ResearchOwner's perception of changes in behaviors associated with dieting in fat cats
Introduction
Obesity in cats has been defined as 25% or more over the cat's ideal body weight (Zoran, 2009). A study of 2000 cats from 31 veterinary hospitals in eastern United States found that 20% of the cats were overweight and 5% were obese (Scarlett et al., 1994). A large study based on body condition scores indicated that more than half of the pet cats were above optimal body condition (Lund et al., 1999). A more recent study indicated that 35% of the feline population is obese (Zoran, 2009). Overweight or obese cats are more likely to develop health problems. These health problems include lameness, diabetes mellitus, and nonallergic skin conditions (Buffington, 2002, Michel and Scherk, 2012), although there are few studies proving that obesity causes these problems rather than being associated with them. In addition, the ability to perform a thorough and adequate physical examination on an obese cat can be hindered because of the cat's size. Overall welfare is decreased if the cat is obese because of the myriad health problems. Factors that have been associated with feline obesity are living in an apartment, being a single cat, male, mixed-breed neutered or inactive, and being fed a specialty or prescription diet (Scarlett et al., 1994). Cats that live in apartments cannot climb stairs or travel more than a few meters in any direction; therefore, they do not expend as many calories. Male cats seem to be more sedentary, and castration only intensifies their inactivity. Neutering decreases feline maintenance energy requirements (Mitsuhashi et al., 2011). Prescription diets are very palatable so the cats consume more calories. Single cats have no other cat with which to play—or fight—so are less active than cats in multicat households. Free-choice feeding in which the cat can eat ad libitum is another risk factor for obesity. Owners are often reluctant to impose a weight loss program on their cats because they think the cats will be less affectionate and will beg all the time. They fear that the cat will no longer like them and do not want the cat to exhibit annoying behaviors.
There are many diets on the market to help cats lose weight. These diets vary in their nutritional content. Because cats are obligate carnivores and their natural diet consists of eating many (approximately 12 mice) rodents per day (Fitzgerald and Turner, 2000), one might hypothesize that a low-carbohydrate and high-protein (LoChoh) diet would reduce food-demanding behavior more than a high-fiber (HiFi) diet and would allow for a greater weight loss than a HiFi diet. This hypothesis is supported by studies in cats (Vasconcellos et al., 2009) indicating that weight loss is greater or sustained longer when a high-protein diet is consumed.
Feeding behavior can be divided into 3 phases, appetitive behavior, consummatory behavior, and satiety. Consummatory behavior is eating the food. Feline appetitive behaviors have not been well documented but could consist of biting or pouncing behavior because cats are predators or, if cats consider their caretakers as they do their mother, they may vocalize. Satiety behaviors could consist of playful behavior, because cats often play with their prey, but may also include rest and elimination behavior (Leyhausen, 1979).
Because owners have difficulty in reducing their cats' food intake, this study focuses on whether and how cats' behavior change when they are food restricted (Kienzle and Bergler, 2006). Our study had 2 primary objectives and 1 secondary objective. Our primary objectives were to quantify how a cat's behavior changes when its food intake is reduced and to determine which of these diets the owners believed made the cats feel more satiated.
A secondary objective was to determine whether percentage weight loss was greater with a high-protein diet than with a HiFi diet or a control diet after 4 and 8 weeks of consuming the assigned diet.
Section snippets
Recruitment, assignment, and eligibility criteria
Fifty-eight neutered cats (Table 1) were enrolled in a placebo-controlled study in which both the owners and the veterinarians (who weighed the cats) arbitrarily were unaware of the formulation of the diets. The diets were coded LMN, PQR, and STU so that the owners and veterinarian did not know the composition of the diet. The owners were recruited via advertisements in local newspapers and on local radio and television stations. Each cat was assigned systematically (by household, if there were
Results
Of the 58 cats enrolled in the study, 47 returned for the weighing at 4 weeks and 50 returned for the weighing at 8 weeks. Not all owners answered all the questions concerning the cat's behavior.
Discussion
The behavioral responses to food restrictions were similar across diets. Cats were most apt to increase vocalization (meowing and begging) before meals, follow their owners, and pace. There generally was no change in the types of behaviors exhibited by the cats—only a change in the frequency. One solution to the begging problem might be to feed the cats from devices that open at set times so that the food does not come from the owners. Although that might reduce the annoying begging behaviors,
Conclusion
Equicaloric food restriction led to weight loss in cats irrespective of the diet composition. A HiFi diet leads to a greater percentage weight loss than an equicaloric high-protein diet. No matter the composition of the diet, cats react behaviorally to feed restriction by intensifying their appetitive behaviors and showing increased affection to their owners.
Ethical considerations
The protocol was approved by the Cornell University Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee.
Conflict of interest
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
References (22)
How fat is that cat?
J. Fel. Med. Surg.
(2000)The growing problem of obesity in dogs and cats
J. Nutr.
(2006)- et al.
Dietary control of food intake in cats
Physiol. Behav.
(1978) - et al.
Purification and characterization of feline ghrelin and its possible role
Dom. Anim. Endocrinol.
(2007) Availability and caloric density of the diets as determinants of meal patterns in cats
Physiol. Behav.
(1975)- et al.
Human-animal relationship of owners of normal and overweight cats
J. Nutr.
(2006) - et al.
High protein intake affects lean body mass but not energy expenditure in nonobese neutered cats
J. Nutr.
(2004) - et al.
Protein intake during weight loss influences the energy required for weight loss and maintenance in cats
J. Nutr.
(2009) External and internal influences on disease risk in cats
J. Am. Vet. Med. Assoc.
(2002)- et al.
Changes in the body composition of cats during weight reduction by controlled dietary energy restriction
Vet. Rec.
(1996)
Dietary dilution and intake in the cat
Physiol. Behav.
Cited by (11)
Feeding Cats for Optimal Mental and Behavioral Well-Being
2020, Veterinary Clinics of North America - Small Animal PracticeCitation Excerpt :Some cats may exhibit demanding behavior (eg, meowing, knocking things off shelves) at other times to get food or attention. Cats on restricted intake show more “affectionate” behaviors (such as sitting in a lap) in addition to attention-seeking behaviors (such as begging, following owners, and meowing),66 likely in an attempt to solicit food from the owner. Some cats may even become aggressive when waiting for food or try to steal human food from counters and tables.67
Scope of the Problem and Perception by Owners and Veterinarians
2016, Veterinary Clinics of North America - Small Animal PracticeCitation Excerpt :This may also be a way to justify a pet’s condition as well as rationalize their lack of intent to address the problem. However, one recent study found that overweight cats subjected to weight loss were actually reportedly more affectionate than before the plan started, even though their food seeking behavior also increased.31 Together with owner recognition and understanding of the problem, effective client communication is critical to ensuring this understanding and helping achieve a successful weight loss program.
Obesity Treatment: Environment and Behavior Modification
2016, Veterinary Clinics of North America - Small Animal PracticeCitation Excerpt :Habituate animals with free access to food to free access during scheduled parts of the day with eventual transition to isolated meal feeding. Cats exhibit increased appetitive behaviors and affection when exposed to caloric restriction but no behavioral difference with reduction from ad libitum versus habituated meal feeding.56 Owners of obese dogs tend to interpret every need as a request for food,57 and owners of obese cats give in more frequently to begging behavior.50
Special issue: The "dominance" debate and improved behavioral measures-Articles from the 2014 CSF/FSF
2016, Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and Research