Cat Nutrition – Pet Nutrition at OVC

Weight Wars: Tackling Obesity in Multi-Cat Households

Managing obesity in cats can be challenging, but the stakes are even higher for pet guardians who live with more than one cat. With the joy of having multiple feline companions comes the responsibility of ensuring each one maintains a healthy weight. This task requires careful observation and strategic planning, as the dynamics of a multi-cat home may contribute to an increased risk of obesity. In this blog post, we will dive into the risk factors associated with feline obesity, explore why cats living in groups are particularly susceptible, and provide practical tips for managing weight in a multi-cat home. Whether you're a seasoned cat guardian or new to sharing a living space with more than one feline friend, this blog post aims to support you in keeping all your cats fit and healthy.

My Experience as the Hill’s Pet Nutrition Summer Student

As we conclude our summer semester, we are excited to spotlight another one of our summer research students. Tonia spent her summer with the OVC Pet Nutrition Team, diving deep into the world of pet nutrition with the support of Hill’s. Her journey was filled with learning, growth, and unforgettable experiences.

My Summer as the Nestlé Purina Summer Student

My name is Alison Ng, and I’m currently a second-year Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) student at the Ontario Veterinary College (OVC). This summer, I had the privilege of joining OVC’s Clinical Nutrition Service as the Nestlé Purina Summer Student. My activities for the summer included attending rounds in the morning, shadowing procedures, participating in consultations, and working on my research project.

Congratulations to Coco on a Successful MSc. Defense!

On July 9th, Coco (Kehan) Zhang successfully defended her MSc. thesis titled, The fecal microbiome and metabolome signature in adult lean and obese cats fed an isoenergetically reduced macronutrient diets.

New publication: Identifying the target population and preventative strategies to combat feline obesity

We are excited to announce a new publication! Hannah Godfrey, Shawna Morrow, and colleagues recently published their new article “Identifying the target population and preventative strategies to combat feline obesity” in the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery.

Congratulations Jess on a Successful MSc. Defense!

On April 5th, Jess successfully defended her MSc. thesis titled, "The Nutrigenomic Effects of Dietary Choline and L-Carnitine on the Muscle and Liver of Lean and Obese Cats When Fed for Weight Maintenance."

New publication: Description of the fasted serum metabolomic signature of lean and obese cats at maintenance and of obese cats under energy restriction

We are excited to announce a new publication! Dr. Caitlin Grant and colleagues recently published their new article “Description of the fasted serum metabolomic signature of lean and obese cats at maintenance and of obese cats under energy restriction” in PLOS ONE. Read on for a short summary of their research and findings below.

The Science of Pet Nutrition: Understanding Indirect Calorimetry

In this post, we delve into a method that is used by researchers at the University of Guelph to study the impact of environmental factors, such as nutrition, on companion animal metabolism—Indirect Calorimetry.

Can the Easter Bunny Share his Carrots?

Happy Easter! The carrot is a nutrient-dense root vegetable that is high in fibre and several vitamins, including Vitamin A and Vitamin K. Carrots are considered a healthy food for humans, but have you ever wondered if they are healthy for your pet too?

Pumpkin as a Fibre Source

It’s that time of the year again, as green leaves blossom into hues of red, yellow, and orange and the smell of pumpkin spice fills coffee shops. With autumn in the air, Halloween is just around the corner, and this means candy, costumes, and...PUMPKINS! Pumpkins are an essential part of Halloween for carving and decorating but, more recently, pumpkins have also gained increasing attention for their health benefits in humans and pets. And so, now is an excellent time to begin the conversation around the use of pumpkins as a dietary fibre supplement for pets.

Choline-Supplementation in Obese Cats

Increased intake of dietary choline may improve the safety and efficacy of weight loss in the treatment and care of obese cats.

Can my Cat Eat a Plant-Based Diet?

Cats are obligate carnivores, meaning they need to eat meat to survive and thrive. A study published last week by Dodd et al. demonstrates that some pet parents have observed otherwise. Congratulations to Dr. Sarah Dodd on her recent publication!

Cut the Fat But Support the Cat

When treating and preventing obesity in our companion animals, it is not uncommon for caregivers and members of the healthcare team to question: How low is too low when restricting calories for weight loss? Are our cats meeting their nutrient requirements during weight loss?

A Bowl A Day Keeps the Hunger Away

Congratulations to Dr. Adronie Verbrugghe, Alexandra Camara, and our colleague, Dr. Anna Kate Shoveller, on their most recent publication!

Tag: Cat Nutrition