Cat Diet Tips

A cat needs a diet that contains the essential nutrients: protein, fibers and fats. An overweight cat needs the same nutrients, but a lower calorie intake to lose weight. An overweight cat needs to spend more energy than he eats.

Other cat diet tips may also help you in slimming your cat and get a healthier pet.

Protein and Fat Based Diet

The diet of a cat should contain proteins and fat, regardless if he is on a slimming diet or not. The protein amount in a diet may be increased to up to 35% and the carbs can be reduced to promote weight loss. Carbs are not recommended, as an excess of these can cause diabetes.

The amount of fats may be 15 to 18% in a weight loss program. Fats are healthy and are necessary to provide energy deposits and a healthy coat and skin.

Fibers are necessary to ensure a proper digestion.

As commercial food may contain a different proportion of these nutrients, your vet may prescribe light food, prescription diet food or you may prepare cat food at home.

Prescription Diet Food

Talk to your vet about a prescription diet food; this contains all the essential nutrients, but fewer calories.

The vet may recommend a few supplements also.

Homemade Food

Preparing the food at home for your pet can be beneficial in weight loss, but may be also harmful.

You decide what the cat eats and how much he receives. You administrate your cat food with no preservatives and added carbs.

On the other hand, if you fail to feed your cat the essential nutrients in the right amounts, he will have a poor health.

Consult your vet about the optimal ingredients and the right amounts.

Canned Food

Wet food is typically recommended in weight loss. Canned food contains a lot of water and fewer calories, so your cat is likely to feel full with less food.

Make the transition to the wet food gradually, to avoid digestive problems.

Diet Supplements

A diet may be accompanied by some dietary supplements such as vitamins from the B group, vitamin E and D or antioxidants.

No Free Choice Feeding

While dieting, a cat shouldn't get too many treats; free choice feeding is not recommended. You need to establish a strict feeding program and no snacking in between.

A dieting cat may also benefit from regular exercise, which will stimulate weight loss.

Health Risks and Obesity

Overweight and obese cats are at risk for different serious medical conditions.

Diabetes is more likely to occur in overweight cats due to the high glucose levels in the bloodstream, while liver and kidney disease may also be more common in obese felines.

Overweight cats have an increased heart activity, due to the additional tissues that need to be irrigated with blood, so the cat is exposed to heart disease, which may be fatal.

Obese cats develop arthritis at earlier ages and have less energy than normal weight cats.

Consequently, an obese cat is not a healthy cat, so a diet is imperative.

 

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