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Protein
Okay, I'm REALLY confused now. I've been reading the articles about
nutrition that have been cited in this newsgroup, and some of them say that lots of protein (especially meat-based protein) is good for cats. But the Natura Pet Foods web site declares that one of the good features of Innova Lite is that it has LOWER protein (and fat) levels. Royal Canin's reduced calorie food, on the other hand, has MORE protein than its other formulas. Which is it? I want a reduced calorie food for my two 7 year old cats (who are a bit on the heavy side), but should I look for one that has lots of protein or one that has less protein? (Or perhaps the real question is: What are the benefits and drawbacks of different levels of protein? When is more better, and when is less better?) Thanks. JP |
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#3
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Look for a food that has less than 3,250 kcal/kg of food fed. Anything
more than that is not likely to get you where you want to go. Foods that are LIGHT meet this definition. If a food doesn't say LIGHT, then it isn't a "weight loss" food. Well, that's ridiculous. It's absolutely NOT "ridiculous". In fact, restricting calories is an extremely effective way at taking the weight off of cats. Most vets recommend foods such as those that I have described. If you want your cat to consume fewer calories, feed him less food. ....and as a result--less nutrients. My "easy keeper" cat gets a restricted amount of calorically dense food with digestible high-quality protein and he's just fine with that. like m/d? |
#5
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Look for a food that has less than 3,250 kcal/kg of food fed. Anything
more than that is not likely to get you where you want to go. Foods that are LIGHT meet this definition. If a food doesn't say LIGHT, then it isn't a "weight loss" food. Well, that's ridiculous. It's absolutely NOT "ridiculous". In fact, restricting calories is an extremely effective way at taking the weight off of cats. Most vets recommend foods such as those that I have described. If you want your cat to consume fewer calories, feed him less food. ....and as a result--less nutrients. My "easy keeper" cat gets a restricted amount of calorically dense food with digestible high-quality protein and he's just fine with that. like m/d? |
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Jerold Pearson wrote in message 4.103...
Okay, I'm REALLY confused now. I've been reading the articles about nutrition that have been cited in this newsgroup, and some of them say that lots of protein (especially meat-based protein) is good for cats. But the Natura Pet Foods web site declares that one of the good features of Innova Lite is that it has LOWER protein (and fat) levels. Royal Canin's reduced calorie food, on the other hand, has MORE protein than its other formulas. Which is it? I want a reduced calorie food for my two 7 year old cats (who are a bit on the heavy side), but should I look for one that has lots of protein or one that has less protein? (Or perhaps the real question is: What are the benefits and drawbacks of different levels of protein? When is more better, and when is less better?) Thanks. JP JP, High levels of protein can be a risk. Typically they bring along higher levels of phosphorus which is a risk factor in cats with undetected renal failure. Since we presently cannot test a cat and determine if renal failure is present, until over 70% of the kidney is destroyed and the disease bis unstoppable, there is a risk in feedidng excessive levels protein. Renal failure is the number two cause of death in cats and should never be taken lightly. There is a risk in feeding excessive levels of anything. There are two competing schools of thought. The traditional tried and true method eliminates the risk of undetected renal failure by maintaining sufficient protein and reducing calories by lowering fat content. Typically these foods contain higher levels of fiber to increase satiety (feeling full). Most obesity diets do contain a bit more protein than normal typical diets, part of this is to insure that lean body tissue (muscle mass) is not lost while fat tissue is lost. These diets have been proven for forty years and have an excellent track record of success when fed properly. Another school of thought that has recently emerged tends to blame every disease know to cats on carbohydrates, never mind there is no data to support those claims, merely hypothesis and supposition. This school of thought seeks to move cats into a state of metabolic ketosis. This is not the same as ketoacidosis so don't think of metabolic ketosis as being "bad". By this process some cats can lose weight much like some humans lose weight on the Adkins type diets - pretty much the same philosophy. There are several diets on the market that work in this manner. The right choice is one you need to make in consultation with your veterinarian who can assess any risk factors that your individual cat may have and make a determination of which diet philosophy will work best and safest. |
#7
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Jerold Pearson wrote in message 4.103...
Okay, I'm REALLY confused now. I've been reading the articles about nutrition that have been cited in this newsgroup, and some of them say that lots of protein (especially meat-based protein) is good for cats. But the Natura Pet Foods web site declares that one of the good features of Innova Lite is that it has LOWER protein (and fat) levels. Royal Canin's reduced calorie food, on the other hand, has MORE protein than its other formulas. Which is it? I want a reduced calorie food for my two 7 year old cats (who are a bit on the heavy side), but should I look for one that has lots of protein or one that has less protein? (Or perhaps the real question is: What are the benefits and drawbacks of different levels of protein? When is more better, and when is less better?) Thanks. JP JP, High levels of protein can be a risk. Typically they bring along higher levels of phosphorus which is a risk factor in cats with undetected renal failure. Since we presently cannot test a cat and determine if renal failure is present, until over 70% of the kidney is destroyed and the disease bis unstoppable, there is a risk in feedidng excessive levels protein. Renal failure is the number two cause of death in cats and should never be taken lightly. There is a risk in feeding excessive levels of anything. There are two competing schools of thought. The traditional tried and true method eliminates the risk of undetected renal failure by maintaining sufficient protein and reducing calories by lowering fat content. Typically these foods contain higher levels of fiber to increase satiety (feeling full). Most obesity diets do contain a bit more protein than normal typical diets, part of this is to insure that lean body tissue (muscle mass) is not lost while fat tissue is lost. These diets have been proven for forty years and have an excellent track record of success when fed properly. Another school of thought that has recently emerged tends to blame every disease know to cats on carbohydrates, never mind there is no data to support those claims, merely hypothesis and supposition. This school of thought seeks to move cats into a state of metabolic ketosis. This is not the same as ketoacidosis so don't think of metabolic ketosis as being "bad". By this process some cats can lose weight much like some humans lose weight on the Adkins type diets - pretty much the same philosophy. There are several diets on the market that work in this manner. The right choice is one you need to make in consultation with your veterinarian who can assess any risk factors that your individual cat may have and make a determination of which diet philosophy will work best and safest. |
#8
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"GAUBSTER2" wrote in message ... Look for a food that has less than 3,250 kcal/kg of food fed. Anything more than that is not likely to get you where you want to go. Foods that are LIGHT meet this definition. If a food doesn't say LIGHT, then it isn't a "weight loss" food. 3,250 kcal/kg is the maximun caloric density requirement for "light" or "lite", *dry* diets *only* (20% moisture). This requirement does not apply to semimoist or canned diets containing 20% moisture Diets containing 20% or more but less than 65% moisture may contain no more than 2650 kcal ME/kg , and no more than 950 kcal ME/kg for diets containing 65% or more moisture; Here's the AAFCO regulation: Regulation PF10. Descriptive Terms (c) Calorie Terms (1) "Light" B. A cat food product which bears on its label the terms "light", "lite", "low calorie". or words of similar designation shall: i. Contain no more than 3250 kcal ME/kg for products containing less than 20% moisture, no more than 2650 kcal ME/kg for prodÂ*ucts containing 20% or more but less than 65% moisture, and no more than 950 kcal ME/kg for products containing 65% or more moisture; and ii. Include on the label a calorie content statement: aa. In accordance with the format provided in Regulation PF9; and bb. Which states no more than 3250 kcal ME/kg for products conÂ*taining less than 20% moisture, no more than 2650 kcal ME/kg for products containing 20% or more but less than 65% moisture, and no more than 950 kcal ME/kg for products containing 65% or more moisture; and iii. Include on the label feeding directions which reflect a reduction in calorie intake consistent with the intended use. (2) "Less" or "Reduced Calories" A. A dog or cat food product which bears on its label a claim of "less caloÂ*ries", reduced calories", or words of similar designation, shall include on the label: i. The name of the product of comparison and the percentage of caloÂ*rie reduction (expressed on an equal weight basis) explicitly stated and juxtaposed with the largest or most prominent use of the claim on each panel of the label where the term appears; and ii. The comparative statement printed in type of the same color and style and at least one- half the type size used in the claim; and iii. A calorie content statement in accordance with the format proÂ*vided in Regulation PF9; iv. Feeding directions which reflect a reduction in calories compared to feeding directions for the product of comparison. B. A comparison between products in different categories of moisture content (i.e., less than 20%, 20% or more but less than 65%, 65% or more) is misleading. |
#9
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"GAUBSTER2" wrote in message ... Look for a food that has less than 3,250 kcal/kg of food fed. Anything more than that is not likely to get you where you want to go. Foods that are LIGHT meet this definition. If a food doesn't say LIGHT, then it isn't a "weight loss" food. 3,250 kcal/kg is the maximun caloric density requirement for "light" or "lite", *dry* diets *only* (20% moisture). This requirement does not apply to semimoist or canned diets containing 20% moisture Diets containing 20% or more but less than 65% moisture may contain no more than 2650 kcal ME/kg , and no more than 950 kcal ME/kg for diets containing 65% or more moisture; Here's the AAFCO regulation: Regulation PF10. Descriptive Terms (c) Calorie Terms (1) "Light" B. A cat food product which bears on its label the terms "light", "lite", "low calorie". or words of similar designation shall: i. Contain no more than 3250 kcal ME/kg for products containing less than 20% moisture, no more than 2650 kcal ME/kg for prodÂ*ucts containing 20% or more but less than 65% moisture, and no more than 950 kcal ME/kg for products containing 65% or more moisture; and ii. Include on the label a calorie content statement: aa. In accordance with the format provided in Regulation PF9; and bb. Which states no more than 3250 kcal ME/kg for products conÂ*taining less than 20% moisture, no more than 2650 kcal ME/kg for products containing 20% or more but less than 65% moisture, and no more than 950 kcal ME/kg for products containing 65% or more moisture; and iii. Include on the label feeding directions which reflect a reduction in calorie intake consistent with the intended use. (2) "Less" or "Reduced Calories" A. A dog or cat food product which bears on its label a claim of "less caloÂ*ries", reduced calories", or words of similar designation, shall include on the label: i. The name of the product of comparison and the percentage of caloÂ*rie reduction (expressed on an equal weight basis) explicitly stated and juxtaposed with the largest or most prominent use of the claim on each panel of the label where the term appears; and ii. The comparative statement printed in type of the same color and style and at least one- half the type size used in the claim; and iii. A calorie content statement in accordance with the format proÂ*vided in Regulation PF9; iv. Feeding directions which reflect a reduction in calories compared to feeding directions for the product of comparison. B. A comparison between products in different categories of moisture content (i.e., less than 20%, 20% or more but less than 65%, 65% or more) is misleading. |
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