Feline nutrition and weight management guidelines

Feline nutrition and weight management should be discussed with cat owners.

In the new "Feline Life Stages Guidelines" issued by the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) and the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), it is recommended that nutrition and weight management counseling should be a part of the education that cat owners receive from their veterinarian.

Feline nutrition basics

The feline nutrition guidelines state that "satisfactory diets for cats contain all the required nutrients in proper balance, are palatable and digestible, and are free of spoilage and contaminants. The specific source of nutrients in feline diets is irrelevant when these criteria are satisfied." Pet owners should look for a guarantee on the pet food label that the food was tested in feeding trials. The panel which issued the guidelines felt that this guarantee was the best evidence that an individual type of food is satisfactory.

Cat owners should also remember that nutritional requirements will vary depending on the life stage of the cat (kitten, junior, mature, senior, geriatric), the sterilization status (whether the cat is spayed or neutered) and the individual activity level of the cat. Therefore, general feeding guidelines should be used as a starting point and adjusted to maintain the ideal body weight and body condition for the cat.

The guidelines further suggest that both canned and dry foods are appropriate to maintain feline health, despite claims that canned food may promote health in cats more so than dry foods. They also found no evidence that either diet contributed more to dental health than the other.

Carbohydrate, Protein and Fiber Sources in the Cat Diet

Despite all of the concern recently about the effects of carbohydrates, particularly in dry foods, the panel which wrote the guidelines found no evidence to "support the carbohydrate content of foods as being harmful or an independent risk factor for diseases such as obesity or diabetes." The guidelines clearly state that both dry and canned foods are acceptable alternatives for a proper feline diet. Additionally, it was noted that housing and activity were more significant indicators of health.

The guidelines also make note that the panel could not recommend in favor of feeding raw diets, adding dietary supplements to the diet or allowing access to grass or plants.

With respect to feeding home-made diets, concern was expressed in the guidelines relative to the nutritional balance in these diets. The guidelines suggest that veterinarians should discuss the risks and refer cat owners to appropriate resources, if necessary.

(Author's note: Some of these recommendations are likely to be controversial and not all veterinarians, veterinary nutritionists and other nutrition experts are likely to agree with them.)

Specific feeding regimens for proper feline nutrition

Feline diets can be fed free-choice or as meals, depending on the cat owners preference. Cat owners should, however, be able to monitor the amount of food their cat is eating.

Water can be provided in bowls. Dripping faucets and fountains can also be used to encourage additional water consumption. In cases where medical necessity indicates increased water consumption is desirable, canned foods may be beneficial due to their increased moisture content versus dry foods.

Food should be provided in a quiet area where the cat will not be disturbed or frightened while eating.

Dry food provided in food balls or puzzles can provide additional environmental enrichment for a cat and also encourage exercise. Likewise, small meals can be scattered throughout the home at various feeding stations to enrich the feline environment and encourage more exercise.

Weight management as part of the feline nutritional plan

Though most common in middle-aged cats, obesity can occur in cats of any age. Cats should be fed to avoid obesity. Environmental enrichment, encouraging increased activity levels and individualized feeding plans can all be used to help prevent obesity. Switching to diets with decreased energy densities (i.e. reduced fat diets, etc) can also be helpful in combating obesity. In addition, portion control through meal feeding (as opposed to free choice feeding) and the use of foraging devices such as food balls and puzzles can be utilized in the battle against feline obesity.

Caloric intake should be adjusted based on changes in life stage or conditions such as spaying/neutering. Caloric changes should be gradual (no more than 10% increase or decrease in calories).

Additional recommendations pertaining to feline health covered by the AAFP guidelines include:

• frequency of wellness examinations
• behavior and environmental counseling
• parasite control
• vaccinations
• dental care

These feline health care topics will be covered individually in greater length in upcoming columns. Stay tuned or subscribe to email alerts and be notified when a new article is published.

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The copyright of the article Feline nutrition and weight management guidelines is owned by Lorie Huston. Permission to republish Feline nutrition and weight management guidelines in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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