Notes from “Cat Camp”: Part Two
One very hot topic at the Cornell Feline Health Center Conference this summer was feline obesity and how to deal with it. This is a topic we discuss daily here at The Cat Doctor, and one with which most of our clients will be familiar. At least 25% of the cats in the United States are obese, and 35-40% are thought to be overweight.
According to Dr. Jacquie Rand, a feline diabetes expert who visited us from the University of Queensland in Australia, the increasing incidence of obesity in cats results from a number of factors. Obviously, pet cats who are fed by their owners do not need to work for food, so many pet cats are less active than their wild counterparts. The constant quest by the pet food industry to make delicious food that cats will love also plays a role. As most of us can attest, we are more likely to overeat when the food tastes good than when it is just so-so. Neutering cats also reduces their metabolic rate and can lead to weight gain. Neutering has many positive benefits, but as pet owners we just have to realize that calorie control is simply more important after the cat has had surgery.
Dr. Rand pointed out that it takes just 10 extra kilocalories per day for a cat to gain about 1 pound per year. This is roughly equivalent to 10 kibbles of dry food–not much at all! In some ways, this is discouraging, because it seems like it must then be difficult to keep a cat from gaining weight. However, it also means that your cat does not necessarily need to go on a drastic diet to maintain or get back to a healthy weight.
Dr. Rand pointed to research that shows that even 10 minutes of physical activity a day for a cat can produce the same amount of weight loss as calorie restriction. Even though it can be hard to get your cat to play for more than a minute or two at a time, this research shows that every little bit counts! Try to get your cat to play, or even lure him up and down the stairs a few times with toys or a treat, just to get him moving.
Dr. Rand believes, as we do, that weight loss is more successful in cats eating a high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet, such as that found in canned foods. Another speaker at the conference, Dr. Joe Wakshlag, a board-certified veterinary nutritionist, also spoke on the value of high protein diets in cats.
For some cats with stubborn weight problems that do not respond to calorie restriction and increased appetite, L-carnitine, an amino acid, can help to increase the fat-burning capacity of the body and has been proven to enhance weight loss in clinical trials. It is important to point out that Slentrol, a weight-loss drug marketed for dogs, is NOT safe in cats and leads to fatal liver complications.
One of Dr. Rand’s final points is that it’s important to weigh your cat frequently when he’s on a diet so that you can see if you are making any progress. Even a small amount of progress is important and can encourage you to stick with the program. Here at the office, you are welcome to make an appointment with the technician staff to bring your cat in for a free weigh-in on our scales. That way, they can record your cat’s weight, let you know how the diet is going, and we can make changes if you are not having success.
It’s important not to make any drastic changes in your cat’s diet without consulting the vet. Please make an appointment to discuss nutrition or be sure to bring it up at the annual checkup if you have any questions!