Impact of time-limited feeding and dietary carbohydrate content on weight loss in group-housed cats

J Feline Med Surg. 2005 Dec;7(6):349-55. doi: 10.1016/j.jfms.2005.05.003. Epub 2005 Jun 22.

Abstract

Twenty-four adult cats were transitioned to time-limited feeding and randomized to either a dry low carbohydrate diet (LC) or a dry reduced energy diet (HC). In Trial 1 the LC and HC groups received equal amounts of food (by weight) for 13 weeks. Both groups consumed all food offered, hence the LC group received more energy/day than the HC group. In Trial 2 all cats were fed the LC diet for 12 weeks, but each group received the energy that the opposite group had received in Trial 1. In Trial 1 only the overweight HC cats (body condition score> 6/9) experienced a significant change in body weight (-0.52 +/- 0.08 kg). In Trial 2, LC/Low Calorie overweight cats lost 0.62 +/- 0.10 kg, whereas, the LC/High Calorie normal weight cats gained 0.68 +/- 0.05 kg. In conclusion, body condition and energy intake but not type of diet influenced weight in this cohort of group-housed cats.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cat Diseases / diet therapy*
  • Cat Diseases / prevention & control
  • Cats
  • Diet, Fat-Restricted
  • Diet, Reducing / methods
  • Diet, Reducing / veterinary*
  • Dietary Carbohydrates / administration & dosage*
  • Obesity / diet therapy
  • Obesity / veterinary*
  • Random Allocation
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Weight Loss*

Substances

  • Dietary Carbohydrates