Meet Jazz! This handsome guy is almost 6 years old, and since I rescued him he has brought me so much joy! From the beginning Jazz was very shy and cautious with most people, but we immediately bonded and became best buds. As a kitten he was always extremely energetic and could play for hours, racing around so fast it would make your head spin. Leaping, bounding and pouncing – the play never seemed to stop! However, as with most cats, over the years he has slowed down, opting for more sunbathing and cuddles than energized play sessions. Naturally, with the decline in activity I began to notice an increase in his weight.
Cats have a difficult time when it comes to losing weight and it has to do with what we are feeding them. If cats have more carbs in their diet, they will not be eating the correct protein levels their body requires. Low protein is not ideal for general maintenance and energy levels. When looking at the evolution of cats, they use fat and protein as sources of energy. There is no need for carbohydrates in the food they eat. Cats metabolically use protein for energy. Lower protein diets lead to lower muscle mass and lower muscle mass leads to a lower metabolic rate and higher weight gain. There have been studies which analyze how high protein and low carbohydrate diets are good for weight loss while maintaining lean body mass. Dry food uses carbohydrates to bind the kibble together, and so it’s difficult to produce a low carb food in a dry form. High protein, low carbohydrates and low calories are better found in a canned or raw diet. In addition, portion control is very important as indoor cats don’t move around as much as outdoor cats and therefore, we need to constantly monitor the energy they consume and use.
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