NPR

For Fat Cats, The Struggle Is Real When It Comes To Losing Weight And Keeping It Off

It's estimated more than half the indoor cats in the U.S. are overweight. Now researchers are looking for new ways to help felines slim down.
It's estimated more than half the indoor cats in the U.S. are overweight. Above, Miko the cat, aka "Miko Angelo," is seen before and after participation in a study about feline weight loss.

Erin Shibley and Chirag Rathod are parents to Miko the cat. "Miko Angelo. Miko Angelo's his full name. Miko for short," Rathod says.

It's dinner time, and the smell of paninis is wafting from the kitchen of their apartment in Blacksburg, Va. It smells delicious, especially to Miko, who takes it as a signal that it's his mealtime too.

"He is a vacuum eater, which means that he

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