doing the simplest things, such as walking or breathing."

More owners have already been choosing an organic diet for their pets. Sales of organic cat food at Tesco have risen 70 per cent over the past year.

Last week Megan the beagle, aged seven, was voted canine slimmer of the year by the pet-food maker Hill's after shedding a stone in six months on a junk-free diet, having once gorged herself on milk-shakes, roast chicken and beer.