Health of Cats

Nutrition and Health Related Diseases of Cats
Clinical nutrition- overview

Nutrition in prevention of disease Nutrition in treatment of disease
UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
College of Veterinary Medicine
Julie Churchill DVM, PhD, DACVN Assoc. Clinical Professor Companion Animal Nutrition
Nutritional Goals
Good quality of life Maximum longevity Incorporate dietary management into wellness program, disease prevention Nutritional management of diseases
Animal
Nutrient sensitive disease
Diet
Diet induced disease
Feeding
Feeding related problems
Disease prevention
Cat dental disease urinary tract disease/stones Diabetes obesity
Oral anatomy
Obligate Carnivores

5 Traits of a Cat
Nocturnal
Predators Territorial Solitary Maternal
Evolutionary factors-species influence

Cat- The Hunter
exceptional hunting skills preserved domesticated 6000 years hunting behavior independent from feeding behavior solitary hunters, eaters no social value of food
Hunting behavior
Constantly attuned to hunting Night hunting Sound = 1st alert [Motion] See Scent Texture Taste Day hunting- motion can replace sound
Cat-Carnivore Feeding Behavior

10-20 small meals/day Avg. rat carcass- 5.7 kcal/g (ME)* Food consumption based on energy density not bulk of food Taste preferences
Physical form, odor and temperature
Cat-Carnivores
Wild cats maintain body weight and fitness House cats lose ability to regulate energy intake
available food source High nutrient density (Calories/cup or can) lack of physical activity
Pets as Zoo Animals?

Captive Dependent
Food & water Elimination Stimulation
Feeding-related problems
Diet or product is complete/balanced, but animal is not thriving because too little or too much food is delivered for its life stage, life style or performance needs
Disease prevention
Obesity
The #1 health problem of pets 26-47% prevalence associated with health risks and decreased life span
Body Condition Score
Prevalence of obesity
National Companion Animal Study:summary for feline data

34 % of adult cats overweight or obese Peak age 9-11 years of age Spayed females and neutered males More likely to be fed non-grocery dry food

Feline summary: disease frequency

Oral disease FLUTD/UTI Cat bite abscess Miliary dermatitis Allergic dermatitis Moist dermatitis Diabetes mellitus asthma Lipoma Dyspnea Ruptured cruciate Deep pyoderma
Health risks of obesity-cats

LUTD Diabetes mellitus Hepatic lipidosis Increased anesthetic risk Dermatologic disease Dyspnea/asthma Orthopedic disease Oral disease Lipoma
Obesity
Obesity is the number one health problem in cats and dogs Obesity is linked to health problems and shorter lives Obesity is PREVENTABLE Obesity is a DISEASE
Effect of Life Stage on Nutrient Needs

4 Birth 3 Lactation Work
Owner and Environment.

Activity Intake
2 Growth 1 0 Maintenance
Env.
Pregnancy
Inactivity Neutered
Healthy Weight ?
http://http://indoorpet.osu.edu/
Working for Food
Nutrient-sensitive Defined
Theres a problem with the patientnot the food!
This animal doesnt do

well on the diet or product in question, but other animals consuming the same product dont have any problems.
UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA 27
Geriatric cat- an individual

Common diseases with advancing age Dental problems Kidney failure Arthritis Cancer Heart disease Weight loss Hyperthyroid
Water
Life stage nutrition- Geriatric cat

Senior/Geriatric Diet no definition +/-Reduced protein Reduced phosphorus Reduced sodium Calorie adjustment Fiber (?)
Diet responsive diseases
Prevalence of obesity

Endocrine- diabetes mellitus Gastrointestinal diseases Liver disease Dermatological/allergies Kidney failure Hyperthyroid** Critical care/ post-op recovery Urinary crystals/stones
Nutrition in the treatment of disease
Diabetes mellitus- dietary therapy

Adjunctive therapy to insulin Normalize body weight Palatable diet- predictable intake High protein diet Fiber(?)
Diabetes mellitus- dietary therapy

Carnivorous cat Dietary protein plays a role in maintaining blood sugar protein provides substrate for glucose production Minimize blood glucose spikes after meals
Hepatic lipidosis- Fatty liver

Fatty liver
Fat cats predisposed (at risk) Potentially lethal liver disease Multiple factors lead to malnutrition Anorexia, nausea, vomiting, weight loss Fat accumulates in liver cells Therapy: NUTRITION
Feline Nutritional/Metabolic Needs

Water 1.5-2.0 ml/g of food (prey) Energy- DER = 1.2 X RER Protein
Quantity Quality amino acid composition
Protein metabolism
8
Protein metabolism
1000
Hepatic Deaminase& Transaminase Activity 500 uMol/min/g)
0 0
cat
dog
Low protein food
High protein food
Low protein food
High protein food
Rat
Cat
Feeding Behavior
10-20 small meals/day Avg. rat carcass- 5.7 kcal/g (ME)* Food consumption based on energy density not bulk of food Taste preferences
Physical form, odor and temperature
Natural feeding behavior

Food selection highly variable in dogs and cats
sensory (odor, temperature, mouth feel) past experience
Neophilia-common in carnivores Neophobia- important in veterinary patients Aversion cats > dogs, occurs in both
Animal
Feeding
Diet
Hyperthyroidism
Adenomatous hyperplasia (benign, function) Disease of elder cats hypermetabolic Increased appetite, activity and wt loss Requires iodine to metabolize thyroid hormone Therapeutic diet
Ultra low Iodine levels (functional deficiency)
Diet-induced problems
Theres a problem with the foodnot the patient! This food doesnt provide optimal nutrition and in fact causes problems in healthy animals who consume it.
Diet-induced disease
Popular nutrition trend: home cooked

Nutrition = nurture Control over ingredients Natural, preservative free, color free Specific health goals
Popular Fads Raw Diets

BARF diet Evolution/wild type diet Increasing trend human nutrition
Health benefits of raw foods Caveman diet
Popular Fads Raw Diets-Concerns

Bacterial and parasitic contamination
Health hazard to the pet PUBLIC HEALTH HAZARD
NOT nutritionally balanced Bones- fracture teeth, perforate intestines Potentially lethal
Common problems of homemade diets

All meat or very high protein Nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidsm deficient calcium/excess phosphorus/ Vitamins A and D toxic- liver Micromineral deficiency Raw fish diet- potential thiamin deficiency
Feeding tuna
High in PUFAs Increase Vitamin E need Vitamin E Deficiency Steatitis
Cervical ventroflexion
Thiamin deficiency Hypokalemia
10
Vegetarian Diets
Inadequate protein/amino acids- taurine Vitamins- preformed Vitamin A, B12, niacin Minerals-calcium, iron, zinc, copper Fat-Arachidonic acid (vitamin E)
Vegetarian
No Carb diet
Myth that cats cannot use carbohydrate (up 50% ME) Carbs do not cause diabetes Carbohydrate does not cause obesity
Summary
Future focus on increasing knowledge of optimal nutrient requirements Emphasize wellness,disease prevention, longevity, optimal performance Use complete and balanced products, with nutrients balanced to energy density
Summary
Obligate carnivores Develop taste preferences Consider mixing brands and forms of food
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Health of Cats

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Health of Cats

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Nutrition and Health Related Diseases of Cats

Clinical nutrition- overview

Evolutionary factors-species influence

Cat-Carnivore Feeding Behavior

Pets as Zoo Animals?

Body Condition Score

National Companion Animal Study:summary for feline data

Feline summary: disease frequency

Health risks of obesity-cats

Effect of Life Stage on Nutrient Needs

Owner and Environment.

College of Veterinary Medicine

Working for Food

This animal doesnt do

Geriatric cat- an individual

Life stage nutrition- Geriatric cat

Diet responsive diseases

Nutrition in the treatment of disease

Diabetes mellitus- dietary therapy

Diabetes mellitus- dietary therapy

Hepatic lipidosis- Fatty liver

Feline Nutritional/Metabolic Needs

Low protein food

High protein food

Low protein food

High protein food

Natural feeding behavior

Popular nutrition trend: home cooked

Popular Fads Raw Diets

Popular Fads Raw Diets-Concerns

Common problems of homemade diets

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