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#1
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Which food for a fat cat?
The cat is 23 pounds and really should be about 20 pounds.
Let's suppose the only two food choices available are Science Diet Light canned or Hills R/D dry. Which of *those two* would you choose? (and why?) |
#2
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5cats wrote: The cat is 23 pounds and really should be about 20 pounds. Let's suppose the only two food choices available are Science Diet Light canned or Hills R/D dry. Which of *those two* would you choose? (and why?) It's a no-brainer. I would choose the R/D because it's for reducing weight. And going from 23 to 20 is a reduction in weight. The Light is maintenance and is more difficult to reduce weight with it. The R/D has twice the fiber and probably a higher percentage of nutrient density for safety. But it's not to be used for a long time hence it's only by prescription. The higher fiber might be useful in tricking the feline into thinking, aha, I'm full so it's a little easier from the behavioral point of view, using the R/D. It's a hassle because now someone has to visit the vet and the food is supposedly sold only by prescription. So it's more effort and more expense but I am not having much luck with the Light so I will be seeing a vet for R/D. And possibly W/D later if this should be an ongoing problem. R/D is only for short-term I believe. By the way, what I just told you is not just my opinion. It's what at least 1 vet told me. And for that matter, Royal Canin's vet told me the same in regards to prescription diets versus "Light" diets, in general. |
#3
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5cats wrote:
The cat is 23 pounds and really should be about 20 pounds. Let's suppose the only two food choices available are Science Diet Light canned or Hills R/D dry. Which of *those two* would you choose? (and why?) Have you tried putting dry food some place where the cat has to get a tiny amount of exercise with each nibble? A carpet covered 2x4 is good for that. |
#4
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John Doe wrote:
5cats wrote: The cat is 23 pounds and really should be about 20 pounds. Let's suppose the only two food choices available are Science Diet Light canned or Hills R/D dry. Which of *those two* would you choose? (and why?) Have you tried putting dry food some place where the cat has to get a tiny amount of exercise with each nibble? A carpet covered 2x4 is good for that. That sounds interesting, as George (the plump one) has been on dry R/D for a while now and hasn't lost much (if any) weight recently. He quickly went down from 24 to 23, but has stabilised at 23. He's the big orange tabby type that seems to be prone to laziness & overweight. I also have a cat who needs to be on a kidney diet and 3 who are in very good shape and can eat just about anything. Anyway, I'm not clear on how you'd set up the 2x4 and food. Are you talking about standing it on end? Or up off the floor, but lengthwise like a gymnastics balance beam? |
#5
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Diane wrote:
Are you controlling his portions? If he's not losing weight, cut back some. It's difficult to measure what he's eating because the other cats snack freely out of his bowl. Hence the thinking about adding or switching to wet food, as then they'd be more willing to eat in a few defined meals rather than wanting to snack on dry all the time. |
#6
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5cats wrote:
John Doe wrote: 5cats wrote: The cat is 23 pounds and really should be about 20 pounds. Have you tried putting dry food some place where the cat has to get a tiny amount of exercise with each nibble? A carpet covered 2x4 is good for that. Anyway, I'm not clear on how you'd set up the 2x4 and food. Are you talking about standing it on end? Or up off the floor, but lengthwise like a gymnastics balance beam? Just find some place to put dry food high up off of the floor. Then lean your carpeted 2x4 up against that structure so the cat(s) can get up there whenever he is hungry. (People who have disabled their cat by removing its claws might be able to do the same with a ladder/stair structure.) I find that especially useful when your cat runs to the food bowl every time you move or turnaround. That way, instead of putting their head in the food bowl, they (hopefully) just run to the bottom of the 2x4 and look longing at you from there. At least they will get more exercise and gain strength. Making your cat get a tiny amount of exercise for each bite makes sense, considering how well your cat is able to climb and whether it is eating enough. |
#7
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"5cats" wrote in message .. . The cat is 23 pounds and really should be about 20 pounds. Let's suppose the only two food choices available are Science Diet Light canned or Hills R/D dry. Which of *those two* would you choose? (and why?) Neither. Although both diets have a lower caloric density, both diets condition the cat to eat to a larger volume of food. Neither diet is particularly effective without portion control because cats compensate for caloric dilution after a few weeks to a few months. Science Diet Light is a preventative weight control diet (and not a particularly effective one at that)- its *not* a weight loss diet. R/d is a high-fiber diet that carries additional risks of its own. Cats eating high-fiber diets *must* be *well* hydrated to prevent the fiber from impacting in the colon which can result in intractable constipation. The *only* weight loss program that has been *proven* to be effective over the long term is caloric reduction coupled portion control. Portion control is *essential* for weight loss and proper long-term weight maintenance. A safe and effective weight loss program for your cat would be an initial 25% reduction in caloric intake. A 23# (10.5 kg) neutered cat has a daily energy requirement (DER) of about 420 kcals (calories). Reducing your cat's caloric intake to about 315 kcals/day should result in 15% weight loss in about 18 weeks. More rapid weight loss increases the risk of serious liver disease (hepatic lipidosis) and also results a higher lean body mass loss-to fat loss ratio. You can use a regular maintenance diet such as SD Turkey & Giblets for this weight loss program. Two cans a day minus 2 teaspoons divided into two feedings should be just about right. If you have other cats, you *must* feed the cats separately. You can feed the easy-keepers together but must make sure your overweight cat can't get at their food otherwise your program will fail. Phil |
#8
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"5cats" wrote in message .. . That sounds interesting, as George (the plump one) has been on dry R/D for a while now and hasn't lost much (if any) weight recently. He quickly went down from 24 to 23, but has stabilised at 23. That's a common problem with all these weight loss diets (other than Purina DM and Hill's m/d). Cats compensate for the diluted calories and either plateau or start gaining again.. Use a regular maintenance diet and reduce his caloric intake by 25% and you shouldn't have any problems See my previous post. |
#9
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"Phil P." phil maxshouse.com wrote:
"5cats" CatFan invalid.com wrote in message The cat is 23 pounds and really should be about 20 pounds. Let's suppose the only two food choices available are Science Diet Light canned or Hills R/D dry. Which of *those two* would you choose? (and why?) Neither... Science Diet Light is a preventative weight control diet (and not a particularly effective one at that)- its *not* a weight loss diet. R/d is a high-fiber diet that carries additional risks of its own. Cats eating high-fiber diets *must* be *well* hydrated to prevent the fiber from impacting in the colon which can result in intractable constipation. I've always heard that fiber does exactly the opposite of that. Some people misconceive that liquids relieve constipation. Methinks Phil is a troll giving bad medical advice. Phil Path: newssvr33.news.prodigy.com!newsdbm03.news.prodigy. com!newsdst01.news.prodigy.com!newsmst01b.news.pro digy.com!prodigy.com!newscon06.news.prodigy.com!pr odigy.net!border1.nntp.dca.giganews.com!nntp.gigan ews.com!local01.nntp.dca.giganews.com!news.giganew s.com.POSTED!not-for-mail NNTP-Posting-Date: Mon, 05 Sep 2005 12:50:20 -0500 From: "Phil P." phil maxshouse.com Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats.health+behav References: Xns96C86C49872F4CatFanCatFan 216.196.97.136 Subject: Which food for a fat cat? Date: Mon, 5 Sep 2005 13:47:47 -0400 X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Newsreader: Microsoft Outlook Express 6.00.2800.1506 X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2800.1506 Message-ID: fcidnXztA7XBGIHeRVn-rw giganews.com Lines: 45 X-Trace: sv3-BaSB2+dCDJrou9wNOcb2En3Ce5RKTXyav1etUkxt7+jU2r2Htw o2d9wGnipQDcNRZwr/V6ksNmj5db4!/jhOBBX+jbLxGe0hRcoP2JAfo5+aKqLmL1KYvRA0Y46tjdCPeFI LDF3PJ8YI X-Complaints-To: abuse giganews.com X-DMCA-Notifications: http://www.giganews.com/info/dmca.html X-Abuse-and-DMCA-Info: Please be sure to forward a copy of ALL headers X-Abuse-and-DMCA-Info: Otherwise we will be unable to process your complaint properly X-Postfilter: 1.3.32 Xref: newsmst01b.news.prodigy.com rec.pets.cats.health+behav:390790 |
#10
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"John Doe" wrote in message ... "Phil P." phil maxshouse.com wrote: "5cats" CatFan invalid.com wrote in message The cat is 23 pounds and really should be about 20 pounds. Let's suppose the only two food choices available are Science Diet Light canned or Hills R/D dry. Which of *those two* would you choose? (and why?) Neither... Science Diet Light is a preventative weight control diet (and not a particularly effective one at that)- its *not* a weight loss diet. R/d is a high-fiber diet that carries additional risks of its own. Cats eating high-fiber diets *must* be *well* hydrated to prevent the fiber from impacting in the colon which can result in intractable constipation. I've always heard that fiber does exactly the opposite of that. Fiber absorbs water in the colon. If the cat doesn't drink enough water the fiber will become impacted in the colon. But that's way over your head. Methinks Phil is a troll giving bad medical advice. That's because you're a know-nothing moron and can't tell the difference between a hairball and a turd without tasting it. Now post your usual "troll" message that you post every time someone says something you don't like. |
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