Winter Diet Tips for Your Cat

January 16, 2015

by Natalie Secretan

Winter Diet T ips for Your CatCats like humans cannot outsmart their circadian rhythms. During the winter months when days are shorter and the nights longer, the absence of light triggers the body to crave more calories and conserve energy.

Your cat’s natural impulse is to hunker down and eat more. Before long, kitty starts to grow love handles. 

The flipside is that cats (and humans) require more fuel (i.e., more energy) to keep them warm during the colder months.

So the body is all in favour of gaining weight in winter. In fact, it all starts with the brain, hence the cravings. It’s a losing battle.

Keeping weight down during the winter months is a constant struggle for cats and humans alike

It’s a bit of a catch 22. On the one hand, you want your cat to put on weight and on the other, you want your cat to avoid winter weight gain.

So what’s a cat to do?

Getting extra calories during the winter months is more complicated than just increasing your cat’s food intake. It’s about nutritional value. What kind of calories is your cat craving and why? 

Winter Diet Tips for Your Cat

  • Essential fatty acids – Omega-3 fish oils and vegetable oils provide extra calories, plus they will enrich your cat’s coat and skin. This means no more dry winter skin and a thicker, warmer, winter coat.
  • Drink more water – indoor heating is very dehydrating. Make sure your cat gets plenty of fresh filtered water every day.
  • Eat more protein – cat food is already high in protein, so make sure this is a healthy option for your cat. More protein will help her grow a full, healthy winter coat to keep her warm.

First check with your vet before making any changes to your cat’s diet.

 

References:

http://pets.thenest.com/cats-need-food-gets-cold-9091.html

http://www.cozycatfurniture.com/cat_newsletters/catnewsletter16.html

 

Photo credit: Gammpart: Sigfried and Frau Snow