Providing the right nutrition at the right time is important for optimal condition and health.
Even though most cats spend most (or all) of their time indoors in relatively climate-controlled conditions, they still have a physiological response to the changing seasons.
For wild carnivores, breeding season is typically in the colder months, when food is scarcer; with young born in the spring when food is more abundant.
Summer is generally a season of higher activity; but in winter, much energy is used to keep warm, so energy requirements may be higher.
Human tinkering with genetics may have produced breeds that look quite different, but physiologically our cats are not so different from their wild ancestors.
In general, good fats (such as fish oil or cod liver oil) should be increased in the winter (especially in the dry climate of Colorado), while protein can be higher in the summer when cats are more active.
Diet changes should be accomplished gradually, beginning in the transition seasons (spring, fall).
In dry pet foods, grains and other carbohydrates, such as starchy vegetables, are used as an energy source (e.
g.
, calories), but after their days as nursing kittens days, cats do not need carbs.
Excess carbs, in fact, seem to have a detrimental effect on cats, causing weight gain and leading to urinary tract disease, obesity, diabetes, arthritis, and a host of other diet-related health problems.
Breed, age, and lifestyle have major effects on an individual cat's nutritional needs.
Cats shed their summer coat in the fall and grow in a thicker, more insulating winter coat that is, in turn, shed out in the spring in favor of a lighter summer coat.
Smaller cats have a faster metabolism and need more calories per pound than larger breeds like Maine Coons and Savannahs.
Young cats are more active and need more calories-but once they're spayed/neutered, their caloric requirements drop immediately and dramatically; their food intake should be cut by about 1/3 after spay/neuter surgery.
Overall, energy needs decline with age in cats; and their digestion also slows down.
Weight control is important at all ages, but especially for older animals who are prone to develop arthritis; excess weight creates even more stress on joints and can exacerbate arthritis pain.
Older cats tend to eventually lose weight on their own, so even for cats who were chubby in their younger years, maintaining a good body weight may actually require increased calories.
Omega-3 fatty acids provide good anti-inflammatory effects as well as a very usable source of energy.
Another Perspective Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) considers diet to be extremely influential on health, especially in terms of the balance of Yin and Yang.
Yin is considered cool, dark, and feminine, while Yang is warm, light, and masculine.
It's usually recommended to eat more Yang foods during the winter (the most Yin season), and to eat more Yin foods during the summer (the most Yang time of year).
But it's also appropriate to eat in tune with the season -- eating Yin foods during the winter and Yang foods during the summer.
It is all about balance.
Not only are certain foods considered more Yin or Yang, but the way food is prepared also affects the amount of Yang or Yin energy it has.
For example, frying increases Yang, while steaming increases Yin.
For example, cats tend toward Yin deficiency and may need warmer foods.
However, TCM can be very complex! If you want to work with diet for healing purposes, you may wish to consult a veterinarian familiar with Traditional Chinese Medicine who can advise you on specifics (see www.
holisticvetlist.
com to find a practitioner).
Even though most cats spend most (or all) of their time indoors in relatively climate-controlled conditions, they still have a physiological response to the changing seasons.
For wild carnivores, breeding season is typically in the colder months, when food is scarcer; with young born in the spring when food is more abundant.
Summer is generally a season of higher activity; but in winter, much energy is used to keep warm, so energy requirements may be higher.
Human tinkering with genetics may have produced breeds that look quite different, but physiologically our cats are not so different from their wild ancestors.
In general, good fats (such as fish oil or cod liver oil) should be increased in the winter (especially in the dry climate of Colorado), while protein can be higher in the summer when cats are more active.
Diet changes should be accomplished gradually, beginning in the transition seasons (spring, fall).
In dry pet foods, grains and other carbohydrates, such as starchy vegetables, are used as an energy source (e.
g.
, calories), but after their days as nursing kittens days, cats do not need carbs.
Excess carbs, in fact, seem to have a detrimental effect on cats, causing weight gain and leading to urinary tract disease, obesity, diabetes, arthritis, and a host of other diet-related health problems.
Breed, age, and lifestyle have major effects on an individual cat's nutritional needs.
Cats shed their summer coat in the fall and grow in a thicker, more insulating winter coat that is, in turn, shed out in the spring in favor of a lighter summer coat.
Smaller cats have a faster metabolism and need more calories per pound than larger breeds like Maine Coons and Savannahs.
Young cats are more active and need more calories-but once they're spayed/neutered, their caloric requirements drop immediately and dramatically; their food intake should be cut by about 1/3 after spay/neuter surgery.
Overall, energy needs decline with age in cats; and their digestion also slows down.
Weight control is important at all ages, but especially for older animals who are prone to develop arthritis; excess weight creates even more stress on joints and can exacerbate arthritis pain.
Older cats tend to eventually lose weight on their own, so even for cats who were chubby in their younger years, maintaining a good body weight may actually require increased calories.
Omega-3 fatty acids provide good anti-inflammatory effects as well as a very usable source of energy.
Another Perspective Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) considers diet to be extremely influential on health, especially in terms of the balance of Yin and Yang.
Yin is considered cool, dark, and feminine, while Yang is warm, light, and masculine.
It's usually recommended to eat more Yang foods during the winter (the most Yin season), and to eat more Yin foods during the summer (the most Yang time of year).
But it's also appropriate to eat in tune with the season -- eating Yin foods during the winter and Yang foods during the summer.
It is all about balance.
Not only are certain foods considered more Yin or Yang, but the way food is prepared also affects the amount of Yang or Yin energy it has.
For example, frying increases Yang, while steaming increases Yin.
- Yang foods: chicken, beef, lamb, oats, sardines cheese, organ meats, egg yolks; Preparation: fried, stir-fried, boiled, baked; food served very warm
- Neutral foods: beef liver/heart, brown rice, buckwheat, dairy, fish, honey, milk, rice, yam; Preparation: food served slightly warm
- Yin foods: kelp, barley, crab, fish, eggs, millet, pork, seafood, spinach, tofu; Preparation: steamed, raw; food served cool or cold
For example, cats tend toward Yin deficiency and may need warmer foods.
However, TCM can be very complex! If you want to work with diet for healing purposes, you may wish to consult a veterinarian familiar with Traditional Chinese Medicine who can advise you on specifics (see www.
holisticvetlist.
com to find a practitioner).
Source...