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Cat Forum / General Topics / May 2006Ping Phil: Cats and fasting
Found this. How does it square with conventional wisdom that cats should not go without food for more than a day or so? http://www.felinefuture.com/nutrition/bpo_ch9.php "Fasting It is very beneficial for healthy adult cats, to withhold all food for a 48hour period on occasions. This extended fast will enable the body to clear some accumulated toxins from fat tissue, and completely empty the bowl. Healthy cats don't fast voluntarily, but are frequently faced with an involuntary fast in a natural setting through unavailability of prey, or repeated unsuccessful hunts. They will, however, frequently refuse food when unwell as a possible means to speed recovery. Cats are unharmed by the absence of food for several days, and in extreme times of famine may loose up to 50% of their body mass and still survive. It is, however, critical that the cat has unrestricted access to fresh water during fasting." Again, what do cats naturally do in the wild -- if they fast naturally, then fasting is good. If they don't, then it's not. Stan www.Kitten-Pictures.com For the most adorable Kitten Pictures on the net! >Again, what do cats naturally do in the wild -- if they fast naturally, >then fasting is good. If they don't, then it's not. Cats in the wild have no choice but to fast. Do you honestly think that they would fast in the wild if they had food available 24-7? No, they would eat it! By the way, our cats are not wild animals, they are domesticated. > Again, what do cats naturally do in the wild -- if they fast naturally, > then fasting is good It's done with the big cats, but I don't know if it is a good idea with Felis.  SignatureWeb site: http://www.slywy.com/ Message board: http://www.slywy.com/phpBB2/ Journal: http://slywy.blogspot.com/ > Found this. How does it square with conventional wisdom that cats > should not go without food for more than a day or so? When I worked in a vivarium several years back, I worked the "cat house" for a few months. It was standard procedure to withhold feed every Sunday. The official reason was that it was healthier for the animals to fast for 24 hours. Doing this on a regular schedule reduced stress to the cats because it didn't occur unexpectedly. Of course it was also cheaper too but compared to the money spent on housing and environmental control one day of feed was insignificant. Other than Sundays food was provided ad lib. and clean fresh water was available at all times including Sundays. > > Found this. How does it square with conventional wisdom that cats > > should not go without food for more than a day or so? [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > feed was insignificant. Other than Sundays food was provided ad lib. and > clean fresh water was available at all times including Sundays. According to the early scientific literature on longevity in regards to Caloric Restriction and Adequate Nutrition or CRAN, by Walford and Weindruch, animals fed every other day lived far longer than animals fed every day. But whether this would work specifically for cats, I do not know. The animals fed restricted calories, that is low calories, lived even longer than those fed every other day. So far, the last I read a few weeks ago, it appears to be holding up. And a recent study appears to support CRAN for humans, at least in the short run of a few years going by a reduction in diseases. > > > Found this. How does it square with conventional wisdom that cats > > > should not go without food for more than a day or so? [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > official reason was that it was healthier for the animals to fast for 24 > > hours. (snip) > According to the early scientific literature on longevity in regards to > Caloric Restriction and Adequate Nutrition or CRAN, by Walford and > Weindruch, animals fed every other day lived far longer than animals > fed every day. (snip) And a recent study > appears to support CRAN for humans, at least in the short run of a few > years going by a reduction in diseases. Oh hell. Does this mean that I would be healthier and live longer if I were not over weight? The next thing you'll tell me is that drinking a case of beer every week end can adversely effect my health. :^) Seriously though, do you know if there is a web reference to the study you cited? Thnkx, : Seriously though, do you know if there is a web reference to the study you : cited? No but I paid attention to it and can tell you the essense, The study was extremely misleading. Suppose you buy a machine, but never use it, just do minimal maintenance. Then it will "last longer" because there is no wear and tear. But that defeats the purpose, usually we talk about a long lasting machine we mena to be able to *use* it longer. Similarly, our bodies are machines too. If you don't really live (no work, no emotions, no sex, no enjoyment), just vegetate with minimal maintenace of survival functions, then you too can last longer. That's what they found. If you cut down calories so much that the body is in maintenance survival mode but doesn't have energy to do anything that will cause any "wear and tear", then the body will last longer, essentially as a vegetable. But is that any life, for you or your pet? I'd rather we live normal lives and go when God calls us. >http://www.felinefuture.com/nutrition/bpo_ch9.php So the people on this site think know more than veterinarians and animal scientists? Neither vets nor scientists recommend fasting your cat. >It is very beneficial for healthy adult cats, to withhold all food for >a 48hour period on occasions. This extended fast will enable the body >to clear some accumulated toxins from fat tissue, and completely empty >the bowl. Healthy cats don't fast voluntarily, but are frequently faced >with an involuntary fast in a natural setting through unavailability of >prey, or repeated unsuccessful hunts. They will, however, frequently When your cat goes to the bathroom, his bowel is completely emptying. Just look in the litterbox and you'll see. Ridiculous logic. Cats in the wild have no choice but to fast if they can't find food. >Cats are unharmed by the absence of food for several days, and in extreme times Obviously they know nothing about hepatic lipidosis: http://www.sniksnak.com/cathealth/hep-lipidosis.html >of famine may loose up to 50% of their body mass and still survive. It >is, however, critical that the cat has unrestricted access to fresh >water during fasting." Never fast a cat. Period. > Found this. How does it square with conventional wisdom that cats > should not go without food for more than a day or so? > > http://www.felinefuture.com/nutrition/bpo_ch9.php Sorry for the delayed reply. I'm buried in kittens and I've been busy breaking laws prohibiting feeding ferals. Feline Future has some good information but they tend to be a little extreme- if not a little fanatical. I don't think you'll find many mainstream vets or vet nutritionists that would encourage unnecessary fasting. Phil >> Found this. How does it square with conventional wisdom that cats >> should not go without food for more than a day or so? [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > > Phil Feed them Phil sometimes the crime is dam sure worth the time "Matthew aka NMR" <catslave@antispam.com> wrote in message news:fKRbg.24216$ > Feed them Phil sometimes the crime is dam sure worth the time One of the towns passed an ordinance: $2,000 fine for feeding ferals! Next they'll be calling in SWAT or declaring martial law. > "Matthew aka NMR" <catslave@antispam.com> wrote in message news:fKRbg.24216$ > > > Feed them Phil sometimes the crime is dam sure worth the time > > One of the towns passed an ordinance: $2,000 fine for feeding ferals! > Next they'll be calling in SWAT or declaring martial law. To they have a desginated group doing TNR or "trapping to pound", or *anything*? -L. > > "Matthew aka NMR" <catslave@antispam.com> wrote in message news:fKRbg.24216$ > > [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > To they have a desginated group doing TNR or "trapping to pound", or > *anything*? The city counsel of bureaucratic buffoons voted against TNR based on bogus myths and misinformation and completely ignored all the data that proves TNR works including vet journal studies and testimonies from ACOs of other towns. The original hearing notice was a tiny two-line ad buried somewhere in the local newspaper. I think their decision was strongly influenced by a couple of slimy, local vets that were afraid they would have to perform low-cost neuters if TNR was adopted. The city attorney is as inept as the slimy vets, he drew up the ordinance with more holes in it than a hurricane fence- and one, especially huge gaping hole that I'll drive through with a truck every day- twice! I wish I could tell you more but I can't right now. Phil > > To they have a desginated group doing TNR or "trapping to pound", or > > *anything*? [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > couple of slimy, local vets that were afraid they would have to perform > low-cost neuters if TNR was adopted. Yeah, God forbid they should help the homeless pet/feral overpop problem...I just totally do not get this mentality. One thing I do admire about the main guy I worked for is he did low and no-cost S/N as a routine service. He probably generated more (side) business for himself that way, and retained more clients than any other vet in the area. > The city attorney is as inept as the slimy vets, he drew up the ordinance > with more holes in it than a hurricane fence- and one, especially huge > gaping hole that I'll drive through with a truck every day- twice! I wish I > could tell you more but I can't right now. Well, if I ever need help jumping through loopholes, I may just email you! So far our city has been cooperative <knock on wood>. -L. > Sorry for the delayed reply. I'm buried in kittens and I've been busy > breaking laws prohibiting feeding ferals. How do you distinguish a feral from an outdoor cat? Someone I know has a cat that hangs around her property. She feeds it regularly, and it spends most of the day hanging out in her yeard. (It cant come indoors because her kids are severely allergic.) While it started out feral (or probably lost or offloaded) it has adopted her and vice versa. So legally what makes one cat a feral and another an outdoor pet? |
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