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OVERWEIGHT CATS
So we’ve been predominately talking about
dogs being overweight, but what about a feline furry friends? Here is the USA,
forty percent of cats are considered to be obese! Only 5 to 10 percent of all
cats can be classified as only slightly overweight. Our cats are at risk for a
number of obesity related disorders. Research indicates obese cats are far more
prone to Diabetes, arthritis and a very serious disorder called Hepatic
Lipidosis (A fatty liver disease). And the 40 percent obesity figure seems to
be growing.
So what creates this problem? It’s the same
as I said before – too much calorie intake and not enough calories are being
burned. Most cats today are house cats and not allowed to go outside and even
if they do go outside, they are supplemented with dry or canned food. In
nature, the cat would not know when or where his next meal would be. There
would also be some exertion in chasing the killing their next meal.
So if your cat is overweight, what is a
person to do? First ANY CAT THAT IS OVERWEIGHT SHOULD HAVE A PHYSICAL EXAM
PERFORMED. If it determined by your vet that your cat is overweight and
there are no other underlying problems and your cat is physically normal, other
than the abnormal body weight from fat deposition, then a gradual and careful
weight loss program can be instituted.
FREE CHOICE FEEDING:
The main reason for feline obesity is the consumption of too much food. Many
cats are fed “free choice”, which means there is food available all the time and
the cat eats whenever it wants. (Pretty unnatural for a true carnivore that
evolved as a hunting machine!) Free choice feeding has probably been the
biggest single factor contributing to feline obesity.
WHAT WE SHOULD DO:
Feed two to four small portions daily and control the
amounts fed so that over a period of time the cat does not gain weight. Many
pet owners must downsize what they think is a “normal” portion. A meal for a
175-pound human might weigh 16 to 24 ounces. A seven-pound cat weighs 1/25 of
the 175-pound human. So a cat’s meal should proportionally be about 1/25 of a
human meal. That comes out to between 0.6 and 1.0 ounce of food per meal for a
seven-pound cat… about the same weight as a mouse. Cat owners must stop
thinking in terms of “cups of food” and start thinking in terms of ounces of
food.
CARBOHYDRATES:
Cats, unlike most mammals, have no carbohydrate-digesting enzyme called Amylase
in their saliva. Nature did not intend the kitty to be a carbohydrate consumer.
WHAT WE SHOULD DO:
Feed a diet consistent with the nature of a true carnivore - a meat based diet.
An ideal feline diet will have a high protein level in the 35 to 45 percent
range on a dry matter basis (meaning the percent in the diet when the water has
been removed) and moderate fat content with a low percentage of carbohydrate
(grains). A multitude of research reports have proven that diets high in
protein and fat are most beneficial for carnivores. Cats cannot handle large
carbohydrate loads efficiently. After a meal rich in carbohydrate the feline’s
blood level of glucose tends to stay higher than normal for long periods of
time. They become persistently hyperglycemic and this long term stimulus on the
beta cells in the pancreas… the cells that produce insulin… renders those cells
less sensitive to the blood glucose. As a result less insulin is secreted to
bring down the blood sugar level. Nutritionists call this “down regulating’ of
the beta cells; the insensitivity of the insulin secreting beta cells leads to
what is termed “insulin resistance”. This scenario is a prelude to diabetes.
Feeding a raw food diet is more consistent
with the natural diet of a cat. A raw diet will consist of little to no carbs.
Did you know that a mouse or a bird is composed of only 3 to 8 percent
carbohydrate? And most of that is actually from what the prey was eating and is
in the prey's digestive tract. The rest is water, a few minerals, and mostly
protein and fat.
TREATS:
And don’t forget about the treats. If your
cat is obese, stop feeding him treats. If you think your cat needs a treat, cut
up little bits of cooked chicken or fish and feed as a natural protein treat -
not a treat made from grains, food coloring, propylene glycol, and flavor
enhancers. A great option to this is the Catswell treats we carry. They are
very small chicken strips and can be handed out sparingly.
EXERCISE:
One more tip: If you cat does not go
outside, see what exercise you can give him on a regular basis. Find new toys
to play with and change them up from time-to-time.
Looking forward to seeing you at the
boutique,
Kristina
If you have any feedback or would like to
share your stories about your pet, please e-mail me at
kristina@beastieboutique.com
Kristina
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