3 studies that help to improve your cat's health

overweighted obese red tabby cat

 

You know, we're [normally] against studies (without sense) with cats. And we doubt their usefulness, because a cat in such a situation never behaves as in real life.

But, these 3 not only shed some curious results ... they can help with weight contol and disease prevention.

 

The scientific teams  from Dr. Kelly Swanson of the University of Illinois, from Dr. Kerry M. Cameron of the University of Aberdeen and the Waltham Centre for Pet Nutrition (UK) studied the relationship between food supply frequency, water content in the diet, weight variation and physical activity.

 

And the results could not be more striking:

 

The cats of the Swanson studies that were fed more frequently (2-4 times/day) with kibbles soaked with 70% water were more active and significantly burned more calories.

 

Interestingly, cats that ate only 1 time a day, or were fed a diet with 70% water, were more active during night time.

 

The Cameron study suggests that the addition of water (40%) to the kibbles can avoid the dreaded "yo-yo" effect (recovery lost weight) at the end of a calorie-restricted diet.

 

And the felines from the Waltham study, fed with dry kibbles ad libitum, gained significantly weight, accompanied by body fat.

 

While those who received a diet of rehydrated kibbles with 80% water, did not increase their intake, possibly because of regulating receptors in the stomach, which allow only to ingest a determined quantity. Something similar has been demonstrated when the energetic content of a diet was reduced by adding bulking agents like cellulose.

 

According to the study, the effectiveness of water supplementation begins at a percentage between 40 and 50%.

 

Note:

The 3 studies were made with kibbles, soaked with different amounts of water.

 

*Remember that dry kibble has a max of 10% moisture and wet meals about 80%.

 

 

Resuming it can be said that increasing the food supply frequency and adding water to lower the energetic density appears to promote physical activity and corrects weight gain at the end of a diet

 

OR STILL MORE SIMPLIFIED: + (TIMES + WATER) =  - (WEIGHT)

 

 

In parallel, they discovered that a high water content of the food stimulates a total higher intake of fluids. In our opinion this is very interesting data for the prevention of urinary tract and kidney diseases.

 

We thank the 125 cats, objects of the studies, whose contributions help to improve the lives of our cats - with small and simple gestures - the life of our cats.

 

And we remind you that the best way to prevent obesity, diseases and unwanted behavior is to play with your cat and offer a stimulating environment ...

 

 

Commentary [meows] from The G-Team

 *['G' stands for 'gato' / cat]

 

We certainly wouldn't like to be put up to 4 times for 1 hour in a cage to eat… as in the Swanson experiment. Surely then we'd also have anticipatory activity, but not because of the food, but because of the stress.

 

In fact they detected in laboratory cats, among other hormones, corticosterone, and that cannot be good ...

 

As it can't be to gulp down a complete daily ration in 1 hour caged… gush, how overly full they'd have to feel afterwards… imagine to eat breakfast, lunch and dinner all at the same time …

 

Do these scientists not know that in nature we eat 12-20 small preys a day?

 

We don't believe Dr. Swanson when he states that "If cats are allowed to feed freely, it's complicated to prevent obesity." With our daily ration freely available, we arrange us taking a lot of small bites, which is the most natural form.

 

And it avoids anxiety for food. Some of us, over all former street cats, suffer it, it stresses them and they guzzle down their food, frequently vomiting shortly after...

 

In addition - as yet stated our human - the 'boredom' factor also makes us gain weight… when the only highlight is the visit to the food bowl…

And there - human - comes your turn: Play with us, share time, create… and your feline friend will not only be less fat, but also happier and better connected to you.

 

We've meowed!

India, Miga, Lorenza