Ball Feeding Increases Physical Activity and Reduces Body Weight Regain After a Weight Loss Diet in Cats

Objetives of the Study:

After a weight loss program, cats have difficulties to maintain body weight (BW) and usually they regain their initial BW quicker than desired. A lack of owner compliance and a decrease in energy expenditure are the main causes for this quick regain (1). Feeding enrichment with puzzle feeders, from which food has to be obtained by rolling, have been proposed to help obese cats to lose BW (2) while improving physical welfare (3). The purpose of this study was to evaluate if enrichment with a feeding ball would increase objectively-measured physical activity, food intake and its repercussion on BW after a weight loss diet.

Material and Methods:

Eleven healthy colony cats were used for this study. Cats had been firstly energy-restricted for 3 months to induce a 15% BW loss with 2 different low-fat energy-restricted diets [diet A (n=6), as is, measured metabolic energy (ME) 3290 kcal/kg, protein 40%, fat 11%, starch 17%, total dietary fiber (TDF) 22%; diet B (n=5), as is, ME 3310 kcal/kg, protein 36%, fat 8%, starch 28%, TDF 18%]. Then, in a cross-over design, each group of cats received during 3 months their low-fat diet ad libitum in 2 different feeding conditions: in a conventional bowl (CB) or in a feeding ball (FB). Daily physical activity was monitored by accelerometers that cats wore in the harness. Daily food intake and weekly body weight were recorded. A general linear model (GLM) with repeated measures was performed to assess feeding condition, period and diet effects on physical activity, BW regain and food intake. Values were considered as statistically significant for P value < 0.05.

Results:

As there was no difference between diets, data from both diets were pooled and only feeding condition and period effects are discussed. A significant effect of the cross-over period was observed on food intake and BW regain independently of the type of feeding, during the first 3months period, food intake was higher (55±7 kcal/kg BW vs 46±7 kcal/kg BW; p=0.000) and BW regain was faster (0.8%/week vs 0.09%/week; p=0.000) than in the second period in both diet groups, probably due to a seasonal effect and/or a compensatory effect after energy restriction. Feeding ad libitum with a FB versus CB resulted in an increased physical activity (+34%, p=0.000), in a reduced food intake (-3.74 kcal/kg BW, p=0.000) and in a lower BW regain of the cats (3.8±2.2% vs 7.6±2.5%, p=0.014).

Conclusions:

In conclusion, feeding with FB could be an interesting strategy to apply in overweight cats after weight loss programs to increase physical activity, reduce food intake and consequently slow down BW regain or simply to promote physical activity and consequently improve the wellbeing of normal or overweight cats.