2/21/2014

Good morning!  Temp is 65 degrees  :)   Loving it!!!    I will be taking  Autumn to Raleigh today to meet with the oncologist.

Today is  Card Reading Day

Today in History

2/21/72  Richard Nixon becomes the first U.S. President to visit China. 

Fat Cats!

by Jill Anne Sparapany

Is your cat a happy fat cat or just overweight?

Pet nutrition has become very advanced in developing foods designed for managing specific illnesses, such renal and gastro-intestinal (GI) diseases and diabetes.

One very common problem is obesity in cats. In nature, food acquisition has never been a sure thing for any animal and has always been accompanied by physical exertion to capture their food. Since indoor cats do not need to hunt for their food, they get less exercise and free feeding can pack on the pounds. Also as our pets age, they tend to gain weight as metabolism naturally slows, just like us!

Obesity in cats can predispose the cat to diabetes,

hepatic lipidosis (fatty liver) and arthritis.

You can help your cat live a long and healthy life with good nutrition and providing regular exercise. Before starting any weight loss diet, your cat needs to have a physical exam, weight measurement and lab work. Blood tests, including thyroid function tests, and urinalysis will rule out any physical or metabolic dysfunction. If there are no abnormalities, a gradual and carefully monitored weight loss program can be started. See the Body Condition Chart to determine if you have a Fat Cat.

What to feed your cat for best nutrition and weight management:

Cats are carnivores (pure meat eaters) and lack Amylase, a carbohydrate digesting enzyme, in their saliva and have very little amylase secreted from the pancreas into the intestines. Amylase breaks down large carbohydrates into glucose.

Research has shown cats cannot handle large carbohydrate loads efficiently. After a meal rich in carbs, the blood glucose level stay higher than normal for long periods of time, resulting in persistent hyperglycemia. This persistent hyperglycemic stimulus on the beta cells in the pancreas – the cells that produce insulin – makes them less sensitive to the blood glucose. Less insulin is secreted to normalize blood sugar levels and leads to insulin resistance, the prelude to diabetes.

Cats crave mice and birds as their primary food source. Mice and birds are only 3% to 8% carbohydrate and that comes from what the prey was eating. Cats require diets with high percentages of protein and fat and low percentages of carbs (grains) to maintain optimal nutritional status and body weight. The feline diet should contain 35-45% protein, 40% fat and very small percentage of carbs.

Young again pet food nutrition is based upon a mouse.  The same amounts of protein, etc.
Although the food looks expensive up front but they eat much less of it and in reality, it will cost you less.
You may find out more about their product here:  http://youngagainpetfood.com/10browse.asp?category=cats&&affId=166249

Many foods state they are ‘complete and balanced’, you need to look at the ingredient list on the cat food package. It should state meat! No corn (as corn bran, germ meal, ground corn, corn gluten or gluten meal), wheat or soy should be listed as a “primary protein source” – these are cheap protein sources that have high carb content. They have little nutritional protein value that comes with high carb expense to your cat’s diet. In fact, they should not be listed in the first 5-6 ingredients, which are listed in percentages present in decreasing order.

The food will need certain vitamin and mineral supplements added. Taurine and B-vitamins are essential for your cats health. Your cat does not need food flavor enhancers or food colors.

How much to feed your cat:

Cats, unlike us humans, obtain food satisfaction less from carbohydrate than they do from protein intake. Give them a high protein mouse and they are as happy as can be. One mouse would make a good meal for an average sized cat. A typical mouse is made of 20 percent protein and 9 percent fat and lots of moisture.

Feed two to four small portions daily. Read the manufacturer’s recommendations on the label.

TIKI CAT states the cat should be fed one 6-oz can for a 6-lb cat daily. (One ounce meat food per one pound of the cat’s weight per day. i.e. 12 lb cat would eat two 6-oz cans per day.)

Free feeding is one of the biggest contributing factors of feline obesity. For weight loss, discuss feeding amounts with your vet. After your cat has achieved its goal weight, discuss feeding amounts for weight maintenance.

What else can we do to promote kitty’s weight loss? Just like with us, weight management is a combination of consuming less calories and increasing metabolism. Unless you have a local gym for cats, you must provide the exercise.

Some cats tolerate walking on a leash. For the safety of your cat, use a chest type harness to prevent the cat from becoming spooked and getting out of its collar. Other cats do not tolerate a harness and simply ‘tip over’ on their sides. Silly kitties!

If you have the ‘tip over’ cat, you can provide exercise indoors. Have the cat stalk and chase toys and feathers on wands. The cat hunts prey that moves horizontally, like a mouse or bird in flight, so use horizontal motions to encourage your cats interest. Waving the toy up and down vertically will probably get you a stare that says, “What are you doing?” Once the cat becomes engaged in the stalk and chase, you can try incorporating jumping exercises on a safe surface of the floor.

Your cat will enjoy the playtime with you! No treats are needed! The playtime will be so much fun for your cat and provide additional bonding time. Instead of treats as positive reinforcement, use praise and petting. If your cat enjoys being brushed, you can use this activity as a winding down pleasure for them.

If your cat likes to run like crazy at night, playtime will release the cat’s energy before you go to sleep and they may snuggle quietly with you….until breakfast time!

BOXES

Thank you so much for all the wonderful gifts from our wishlists!

http://blindcatrescue.com/wishlist.htm

Thank you Jo Anne Larson for the dishwashing soap, bed and carrier!

Thank you Marcia Current for the Petfusion scratcher, denamarin, foods, throws, beds & toy!

Thank you Stephanie Skow for the scratch and rest, trash bags, food, and toys!

Than you unnamed for the freshstep!

Thank you Katherine DeGaetano for the food & litter!

Thank you Martha Garner for the foods!

Thank you Sharon El-Saadi for the gift card!

Thank you Priscillia & Simba for the gift card!

Thank you Mary WHite for the kuranda!

Thank you SueAnne Merrill for the gift card!

Thank you Ruth for the gift card!

Thank you Murrianna Thomson for the gift card!

Please help the blind cats win in TWO contests, both daily votes:
1. http://www.shopforyourcause.com/voting-challenge(category LARGE RESCUE Shelter, Blind Cat )
2. http://www.shelterchallenge.com/ 
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