Is it OK to feed a cat once a day

Feeding indoor cats just once a day could improve health

Got a cat that always seems hungry? New University of Guelph research suggests you might want to reduce -- not increase -- how often you feed them.

Animal nutrition specialists in U of G's Ontario Veterinary College (OVC) and Ontario Agricultural College (OAC) have found that feeding cats one large meal a day may help control hunger better than feeding them several times a day.

The research, published in the journal PLOS One, revealed that cats that ate one meal a day were more satisfied, which could result in less food-begging behaviour.

The results also suggest cutting back feeding frequency could help reduce the risk of obesity by controlling cats' appetite and potentially making them eat less -- an important discovery given that obesity is the most common nutritional problem affecting cats.

"These findings may surprise the veterinary community and many cat owners who have been told their animals need several small meals a day," said study co-author Prof. Adronie Verbrugghe, a veterinarian with OVC's Department of Clinical Studies, who specializes in companion animal nutrition. "But these results suggest there are benefits to this approach."

Previous research has examined the effects of meal frequency on cat behaviour, but this study is the first to use a comprehensive approach analyzing effects on appetite-suppressing hormones, physical activity, energy expenditure and use of energy sources, said co-author Prof. Kate Shoveller, an expert in animal nutrition with U of G's Department of Animal Biosciences.

"There was no good research to back up the several-meals-a-day approach that many owners hear, and so we wanted to put some real data behind current feeding recommendations to be sure they were right for cats," she said.

The study involved eight healthy-weight, indoor cats under the age of five. Each cat was exposed to both feeding regimens and each for a total of three weeks, with the same diet and amount being offered in either one meal or four meals. Some of the cats were fed only in the morning, while the others were fed the same amount in four smaller meals.

The cats were equipped with activity monitors on harnesses to measure their voluntary physical activity. Food intake was recorded daily, and body weight was measured weekly. Researchers also measured cat metabolism through breath and blood.

Physical activity was higher in cats fed four times a day, but overall energy expenditure was similar between the groups. The weights of the cats in both groups did not change over the study period, no matter which feeding schedule they were on.

Cats that ate just once a day had higher post-meal levels of three key appetite-regulating hormones, suggesting they were more satisfied. These cats also showed lower fasting respiratory quotient, suggesting they were burning their fat stores, which is key to maintaining lean body mass.

The cats that ate only one meal a day also had a larger increase in blood amino acids, meaning more protein was available to them to build muscle and other important proteins. This is important given that many cats lose muscle mass as they age, a condition known as sarcopenia.

"Physiologically, it makes sense that feeding only once a day would have benefits," said Shoveller. "When you look at human research, there's pretty consistent evidence that there are positive health outcomes with intermittent fasting and improved satiety."

Even big cats in the wild engage in a form of intermittent fasting, the authors note, feasting when they make a kill and fasting before the next one.

While their data suggest feeding once a day may be a good way to promote satiation and lean body mass, the researchers would like to do longer studies.

"This approach is really yet another tool in a veterinarian or a cat owner's toolbox for managing a cat's weight and keeping their animals healthy and happy," said Verbrugghe, who is the Royal Canin Veterinary Diets Endowed Chair in Canine and Feline Clinical Nutrition. "But we always have to look at each individual animal and account for the cat's and owner's lifestyle. So although this approach might be helpful to promote satiety in some cats, it might not help another."

The research was funded with support from the Winn Feline Foundation and Simmons Pet Food.

The amount and frequency of meals depends on your cat's age, health and preference.

Check the pet food aisle at your local supermarket, and you'll find dozens of varieties of food to entice your cat. If you feed your cat too little or the wrong kind of food, he will lose weight and runs the risk of developing serious health issues (i.e. hepatic lipidosis, a potentially life-threatening condition characterized by excessive fat accumulation the liver). Feed him too much, and he will likely become overweight. You can help get your cat off on the right paw by establishing regular feeding routines. Although the food you feed your cat should be complete and balanced, the simple answer to how often you should feed him is that there isn't a simple answer.

Age makes a difference

Kittens require more food per pound of body weight to support their growth than do adult cats, and therefore should be fed more often throughout the day. Until they are six months old, kittens will usually do best when fed three meals a day. Between the ages of six months and one year, twice daily feeding is generally best.

Once the cat becomes an adult, at about one year of age, feeding once or twice a day is appropriate in most cases. Senior cats (10 years of age and older) should maintain the same feeding regimen unless owners are otherwise instructed by a veterinarian.

The health of your cat matters

Cats that suffer from certain diseases may benefit from having their diet modified. Diabetic cats, for example, should ideally be fed a diet that is moderately restricted in carbohydrates, while cats suffering from advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) should usually be fed a protein and phosphorus-restricted diet.

Cat that suffer from periodontal disease (which is very common) may find it difficult to chew dry food. If this is the case, offering wet food or dry food in a finer nugget size and/or water added to it may help.

Is there abest type of food?

The important thing is that a food is nutritionally complete and balanced, and there are many high-quality wet and dry cat foods that fulfill this requirement. While all cats should be provided with plenty of fresh water at all times, this is especially important for cats that eat only dry food, especially if they are prone to lower urinary tract disease.

Wet cat food is typically about 70 to 80 percent water, and can be fed in addition to or instead of dry. Some cats may find canned food more palatable, and they may consume too much if they are allowed free access to food. Of course, this may occur with dry food as well.

Super-sizing food portions is not just a problem for people. Since the feeding instructions on pet food labels are based on the needs of the average cat, you may be feeding more than necessary if your cat expends less energy per day than the average cat. Of course, cats that expend more energy than the average cat may require more calories to maintain good health. Dry food can also be supplemented with a small amount of wet food to make meals more appealing.

Free feeding dry food (keeping it available all the time, sometimes referred to as graze-feeding) may be acceptable for some cats, but for others, it can result in overeating and inappropriate weight gain. Importantly, owners should be sure that any food offered to their cats is fresh. A ny food left our for grazing, for example, should be replenished with new food every day.

And here's a useful hint: If you have a finicky cat, switching foods occasionally may help keep him from becoming hooked on only one diet.

Consider your schedule

How often you feed your cat may depend on your schedule as well. Mornings may be hectic as you get the kids off to school and yourself off to work. Under these circumstances, feeding your cat may be easier in the evening when it's quieter and less busy. If you are running around a lot in the evening, feed your cat in the morning before everyone else is up. Find a schedule that works for you and your cat - and then keep it consistent.

In a multi-cat household, not all cats automatically come when called for dinner, potentially making it difficult for some to get food unless it is left out all the time. Other cats may eat too much when food is always available. In some cases, feeding cats separately or in different parts of the house may be helpful.

This article originally appeared in CatWatch. It has been updated and edited since original publication.

Edited 2024

Meal Feeding vs. Free Feeding Cats: What's Best?

Meal feeding means you're providing food to your cat only at specific meal times during the day. Both canned and dry foods can be fed in this manner.

Advantages:Food intake can be closely monitored, which means it will be easy to tell if your cat has had a change in appetite. In addition, if you have the joy of amultiple cat household, all cats will have access to food without one being dominant over the others one cat could be eating all the food and gaining too much weight, and the other cat(s) could be missing out on the nutrients they need to stay healthy.

Disadvantages.Cats might beg for food between meals. Your cat cannot control how much she eats at a certain time. However, if you are following your veterinarian's advice with proper amounts and regular feeding, you can rest easy that she is indeed getting the right amount of food and nutrients.

The bottom line.While kittens should be fed up to three times a day, once a cat becomes an adult (at about one year of age) feeding once or twice a day is just fine, says theCornell Feline Health Center. In fact, feeding just once-a-day should be acceptable for the majority of cats. "Once cats reach adulthood, once a day feeding is fine as long as they are healthy and have no disease problems suggesting a reason to feed differently," Cornell reports. Again, always check with your vet before deciding on a feeding regimen.

If you have multiple cats, ideally each cat should have their own food and water station in a quiet, low-traffic place where the cat likes to spend time,The Cat Doctorsadvises. That's because cats are solitary eaters they prefer to be alone when they eat.

Feeding indoor cats just once a day could improve health

Got a cat that always seems hungry? New University of Guelph research suggests you might want to reducenot increasehow often you feed them.

Animal nutrition specialists in U of G's Ontario Veterinary College (OVC) and Ontario Agricultural College (OAC) have found that feeding cats one large meal a day may help control hunger better than feeding them several times a day.

The research, published in the journal PLOS One, revealed that cats that ate one meal a day were more satisfied, which could result in less food-begging behavior.

The results also suggest cutting back feeding frequency could help reduce the risk of obesity by controlling cats' appetite and potentially making them eat lessan important discovery given that obesity is the most common nutritional problem affecting cats.

"These findings may surprise the veterinary community and many cat owners who have been told their animals need several small meals a day," said study co-author Prof. Adronie Verbrugghe, a veterinarian with OVC's Department of Clinical Studies, who specializes in companion animal nutrition. "But these results suggest there are benefits to this approach."

Previous research has examined the effects of meal frequency on cat behavior, but this study is the first to use a comprehensive approach analyzing effects on appetite-suppressing hormones, physical activity, energy expenditure and use of energy sources, said co-author Prof. Kate Shoveller, an expert in animal nutrition with U of G's Department of Animal Biosciences.

"There was no good research to back up the several-meals-a-day approach that many owners hear, and so we wanted to put some real data behind current feeding recommendations to be sure they were right for cats," she said.

The study involved eight healthy-weight, indoor cats under the age of five. Each cat was exposed to both feeding regimens and each for a total of three weeks, with the same diet and amount being offered in either one meal or four meals. Some of the cats were fed only in the morning, while the others were fed the same amount in four smaller meals.

The cats were equipped with activity monitors on harnessesto measure their voluntary physical activity. Food intake was recorded daily, and body weight was measured weekly. Researchers also measured cat metabolism through breath and blood.

Physical activity was higher in cats fed four times a day, but overall energy expenditure was similar between the groups. The weights of the cats in both groups did not change over the study period, no matter which feeding schedule they were on.

Cats that ate just once a day had higher post-meal levels of three key appetite-regulating hormones, suggesting they were more satisfied. These cats also showed lower fasting respiratory quotient, suggesting they were burning their fat stores, which is key to maintaining lean body mass.

The cats that ate only one meal a day also had a larger increase in blood amino acids, meaning more protein was available to them to build muscle and other important proteins. This is important given that many cats lose muscle mass as they age, a condition known as sarcopenia.

"Physiologically, it makes sense that feeding only once a day would have benefits," said Shoveller. "When you look at human research, there's pretty consistent evidence that there are positive health outcomes with intermittent fasting and improved satiety."

Even big cats in the wild engage in a form of intermittent fasting, the authors note, feasting when they make a kill and fasting before the next one.

While their data suggest feeding once a day may be a good way to promote satiation and lean body mass, the researchers would like to do longer studies.

"This approach is really yet another tool in a veterinarian or a cat owner's toolbox for managing a cat's weight and keeping their animals healthy and happy," said Verbrugghe. "But we always have to look at each individual animal and account for the cat's and owner's lifestyle. So although this approach might be helpful to promote satiety in some cats, it might not help another."

More information:Alexandra Camara et al, The daytime feeding frequency affects appetite-regulating hormones, amino acids, physical activity, and respiratory quotient, but not energy expenditure, in adult cats fed regimens for 21 days, PLOS ONE (2020). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0238522

Citation:Feeding indoor cats just once a day could improve health (2020, September 23)retrieved 26 April 2024from https://phys.org/news/2020-09-indoor-cats-day-health.html

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