Why The Feline Diabetes Epidemic?
There are many theories as to why so many cats today are diabetic. Most veterinarians believe that the widespread obesity among cats is the primary cause of the feline diabetic epidemic. The typical feline diabetic is a neutered male cat over 15 pounds. However, obese female cats also are at risk for diabetes. Cats often gain weight when fed high-carbohydrate diets, especially when they are provided free choice. Additionally, indoor cats often don’t get the exercise necessary to burn excess calories. In my previous columns for Feline Pine, I have often discussed the benefits of feeding a canned diet with less than seven percent carbohydrates, providing an appropriate (but not an abundant) number of calories, and keeping our cats active and lean. These recommendations can help you ensure that your kitty won’t become obese and develop Type II diabetes. Get into the habit of making sure that your kitty isn’t a “fat cat.” Can you easily palpate his or her ribs? When you look down on your c
