• DVM360_Conference_Charlotte,NC_banner
  • ACVCACVC
  • DVM 360
  • Fetch DVM 360Fetch DVM 360
DVM 360
dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care
dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care
By Role
AssociatesOwnersPractice ManagerStudentsTechnicians
Subscriptions
dvm360 Newsletterdvm360 Magazine
News
All News
Association
Breaking News
Conference Coverage
Education
Equine
FDA
Law & Ethics
Market Trends
Medical
Politics
Products
Recalls
Regulatory
Digital Media
dvm360 LIVE!™
Expert Interviews
The Vet Blast Podcast
Medical World News
Pet Connections
The Dilemma Live
Vet Perspectives™
Weekly Newscast
dvm360 Insights™
Publications
All Publications
dvm360
Firstline
Supplements
Vetted
Clinical
All Clinical
Anesthesia
Animal Welfare
Behavior
Cardiology
CBD in Pets
Dentistry
Dermatology
Diabetes
Emergency & Critical Care
Endocrinology
Equine Medicine
Exotic Animal Medicine
Feline Medicine
Gastroenterology
Imaging
Infectious Diseases
Integrative Medicine
Nutrition
Oncology
Ophthalmology
Orthopedics
Pain Management
Parasitology
Pharmacy
Surgery
Toxicology
Urology & Nephrology
Virtual Care
Business
All Business
Business & Personal Finance
Hospital Design
Personnel Management
Practice Finances
Practice Operations
Wellbeing & Lifestyle
Continuing Education
Conferences
Conference Listing
Conference Proceedings
Resources
CBD in Pets
CE Requirements by State
Contests
Veterinary Heroes
Partners
Spotlight Series
Team Meeting in a Box
Toolkit
Top Recommended Veterinary Products
Vet to Vet
  • Contact Us
  • Fetch DVM360 Conference
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy
  • Do Not Sell My Information
  • About Us

© 2023 MJH Life Sciences and dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care. All rights reserved.

Advertisement
By Role
  • Associates
  • Owners
  • Practice Manager
  • Students
  • Technicians
Subscriptions
  • dvm360 Newsletter
  • dvm360 Magazine
  • Contact Us
  • Fetch DVM360 Conference
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy
  • Do Not Sell My Information
  • About Us
  • MJHLS Brand Logo

© 2023 MJH Life Sciences™ and dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care. All rights reserved.

Tell clients to bite into 'Catkins' diet to battle obesity, expert advises

August 1, 2004
Jessica Tremayne

Veterinarians should chart the progression a cat may experience while on the diet.

NEW YORK, N.Y.—Twenty five to 45 percent of felines are too fat. New research shows that feeding an overweight cat a diet of moist cat food one time a day will replicate a more natural diet that is high protein and low in carbohydrates.

Obesity in cats is well documented, however, experts are espousing a high-protein, low carbohydrate plan to battle this epidemic. Less active indoor cats that have been altered are the most likely candidates for diabetes, says Dr. Deborah Greco.

Deborah Greco, DVM, Ph.D., a leading researcher in the field of feline diabetes and an internist, endocrinologist at The Animal Medical Center in New York, showcased the so-called Catkin's diet at the recently concluded American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine meeting in Minneapolis. Greco notes that in a cat's natural environment, mice would be a main staple and are composed of roughly 40-45 percent protein, 3-5 percent carbohydrate and 40-45 percent fat.

"Cats should have a diet that is high protein, high fat and low carbohydrate," Greco says.

Advertisement

Feeding cats any brand of canned food is better than dry, Greco says.

"High levels of carbohydrates in dry food, causes overproduction of insulin, increased hunger and weight gain," Greco adds.

Veterinarians may be seeing more overweight cats because busy owners tend to put dry food in a bowl and replenish the supply daily.

"Feeding a cat dry food and refilling the bowl is the worst way to feed a cat, it promotes obesity," Greco says. "Feeding a cat one can of food, one time a day works well, allowing less opportunity for overfeeding."

Ways to prevent feline obesity/at risk categories

"A common misconception is that dry food is better for cat's teeth, but dry food has been researched to be better for dogs," Greco says. "Feeding a cat canned food shouldn't effect its teeth anymore than dry food."

There are a variety of diet plans available. Veterinarians can chart the progression a cat may experience while on the diet.

Greco says it may take several months for a cat to show a difference in body fat, but just like the famed human Atkin's diet, fat will be replaced with muscle.

"A good time to begin this diet is when the cat is spayed or neutered or at the first sign of weight gain," Greco says. Remember, an ounce of prevention is well worth a pound or two of cure.

Related Content:

Client Relations & Marketing
Treating patients with spectrum of care in mind
Treating patients with spectrum of care in mind
 BluePrints Veterinary Marketing Group awarded 2 Gold VETTY Awards
BluePrints Veterinary Marketing Group awarded 2 Gold VETTY Awards
3 tips for marketing veterinary dental services
3 tips for marketing veterinary dental services

Advertisement

Latest News

An update on copper concerns in pet foods

Dental hacks to make every case more manageable

Q&A with a keynote: Walter Brown, RVTg, VTS, ECC

News wrap-up: This week’s headlines, plus dvm360® launches its first CE podcast

View More Latest News
Advertisement