People who overfeed their cats may be doing them more harm than good. It’s well-known that overeating can lead to weight gain in our furry friends. Moreover, scientists assert that it negatively impacts nutrient digestion and alters the gut microbiome. According to researchers from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, this finding serves as a warning to pet owners against overfeeding their cats and encourages them to promote more activity in their beloved pets.
How the Study Was Conducted
Over 52 percent of domestic cats in various countries are overweight, a statistic that raises significant concern. Researchers decided to thoroughly investigate the impact of weight gain on feline health. Professor of Nutrition Kelly Swanson, the lead author of the study, stated that the team aimed to “learn more about the metabolic and gastrointestinal changes that occur as a result of cats overeating and gaining weight.”
For their study, the scientists enlisted 11 “thin” cats: spayed adult females. For two weeks, these cats were fed a balanced and controlled diet. Then, over the next 18 weeks, they were given the same food but in unlimited quantities and as often as they desired. During the experiments, Professor Swanson and his colleagues analyzed blood and fecal samples from the animals and measured their physical activity using trackers.
What the Researchers Discovered
According to Kelly Swanson, the team expected that weight gain would lead to a decrease in the cats’ physical activity. Surprisingly, no consistent changes in the animals’ activity levels were observed. However, these results may vary depending on each individual cat, its environment, and how much interaction the owners have with their furry companions, the professor noted. On the other hand, predictions regarding the cats gaining weight were confirmed as expected. As the cats ate more and gained weight, their body fat levels also increased, while their ability to digest nutrients decreased, as reported by Science Alert.
“When the body receives less food, it extracts nutrients more efficiently. But when the amount of food increases, it passes through the digestive system more quickly, resulting in fewer nutrients being absorbed,” explained Professor Swanson. The more food the cats consumed, the more frequently they defecated, and their feces became more acidic, indicating that the food was not being digested effectively.
The researchers found differences in the types of microbes living in the animals’ intestines before and after the 18 weeks of unrestricted feeding. Additionally, the team noted that during the weight gain period, the gastrointestinal transit time decreased by approximately 25 percent. Notably, some changes in the animals’ microbiomes contradicted those observed in humans with obesity, suggesting that more complex factors than mere excess weight may be at play.
Understanding the metabolic and gastrointestinal changes that occur with obesity in cats could aid in its prevention and treatment. The team plans to focus their next study on how changes in gut microbiota relate to the overall health of the animals.
No cats were harmed during the experiments. Professor Swanson and his colleagues also demonstrated that portion control can help cats safely lose weight and fat. At the end of the study, all 11 animals that participated were placed on a special diet, which helped them shed pounds and return to a healthy weight. Of course, cats don’t like being told what to do. But it seems that our very independent companions can lead healthier and happier lives with the right intervention from us.
The results of the study were published in the Journal of Animal Science.