Fasting...

I knew that was coming… thatâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s why I mention in my earlier post… mainstream vets wouldnâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]t approve of fasting, many are skeptical of alternative approaches. But, itâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s good to have varied perspectives.


Well if that's what those weird holistic vets advocate, I'll make sure I keep going to a mainstream vet.

I can't think of any reason why I would want to fast my cat, unless it was for medical reasons. It's contrary to the way a domestic cat naturally feeds (ie lots of small meals throughout the day) and even if it doesn't do any harm, I can't see how it would be beneficial. Cats dont need to detox - they don't eat the crap that we do (at least not if they're fed a decent cat food)

Originally Posted by ilovemy2cats

Well if that's what those weird holistic vets advocate, I'll make sure I keep going to a mainstream vet.

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Yup, and those traditional/mainstream vets will keep pumping your animal full of chemicals every year without much question Combo vaccinations every year, flea and tick every month, heartworm year round, prescription foods, and the list goes on and on for any real problem. I felt the same before one of mine had serious problems with that protocol and all the harsh treatments. Wasted thousands of dollars too. I am very thankful for my holistic vet who is also very familiar with mainstream and traditional. It is a nice blend.

Seriously, my holistic vet does not advocate fasting for cats. I fast my dogs one meal if they have diarrhea occasionally, but I find feeding a mixture of rice and boiled chicken with a bit of pure canned pumpkin works too rather than a short fast. I am not against fasting for our domestic pet animals (but rarely if ever do they fast at my house) but if done I think it should be done with the advice of a knowledgeable vet, and under supervision from humans.
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Originally Posted by cococat

Yup, and those traditional/mainstream vets will keep pumping your animal full of chemicals every year without much question Combo vaccinations every year, flea and tick every month, heartworm year round, prescription foods, and the list goes on and on for any real problem. I felt the same before one of mine had serious problems with that protocol and all the harsh treatments. Wasted thousands of dollars too. I am very thankful for my holistic vet who is also very familiar with mainstream and traditional. It is a nice blend.

Seriously, my holistic vet does not advocate fasting for cats. I fast my dogs one meal if they have diarrhea occasionally, but I find feeding a mixture of rice and boiled chicken with a bit of pure canned pumpkin works too rather than a short fast. I am not against fasting for our domestic pet animals but I think it should be done with the advice of a knowledgeable vet, and under supervision from humans.
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I have the same vet situation... NOPE no fasting unless prior to surgery...

Just leave it some kibbles out and plenty of water. If it gets hungry it will eat. I used to leave my cats that way all the time over the weekend and they were always fine.

One of the cats that I have no will founder himself if you leave that much food out so when I go away now, even if just for the weekend, I have to have someone come in twice a day to feed them. They really don't care as long as they are getting fed.

Originally Posted by Kisabre

Lol… Iâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]ve just always heard "Fasting is the world's most ancient and natural healing mechanismâ€. It's probably preached by Holistic Doc's. Itâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s the most quoted sentence in regards to fasting. Itâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s been around for thousands of years. (As every one probably knowâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s)

But I have involuntarily fast… it wasnâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]t a conscious decision…. And I felt absolutely AMAZING… And shockingly I wasnâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]t even hungry…

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The problem is that while you know to start eating again, even though you're not hungry, your cat doesn't. When they stop eating, they start burning fat reserves and don't feel hungry again. Burning the fat for very long as the sole food source is what causes fatty liver disease. While a very trim cat may be able to fast for a couple of weeks without developing fatty liver (probably by breaking down muscle instead), a cat with extra pounds cannot. In fact, they can develop fatty liver disease by just eating less than normal for a few weeks. Bottom line, just have a friend or neighbor come by to give your cat the meal or leave out a little kibble (though be prepared for possible digestive upset when you return).

http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body...lipidosis.html
http://www.gcvs.com/imaging/ultrasound/lipidosis.htm

Originally Posted by cloud_shade

The problem is that while you know to start eating again, even though you're not hungry, your cat doesn't. When they stop eating, they start burning fat reserves and don't feel hungry again. Burning the fat for very long as the sole food source is what causes fatty liver disease. While a very trim cat may be able to fast for a couple of weeks without developing fatty liver (probably by breaking down muscle instead), a cat with extra pounds cannot. In fact, they can develop fatty liver disease by just eating less than normal for a few weeks. Bottom line, just have a friend or neighbor come by to give your cat the meal or leave out a little kibble (though be prepared for possible digestive upset when you return).

http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body...lipidosis.html
http://www.gcvs.com/imaging/ultrasound/lipidosis.htm

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I am completely aware of this. A one day fast does not equal fatty liver disease and especially for a cat thatâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s not obese and besides who said fast a cat for weeks?

Itâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s odd that when someone mentions fast a cat for a day… people mention HEPATIC LIPIDOSIS... Even though a one day fast is not associated with this disease… itâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s just not eating is associated with this condition. (For several days or 2 weeks)

But dry/kibble is said to be completely unnatural for a cat… and people make claims that itâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s associated with diabetes… but if someone makes a thread saying what dry should I feed my cat(s)… people are not going to come in there saying… your cat will get diabetes.

Just because a cat may not get hepatic lipidosis after a one day fast, that doesn't necessarily make it a good idea, surely? I would only fast a cat if there was a good reason for it - eg before surgery, because the cat has an upset stomach, because there was research indicating it's beneficial to the cat etc. In the absence of any of those reasons why do it? Especially if it's just for the convenience of the owner.

Originally Posted by Kisabre

I am completely aware of this. A one day fast does not equal fatty liver disease and especially for a cat that’s not obese and besides who said fast a cat for weeks?

It’s odd that when someone mentions fast a cat for a day… people mention HEPATIC LIPIDOSIS... Even though a one day fast is not associated with this disease… it’s just not eating is associated with this condition. (For several days or 2 weeks)

But dry/kibble is said to be completely unnatural for a cat… and people make claims that it’s associated with diabetes… but if someone makes a thread saying what dry should I feed my cat(s)… people are not going to come in there saying… your cat will get diabetes.

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The problem is that many cats won't start eating again so that one day fast might continue for several days before the owner gets worried and takes the cat in or syringe feeds. For really heavy cats, one day may be enough to push them into fatty liver by the way. While that may not be the case with this cat, it may be for others reading this thread. There is no set number of days that we know a cat can survive without eating as it depends on the individual cat. It's just not worth the risk.

As for the kibble, I would consider it a last resort in the original poster's case. It's not hard to have a friend or neighbor stop by and pull some food out of the fridge for the cat. If that isn't possible, the leaving out kibble would be better than no food for 2 days (depending one when he/she leaves and returns). As for the diabetes angle, people advocate for canned or raw here all the time and encourage people to stop or reduce the feeding of dry. Two days of dry food will not cause diabetes, but two days of not eating can lead to further inappetance and anorexia.

Originally Posted by Kisabre

I am completely aware of this. A one day fast does not equal fatty liver disease and especially for a cat that’s not obese and besides who said fast a cat for weeks?

It’s odd that when someone mentions fast a cat for a day… people mention HEPATIC LIPIDOSIS... Even though a one day fast is not associated with this disease… it’s just not eating is associated with this condition. (For several days or 2 weeks)

But dry/kibble is said to be completely unnatural for a cat… and people make claims that it’s associated with diabetes… but if someone makes a thread saying what dry should I feed my cat(s)… people are not going to come in there saying… your cat will get diabetes.

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Natural vs. unnatural isn't conclusive.

There are risks with everything. People make claims about everything. The information about diet is often conflicting, even among the vet community. Raw meat is suppose to natural yet I have personally seen two healthy raw fed show dogs die due to raw meat (it was confirmed by a holistic vet). Hundreds more don't have a problem with it and are very healthy for years. Also hundreds of cats live into their teens on kibble food and they are healthy. There are lots of ways to look at it.

It is completely unnatural to get spayed or neutered, have nails clipped, or get bath time but it is important for the overall longevity and health of our pets.

I don't think it is okay to leave a cat without food and call it a fast (which was not done in this case). I would think a qualified vet suggestion that has known the personal cat and human owner supervision would be important for a fast.

Fasting does have benefits and it actually does serve a healthful purpose besides doing it just before surgery; it’s been around for what 10,000 years, with success? And once again a one day fast isn’t going to deteriorate the health of a healthy animal (i.e. fatty liver disease).

But to give caution to animals including humans that should not fast are pregnant animals, young animals (you wouldn’t fast an infant, would you?), obese animals (which have been mention numerous times, and I’m probably leaving some then else out.

And I still say it’s extreme to mention hepatic lipidosis for a one day fast and my comparison about dry being unnatural for cats. Still remains people do not response to the thread starter saying anything about diabetes or obesity or any other health deteriorating effect in result of feeding a carbohydrate loaded diet. The concerns about lack of human supervision, the convenience factor, and the reasons behind the fast makes sense but it’s a bit overboard to say the cat will suffer from hepatic lipidosis.

Some well-known vets that I can think of right now that do speak of good effects surrounding fasting for just a day (not 2 days or weeks as some members of this forum has mention) are Dr. Martin Goldstein and Dr. Pitarcin. I’m sure I’ve probably butcher their names but the names should still be recognizable.

I’m not trying to encourage people to fast their pets. Especially if their vet disagrees with this method, however, I will say some vets think its fantastic and some think it’s horrible. So, who’s right and who’s wrong?

Originally Posted by cococat

I don't think it is okay to leave a cat without food and call it a fast (which was not done in this case). I would think a qualified vet suggestion that has known the personal cat and human owner supervision would be important for a fast.

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This is a good judgment call but my concerns were over people mentioning fatty liver disease for one day of absent food.

Cococat

It’s pretty conclusive that kibble is unnatural for a cat. If you just look at the undeniable fact that cat’s are obligate carnivores. And no it’s not absolutely guaranteed that cats that eat kibble will suffer from obesity or diabetes, just as though it’s not guaranteed that if you smoke or experience second hand smoke you will get lung cancer.

I just wanted to update and let everyone who is concerned know that I now have a friend coming in for the day I will be away.

My main concern was if there would be reason for concern that I was not aware of... and I didn't know about the condition mentioned above... so I learned something new.

I truely feel that fasting "can" be a very positive thing... esp. for sick humans. Giving the digestion a short rest allows the body's other processes (cleansing processes) to function much better... and allows the body to heal itself. But I know that many will not agree with this statement.

Thank you to all who replied!!

Originally Posted by Kisabre

Cococat
And no it’s not absolutely guaranteed that cats that eat kibble will suffer from obesity or diabetes, just as though it’s not guaranteed that if you smoke or experience second hand smoke you will get lung cancer.

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I totally agree! Nice analogy! I personally don't feed an all kibble diet and try to stay away from heavy grain for my animals. I use a holistic vet. I try to do my research and understand what is right and wrong for my animals.

There is a lot of information out there, and lots of claims to back up their information that look favorably in whatever it is they believe. It is up to us to choose what is right for our pets by trying to learn all we can and all the sides of the issues since animals rely on us for their care and choose the vets that actually stay current with research and are open to all the ways of doing things.

Originally Posted by Jasmine's Mom

I just wanted to update and let everyone who is concerned know that I now have a friend coming in for the day I will be away.

Thank you to all who replied!!

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Thanks for the update! Hope your trip goes well

Originally Posted by Kisabre

This is a good judgment call but my concerns were over people mentioning fatty liver disease for one day of absent food.

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Gotcha. I personally don't know much about fatty liver disease.