Think again when giving your cats too much food! There is a significant risk for chubby paws (except weight)
Obesity in cats is a common problem. Cat owners who overfeed their pets unknowingly risk harming their furry friends. We already know that overfeeding causes weight gain. But a new study reveals that it also negatively affects the cat’s digestive system and leads to changes in the gut microbiota.
What does this mean? Let’s take a look at the research published in the Journal of Animal Science last September.
“We wanted to learn more about the metabolic and gastrointestinal (i.e. digestive) changes that occur in cats as a result of overeating and weight gain,” explains the lead author, nutritionist Kelly Swanson.
The study examined 11 ‘lean’ cats, all neutered adult females. After Swanson and colleagues took the necessary measurements, the cats were fed a commercially available balanced and moderate diet for two weeks. They were then given the same food for 18 weeks, but this time they were allowed to eat as much and as often as they wanted.
The researchers collected fecal and blood samples as well as physical activity data from the cats via collar monitors at 6, 12 and 18 weeks after the ‘buffet’ began.
“We expected weight gain to lead to a decrease in physical activity, but we didn’t observe a consistent change, which can depend on the cats, their environment and how much their owners interact with them,” says Swanson.
After a while, the buffet-haunted cats began to put on weight; their body fat increased, and then their ability to digest food decreased. Swanson explains it this way:
The body extracts nutrients more efficiently when less food is consumed. However, when the quantity increases, food passes through the digestive system faster and less nutrients are broken down in the process.
With more food, cats produce more and more acidic feces. Which is a sign that the food is not being digested effectively. According to Swanson, “In humans, low stool pH indicates poor absorption of carbohydrates and fats. Our findings are consistent with this, because lower stool pH is associated with higher food intake and reduced digestibility.”
The researchers also discovered differences in the types of microbes living in the cats’ intestines before and after 18 weeks of free feeding. In addition, gastrointestinal transit time – the time from eating to feces – decreased by about 25 percent as the cats gained weight. “The change in gastrointestinal transit time was a novel finding and a potential cause of the change in fecal microbiota,” says Swanson.
It is also noteworthy that some of the changes in the microbiome of the cats studied are at odds with those seen in humans with obesity. This suggests that there are probably more complex factors at play than just weight.
A better understanding of the metabolic and digestive changes that occur could help prevent and treat obesity in cats. The research team emphasizes the need to take a closer look at the relationship between gut microbiome changes and overall health.
In another study, Swanson and colleagues showed that limiting cats’ food intake can safely help them lose weight and fat. When the first study ended, 11 cats were put on a diet that (thankfully) allowed them to lose weight and return to baseline.
The researchers recommend that pet owners (in addition to feeding cats as needed) do things to encourage physical and mental activity at mealtime. For example, you can break up their meals into small amounts and put them in different places, throw snacks away for them to pick up, and/or use food puzzles.
Yes, your cat is smart and doesn’t like you telling him what to do. But with the right guidance, our maverick friends can live healthier, longer and happier lives.
