Adopted a cat yesterday.
She weighs 11.47 lbs.
Both the shelter and a new vet recommended that Josie should shed some pounds; I agree. Both the shelter and the vet thought somewhere between 9-10 lbs would be ideal; I also concur.
That said, it is my understanding that the average cat should receive 30 kcal/lb/day to maintain their existing body weight. For her existing weight, that would be approximately 344 kcals/day (30 x 11.47)
The shelter recommended that she be fed 235 kcalories per day. That works out to being 68.29% of the total kcalories necessary to maintain her current weight. The "nutritionist" at the vet today recommended that she only be given 200 kcalories per day. That works out to 58.12% of the total kcalories necessary to maintain her current weight.
The dilemma: It is my understanding that a cat should never be given LESS than 85-90% of their existing total kcalorie intake when on a diet, lest take the risk of them going into hepatic lipidosis -- resulting in liver failure and possibly death. That is to day, if she's been on a diet of 344 kcals/day, maintaining her existing 11.47 lbs of weight, she should be given no less than 292.4 kcals/day (85% of 344).
I am apprehensive about decreasing her intake so drastically.
Do other folks have any thoughts on this they would like to share?
Thanks,
CheetahCats
She weighs 11.47 lbs.
Both the shelter and a new vet recommended that Josie should shed some pounds; I agree. Both the shelter and the vet thought somewhere between 9-10 lbs would be ideal; I also concur.
That said, it is my understanding that the average cat should receive 30 kcal/lb/day to maintain their existing body weight. For her existing weight, that would be approximately 344 kcals/day (30 x 11.47)
The shelter recommended that she be fed 235 kcalories per day. That works out to being 68.29% of the total kcalories necessary to maintain her current weight. The "nutritionist" at the vet today recommended that she only be given 200 kcalories per day. That works out to 58.12% of the total kcalories necessary to maintain her current weight.
The dilemma: It is my understanding that a cat should never be given LESS than 85-90% of their existing total kcalorie intake when on a diet, lest take the risk of them going into hepatic lipidosis -- resulting in liver failure and possibly death. That is to day, if she's been on a diet of 344 kcals/day, maintaining her existing 11.47 lbs of weight, she should be given no less than 292.4 kcals/day (85% of 344).
I am apprehensive about decreasing her intake so drastically.
Do other folks have any thoughts on this they would like to share?
Thanks,
CheetahCats