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The science

The science behind MaxBowls

Why keeping track of what your pet eats and drinks matters, and the research behind it.

Most of us genuinely can't tell. In the UK, around half of dogs and 43% of cats are overweight, and every vet surveyed is concerned about the growing problem. Yet roughly 77% of owners believe their pet is a healthy weight. If we were good at judging our pets' intake by eye, that gap simply wouldn't exist.

50% / 43%
of UK dogs / cats are overweight or obese
100%
of vets are concerned about pet obesity
~77%
of owners think their pet's weight is fine

Source: UK Pet Food Obesity Report (ukpetfood.org).

Why intake is worth watching

How much a pet eats and drinks is genuinely hard to hold in your head, across a busy week, a multi-pet home, or a water bowl you can't read by sight. And a change in it is one of the earliest, most recognised signs that something may be off:

What MaxBowls does with it

It weighs every meal and drink automatically, learns your pet's normal baseline, and shows you the trend, so a real change stands out early instead of surfacing weeks later. When something shifts, you have an objective record to show your vet, not a guess.

Honest about what it is: MaxBowls is an early-warning and record-keeping tool, not a diagnosis. It won't tell you what's wrong. It helps you spot changes worth raising with your vet, sooner.

The research behind this

The studies below were located, challenged and independently fact-checked; each link opens the real publication. They support two things: that a change in intake is a recognised early sign worth acting on, and that keeping a pet at a healthy weight by managing intake supports a longer, healthier life.

Kidney & urinary disease

Diabetes & thyroid

Appetite, food intake & clinical outcome

Water intake & hydration

Behaviour & automated/sensor monitoring

Weight, body condition & lifespan