FOOD & NUTRITION

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. …

What out for these pitfalls in commercial diets marketed for cats with allergies, says Dr. Heinze: Diets for cats with allergies that arent. The marketing can be inappropriate, says Dr. Heinze. The package may say something like venison and potato but when you look at the ingredients, its venison and potato plus chicken and duck. Even if the ingredients are limited, it may contain common allergenic foods such as chicken or fish. …

Cats with kidney disease often have changes in appetite - either decreased appetite or changes in food preferences. Below are tips to improve their eating: You should introduce any new diet gradually. Feed smaller meals more frequently. Warm canned food, and add homemade low-sodium chicken or fish broth to kibble. (Note: even commercial low sodium broths are too high in sodium.) …

Are cats emotional eaters? Dedicated and doting owners are usually blamed when their pets are overweight - but new research indicates that some cats and dogs are actually emotional eaters. These animals consume more calories than they need simply to cope with boredom or stress. Emotional eating can become a problem for cats and dogs, according to a recent study published in the Journal of Veterinary Behavior. A lack of activities, stimulation or exercise - coupled with…

Have you tried a probiotic on your cat to see if it would settle her stomach and relieve either constipation or diarrhea? If so, did it work? If not, veterinary researchers arent surprised. The evidence behind currently marketed probiotics, supplements that contain supposedly good bacteria to help an overactive or sensitive gut adjust, is pretty limited, says J Scott Weese, DVM, DVSc, DACVIM.

Raw food diets, already popular for dogs, are gaining devotees among many cat owners as well. The idea is to mimic as closely as possible the ancestral diet that the wild ancestors of domestic cats evolved on: freshly-killed prey, eaten raw. Proponents believe this approach makes for healthier cats. But a growing chorus of health professionals is raising red flags about raw food diets (RFDs). …

If you want to feed your cat homemade food, theres nothing wrong with that, emphasizes Dr. Heinze. All you have to do is cook it! Thats the only way we know that these diets are free from bacterial contamination. While most homemade cat-food diets are nutritionally inadequate, your veterinarian can suggest ways to make sure your cat is getting all the nutrients she needs. If you are feeding a homemade diet, suggests Dr. Heinze, I…

When your cat is diagnosed with diabetes, its certainly going to require a lifestyle change for your pet, explains Deborah Linder, DVM, Head of Tufts Obesity Clinic for Animals at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine. Your cat can do very well, and have an excellent quality of life for many years, she says. But it does require intensive management by the owner.

Researchers at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University recently analyzed 90 canned foods from 45 brands to determine if commercial canned cat foods meet the thiamine requirements set by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). This study was prompted by six recalls of thiamine-deficient cat food in the past five years. …