In reading the news headlines, or even the latest updates in my Facebook feed, I often see the discussion of food, diets, exercise and overall weight and health topics. These are topics that are important to me because of my food allergies, which require me to follow a strict diet. I believe that it is important to understand how the things we consume, including what, when, and how much, affect our bodies. As a veterinary technician and pet lover, I also believe that this conversation is very important to consider for our animal companions. Obesity is a problem in dogs and cats and is becoming all too common. Fortunately, many of the healthy habits that we are learning are good for us are also good for our pets.

 

An article I recently read titled, “Curbing feline obesity by offering smaller more frequent meals,” covers this topic. In a study performed at the University of Illinois, researchers found that cats that were fed smaller meals, more often, tended to be more active and weigh less. The link to the article is here: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/273054.php

 

I found this article interesting because it is a relatively simple solution to a problem that is becoming more widespread all the time. Of course every household is different, and feeding your cat 4 times per day may not be feasible, but the study found that even cats that went from free-feeding to being fed a set amount 2 times per day benefited. And it is a method that has been shown to have great success in weight loss in people as well. A win-win for you and your cat!