FOOD & NUTRITION

When Blazer tipped the scale at 29 pounds, his owner knew it was time to take action. He has always been a big boy, explains Susanne Jenkins of her tabby cat. But over the course of one long winter, he simply blew up. He was living with four dogs and getting into a lot of dog food. …

Join the club: About 40 percent of cats are overweight or obese, according to peer-reviewed studies. Unfortunately, that number may actually be an underestimate, says Deborah Linder, DVM, DACVN, head of the Tufts Obesity Clinic for Animals at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine. Feline obesity is associated with many health conditions and diseases - including diabetes, skin disease and joint disease.

Do a rib check. When you feel your cats rib cage, it should be no more padded than the back of your hand. If your cat appears to be overweight, add up the number of calories he or she receives each day. Count regular food, treats and table scraps. Be honest. (See article on healthy treats in Catnip, May 2013.) Provide daily diet information to your veterinarian during your cats wellness examination. Since obesity can cause other…

Like all mammals, domestic cats require a nutritionally sound daily diet, containing appropriate amounts of vitamins, proteins, minerals, carbohydrates, fats and water. Most of these dietary components come from the commercially prepared foods that the typical cat consumes each day, while adequate amounts of other important nutrients are manufactured within the cats system by means of complex biochemical processes. …

Q My husband and I live in an elderly community, with plenty of pet lovers. Our neighbor recently lost her toy breed dog,...

Hyperthyroidism and diet According to the Morris Animal Foundation, researchers at the University of Georgia are in the process of completing a study on whether certain cat food ingredients can cause feline hyperthyroidism, a common ailment in middle-aged and older cats. Research so far has found that flavonoids - plant proteins found in commercially available cat food - activate cultured feline thyroid cells as effectively as a cats normal thyroid-stimulating hormone. This suggests that flavonoids may interfere…

Many of us maintain a little stockpile of our favorite snacks in a cupboard somewhere. And plenty of pet owners feel that their beloved...

You may be asking: What exactly does it mean to keep treats to 10 percent or less of your cats daily calories? A little math: If your cat weighs eight to 10 pounds, for example, she will require about 200 to 250 calories per day, depending on how active she is, according to Dr. Heinze. That means treats should be no more than 20 to 25 calories. …

Letters to Tufts Veterinarians - A Tuna Fish Diet, Suckling Habit

You may regard your cat as a truly extraordinary creature - and even like a family member - and she may indeed be special in terms of her coloring, temperament, distinctive behavioral patterns and so forth. But in at least one respect, theres nothing at all unique about her. Like all other cats, big or small, male or female, playful or aloof, her good health depends on her consumption of a nutritionally sound and palatable…

If your cat has signs that may signal an allergy - skin problems that arent related to fleas or environmental allergies, or digestive problems such as chronic diarrhea or vomiting that doesnt have other causes - your veterinarian may recommend a special diet.

If your cat has chronic diarrhea - and your vet has ruled out medical conditions such as kidney or liver disease, and doesnt suspect an allergy - you may just try switching to another cat food. It may not matter which one. One study found that cats with chronic diarrhea often improve with diet change - it doesnt matter what you change them to, says Dr. Heinze. …