Cat Diet using Kitten Food?

(Mike) wrote in message . com...
My grandparents have a male, neutered cat that is about 5 years old.
He had a stroke a couple years ago and never fully recovered so he
stays indoors. This cat has gained so much weight and now weighs 25
pounds. My grandmother finally took him to the vet and the vet put him
on one of the Hill's dry kitten foods to lose weight because it's low
in carbs and high in protein.

Is this ok for this cat to be on?

Yes. As long as his kidneys are healthy, which they can check with
bloodwork.

It seems like one of the
prescription diets might be better and/or safer. Any thoughts or
opinions?
I just want to make sure this cat gets the best treatment possible. I
plan on "adopting" him from my grandparents before the end of the
year. They like him but they know they can't give him all the special
care he needs. He's also no longer happy being there anyway.

I am following the same protocol (though not with Hill's) for my older
adult cat. He is at a healthy weight and doing great. This
protocol should only be done with a vet's approval, though.

-L.

(-L. wrote:

(Mike) wrote in message
.com...
My grandparents have a male, neutered cat that is about 5 years old.
He had a stroke a couple years ago and never fully recovered so he
stays indoors. This cat has gained so much weight and now weighs 25
pounds. My grandmother finally took him to the vet and the vet put him
on one of the Hill's dry kitten foods to lose weight because it's low
in carbs and high in protein.

Is this ok for this cat to be on?

Yes. As long as his kidneys are healthy, which they can check with
bloodwork.

It seems like one of the
prescription diets might be better and/or safer. Any thoughts or
opinions?
I just want to make sure this cat gets the best treatment possible. I
plan on "adopting" him from my grandparents before the end of the
year. They like him but they know they can't give him all the special
care he needs. He's also no longer happy being there anyway.

I am following the same protocol (though not with Hill's) for my older
adult cat. He is at a healthy weight and doing great. This
protocol should only be done with a vet's approval, though.

-L.

These posts concern me because I have been using kitten or growth formulae to
try to help one of our cats *gain* weight. My assumption was that kitten
formulae would have more calories. Is this not true?

The cat in question is seven years old. We had to switch from free feeding to
feeding twice a day when we got a third cat; this cat will eat until she bursts
so we can't leave food out any more. The scheduled feedings have worked very
well to help the two pudgier cats lose weight but unfortunately this cat has
lost almost a half pound (which she didn't need to lose) because she will not
eat enough at each feeding and wants to nibble througout the day.

We have been feeding her the kitten versions of Eukanuba, Wellness, and SD and
I am now also feeding her the outdoor cat version of Royal Canin because it is
higher in calories than any of their other formulae. At least she has stopped
losing weight, but she has only gained back one ounce and I'd like to see her
regain another 7 oz. Am I not doing her any good by feeding kitten formulae?

(-L. wrote:

(Mike) wrote in message
.com...
My grandparents have a male, neutered cat that is about 5 years old.
He had a stroke a couple years ago and never fully recovered so he
stays indoors. This cat has gained so much weight and now weighs 25
pounds. My grandmother finally took him to the vet and the vet put him
on one of the Hill's dry kitten foods to lose weight because it's low
in carbs and high in protein.

Is this ok for this cat to be on?

Yes. As long as his kidneys are healthy, which they can check with
bloodwork.

It seems like one of the
prescription diets might be better and/or safer. Any thoughts or
opinions?
I just want to make sure this cat gets the best treatment possible. I
plan on "adopting" him from my grandparents before the end of the
year. They like him but they know they can't give him all the special
care he needs. He's also no longer happy being there anyway.

I am following the same protocol (though not with Hill's) for my older
adult cat. He is at a healthy weight and doing great. This
protocol should only be done with a vet's approval, though.

-L.

These posts concern me because I have been using kitten or growth formulae to
try to help one of our cats *gain* weight. My assumption was that kitten
formulae would have more calories. Is this not true?

The cat in question is seven years old. We had to switch from free feeding to
feeding twice a day when we got a third cat; this cat will eat until she bursts
so we can't leave food out any more. The scheduled feedings have worked very
well to help the two pudgier cats lose weight but unfortunately this cat has
lost almost a half pound (which she didn't need to lose) because she will not
eat enough at each feeding and wants to nibble througout the day.

We have been feeding her the kitten versions of Eukanuba, Wellness, and SD and
I am now also feeding her the outdoor cat version of Royal Canin because it is
higher in calories than any of their other formulae. At least she has stopped
losing weight, but she has only gained back one ounce and I'd like to see her
regain another 7 oz. Am I not doing her any good by feeding kitten formulae?

(GAUBSTER2) wrote in message ...
(...)
fine. But as it relates to cats, my original point remains the same. The
Hill's Prescription Diet Feline m/d is an "Atkins style" diet

To call a low-carb cat diet an 'Atkins style' diet is a bag of
steaming marketing arse. A cat's natural diet is low carb - so, when
you speak of an 'Atkins style' diet in cats, what you really mean is
'a cat's normal or natural diet'!

In humans, Atkins is an 'unusual' diet where the idea is to place the
human into ketosis. I do not know if cats can enter this state via
dietary changes, given that their natural diet is extremely low carb.

that DOES work
for overweight cats in helping them lose weight safely and efficiently. It
has more than "5% carbs" on a dry matter basis, yet it works anyway. I was
simply disagreeing with Liz's assertion regarding feline diets.

Losing weight ain't rocket science: fewer calories.

Steve.

(GAUBSTER2) wrote in message ...
(...)
fine. But as it relates to cats, my original point remains the same. The
Hill's Prescription Diet Feline m/d is an "Atkins style" diet

To call a low-carb cat diet an 'Atkins style' diet is a bag of
steaming marketing arse. A cat's natural diet is low carb - so, when
you speak of an 'Atkins style' diet in cats, what you really mean is
'a cat's normal or natural diet'!

In humans, Atkins is an 'unusual' diet where the idea is to place the
human into ketosis. I do not know if cats can enter this state via
dietary changes, given that their natural diet is extremely low carb.

that DOES work
for overweight cats in helping them lose weight safely and efficiently. It
has more than "5% carbs" on a dry matter basis, yet it works anyway. I was
simply disagreeing with Liz's assertion regarding feline diets.

Losing weight ain't rocket science: fewer calories.

Steve.

(GAUBSTER2) wrote in message ...
From: (Liz)

He was thinking of the Atkin´s diet, no or very little carbs and lots
of protein and fats. The diet works wonders BUT it´s never going to
work with anything above 5% carbs, and I´m sure that dry food has more
than this so it won´t work.

Wrongo, liz. Hill's m/d is quite effective at helping cats lose weight safely
and efficiently and it has more than 5% carboydrate on a dry matter basis.
There's more to weight loss than just little or no carbs, you know. Or maybe
you don't.

Well mister, I guess you forgot that STEVE HIMSELF said the product
didn´t work. Please remember this the next time you talk about
something you don´t know (the Atkin´s diet).

(GAUBSTER2) wrote in message ...
From: (Liz)

He was thinking of the Atkin´s diet, no or very little carbs and lots
of protein and fats. The diet works wonders BUT it´s never going to
work with anything above 5% carbs, and I´m sure that dry food has more
than this so it won´t work.

Wrongo, liz. Hill's m/d is quite effective at helping cats lose weight safely
and efficiently and it has more than 5% carboydrate on a dry matter basis.
There's more to weight loss than just little or no carbs, you know. Or maybe
you don't.

Well mister, I guess you forgot that STEVE HIMSELF said the product
didn´t work. Please remember this the next time you talk about
something you don´t know (the Atkin´s diet).

Alison in OH wrote in message ...
GAUBSTER2 wrote:
From: (Liz)


He was thinking of the Atkin´s diet, no or very little carbs and lots
of protein and fats. The diet works wonders BUT it´s never going to
work with anything above 5% carbs, and I´m sure that dry food has more
than this so it won´t work.


Wrongo, liz. Hill's m/d is quite effective at helping cats lose weight safely
and efficiently and it has more than 5% carboydrate on a dry matter basis.
There's more to weight loss than just little or no carbs, you know. Or maybe
you don't.


I do believe she was referring to the human metabolism not being able to
enter a ketotic state with more carbs than that.

Yep, that´s it.

As it turns out, cats as carnivores have a metabolism that's quite
resistant to ketosis so "Atkin's diet" ketosis for weight loss is an
inaccurate paradigm for kitties.

-Alison in OH

Their metabolism is "resistant" to ketosis because their primary
metabolic source of glucose is from glutamine and other amino acids
and not from carbs as our metabolism. Their metabolism probably
prefers to burn fat than to burn protein since protein is so necessary
for tissue maintenance but this is only what I believe. Yet, the diet
works because there is no more insulin telling the body to store fat.
Glucagon probably steps in (glucagon and insulin are antagonists) and
weight loss results. I know for a fact the diet works for cats and I
think it´s because of the absence of insulin and presence of glucagon.
I have a site where I suggest a carb-free diet and I´ve already
received many e-mails telling me that it really works and thanking for
the suggestion so I´m not basing this on my cat´s case alone. If more
people have obese cats, try switching to Felidae canned and let us
know what happened.

Alison in OH wrote in message ...
GAUBSTER2 wrote:
From: (Liz)


He was thinking of the Atkin´s diet, no or very little carbs and lots
of protein and fats. The diet works wonders BUT it´s never going to
work with anything above 5% carbs, and I´m sure that dry food has more
than this so it won´t work.


Wrongo, liz. Hill's m/d is quite effective at helping cats lose weight safely
and efficiently and it has more than 5% carboydrate on a dry matter basis.
There's more to weight loss than just little or no carbs, you know. Or maybe
you don't.


I do believe she was referring to the human metabolism not being able to
enter a ketotic state with more carbs than that.

Yep, that´s it.

As it turns out, cats as carnivores have a metabolism that's quite
resistant to ketosis so "Atkin's diet" ketosis for weight loss is an
inaccurate paradigm for kitties.

-Alison in OH

Their metabolism is "resistant" to ketosis because their primary
metabolic source of glucose is from glutamine and other amino acids
and not from carbs as our metabolism. Their metabolism probably
prefers to burn fat than to burn protein since protein is so necessary
for tissue maintenance but this is only what I believe. Yet, the diet
works because there is no more insulin telling the body to store fat.
Glucagon probably steps in (glucagon and insulin are antagonists) and
weight loss results. I know for a fact the diet works for cats and I
think it´s because of the absence of insulin and presence of glucagon.
I have a site where I suggest a carb-free diet and I´ve already
received many e-mails telling me that it really works and thanking for
the suggestion so I´m not basing this on my cat´s case alone. If more
people have obese cats, try switching to Felidae canned and let us
know what happened.

From: "Jon C"

It's not the amount of carbs in the food.

Agreed! That was my original point.