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Couch-potato pets.


Who's that reaching for the remote control--your cat? Meow TV, a show that aired on the Oxygen Network last spring, shows scurrying scur·ry  
intr.v. scur·ried, scur·ry·ing, scur·ries
1. To go with light running steps; scamper.

2. To flurry or swirl about.

n. pl. scur·ries
1. The act of scurrying.
 squirrels and celebrities reading poems about cats.

But don't let Fluffy become a couch potato couch potato An Americanism for a sedentary person, usually ♂, whose predominant non-work activity consists in lying on a couch, watching TV. See Television intoxication 'syndrome.'. Cf Vigorous exercise. . New research shows that lack of exercise and overfeeding overfeeding,
n feeding behavior in which infants and children are given more food than they can optimally digest. Not as common in breastfed infants, because a mother's milk production is limited naturally.
 have made obesity, or being very overweight, a big problem for pets today.

Obese pets may develop diseases like diabetes (see SW 11/17/03), heart disease, and arthritis (painful, swollen joints). Fat pets even live shorter lives.

Is your cat or dog too chubby chub·by  
adj. chub·bi·er, chub·bi·est
Rounded and plump. See Synonyms at fat.



[Probably from chub (from the plumpness of the fish).
? When a pet is at a healthy weight, you should be able to easily feel its ribs, says Dan Christian, executive director of the Purina Pet Institute. His advice? "Treats are great in moderation, but don't give your pets table scraps." And next time Fluffy wants to watch TV, have her chase a ball of yarn instead.
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Title Annotation:Freeze Frame; preventing pet obesity
Author:Norlander, Britt
Publication:Science World
Article Type:Brief Article
Geographic Code:1USA
Date:Dec 8, 2003
Words:148
Previous Article:Quiz.(Science In The News)
Next Article:China blasts off.(Space/History)(China's first astronaut )(Brief Article)
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