Top 3 cat diets

Just like humans, cats need to keep up a healthy weight to prevent weight-related illnesses such as feline diabetes and heart disease.  Cats that are overfed by their owners and are not physically active are at a higher risk for developing these diseases. Indoor domestic cats tend to fall into this category more so than outdoor cats since they are typically confined to a single place (the owners’ house or apartment) and, out of love, they may be given more food than they really need. I admit that I have fallen into the overfeeding trap myself allowing my cats to graze on a large measure of dry food throughout the day. This practice led to my cats gaining too much weight too fast.  As my veterinarian explained, indoor cats tend to eat what they are given and will keep eating until their bowl is empty. It’s like me with a big bag of potato chips…if I’m sitting in front of the TV eating this large bag of potato chips, chances are, I’ll continue eating until the bag is empty. The trick (for me at least!)  is to eat a small bag of chips so that the entire bag can be eaten without as many calories being consumed. Applying this concept to my cats, my veterinarian recommended feeding my cats smaller quantities of food at a time which satisfies them until their next feeding time and prevents them from overeating. Thankfully, this recommendation has worked;  my cats are at a healthy weight and are now used to eating small amounts of food!!

November issue of Healthy Pet Magazine

In this month’s issue of Healthy Pet magazine, there is an interesting article addressing the issue of excess weight in pets. According to the article, the first step to follow if your cat is overweight is to visit your veterinarian who will assess the problem and give a solution which includes exercise and dietary tips. Since indoor cats are limited as far as space is concerned, much of their weight loss regimen will focus on diet. The article mentions three types of diets that can help your cat achieve a normal weight. These diets include:

 

1) A weight-loss diet which strictly but safely regulates a cats food intake

2) A maintenance diet which helps cats keep up the weight they have lost as a result of the weight-loss diet

3) A therapeutic diet which incorporates balanced, nutritious foods into a cats’ diet. These foods are designed to help reduce specific issues such as joint problems.

There are many manufactures of cat food that can help your cats achieve a healthy weight. I particularly prefer Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Inc. who are the manufacturers of Science Diet and Prescription Diet cat food. I have come to love these brands of indoor cat food because they are recommended by veterinarians and they have ingredients that are beneficial to indoor cats.

source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/fofurasfelinas/43381522/

Although I think these brands of cat food are great, you should always consult your personal veterinarian when it comes to choosing food for your cat. They know your cat best and can make individualized recommendations which are suitable for your particular furry friend.