Obesity and metabolic conditions, including diabetes, are increasingly prevalent in cats. Addressing these health concerns often requires a specialized diet formulated to support weight management and metabolic regulation. This article delves into the intricacies of feline metabolic diets, with a particular focus on Medicus Veterinary Diets and their approach to addressing these conditions.
Understanding Feline Metabolic Needs
Cats, as obligate carnivores, have unique nutritional requirements. A diet designed for a cat with metabolic issues needs to consider the following:
- High-Quality Protein: The diet should be rich in digestible animal proteins to support lean muscle mass and metabolic function.
- Limited Carbohydrates: Carbohydrates should be carefully controlled to manage blood sugar levels, especially in diabetic cats.
- Essential Fatty Acids: Omega-3 fatty acids, such as EPA and DHA, are crucial for reducing inflammation and supporting overall health.
- Fiber: A healthy source of fiber can aid in regular gastrointestinal mobility and promote satiety.
- Vitamins and Minerals: Adequate levels of vitamins and minerals are necessary for optimal metabolic processes and overall well-being.
Medicus Veterinary Diets: A Whole Food Approach
Medicus Veterinary Diets take a unique approach to feline nutrition by utilizing whole foods and a research-led methodology. Developed by Dr. Chris Bessent, these diets aim to provide the nutrients cats need in a bioavailable and easily digestible form.
Key Features of Medicus Diets
- Freeze-Dried and Pasteurized: Medicus Veterinary Diets are the first ever freeze-dried pasteurized therapeutic diets. The gentle freeze-drying process makes the food safe for immunocompromised pets as well as shelf-stable for easier feeding. Utilizing a gentle process like freeze-drying preserves all of the benefits food offers - from the macro and micronutrients, including high levels of antioxidants that are vulnerable to heat processes.
- High-Quality Animal Proteins: Medicus diets prioritize high-quality, bioavailable animal proteins, like grass-fed beef, guinea fowl, and chicken. The company sources meats from USDA-Inspected facilities, ensuring their animal-based proteins meet the same standards as human meat production. That means no 4D meats, meat meals, or any other ingredient or supplement not considered human edible.
- Organic Produce: The produce used in Medicus formulas is grown organically, meaning no pesticides or herbicides, like glyphosate, are used in the growing process. Consumption of pesticides can increase the rate of oxidative damage to cells and inflammation.
- Limited Ingredients: Medicus Veterinary Diets feature small ingredient decks because they only use extensively researched foods that address your pet’s unique nutritional needs.
- Natural Preservatives: Medicus Diets only contain mixed tocopherols, a natural preservative. While it functions as a way to keep each bag of food shelf-stable and fresh, it is also an antioxidant.
- Antioxidant Rich: Every Medicus formula is flooded with antioxidants like polyphenols from blueberries, the carotenoids and zeaxanthin found in spinach, and astaxanthin from krill.
Ingredients and Their Benefits
Medicus diets incorporate a variety of whole food ingredients, each chosen for its specific health benefits. These include:
- Liver: The liver is rich in CoQ10, high-quality proteins, and Omega-3 and Omega-6.
- Fish Oil: An excellent source of Omega 3 fatty acids and a rich source of bone-strengthening vitamin D and B12. A rich source of Omega 3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA), Vitamin B complex, along with antioxidant elements like selenium and other minerals like phosphorus, zinc, and potassium.
- Chelated Minerals: A chelated mineral bound to an amino acid that protects against oxidative stress. A mineral that helps cells move nutrients and waste where it needs to go and generates insulin production to balance blood sugar levels.
- B Vitamins: Medicus Diets only contain fragile B vitamins and zinc proteinate. B vitamins (Niacin, Riboflavin, Thiamine, Vitamin B12, Pyridoxine, and Folic Acid) play an essential role in helping a variety of enzymes do their jobs, like turning food into energy. Niacin, Riboflavin, Thiamine, Vitamin B12, Pyridoxine, and Folic Acid are incredibly fragile B vitamins. They help a variety of enzymes do their jobs, so food more easily turns into energy in the body.
- Kelp: Naturally high in antioxidants with anti-inflammatory properties, and it’s a natural form of iodine.
Addressing Common Concerns with Commercial Cat Food
Medicus Veterinary Diets directly address several common concerns associated with conventional commercial cat foods:
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- Fillers: Corn and wheat are commonly used as fillers for commercial kibble companies, as they are inexpensive and easily accessible. Corn is used as a plant-based protein and isn’t as digestible or bioavailable for carnivores. Wheat is used as a plant-based protein and isn’t as digestible or bioavailable for carnivores. Many kibble diets contain brewers rice, which is a low-quality carbohydrate source. It is the leftovers of white rice after it has been processed and offers very few nutrients. Cellulose is used as a filler for many kibbles. Dogs do not have the enzyme necessary to metabolize and break down cellulose, so it is difficult for them to digest and utilize the nutrients.
- Rendering: Rendering converts animal carcasses into ingredients for animal feed. They are ground, heavily cooked, pressed to remove fats, ground again, and then dried. Included in this process are bones, organs, blood, feathers, and slaughter floor waste. Rendered fats in kibble are typically low quality and from unidentifiable animals. They may also contain fat-soluble toxins that can be harmful when consumed.
- Nutrient Loss During Cooking: Ingredients that are cooked in any way lose essential nutrients, like vitamins, minerals, active enzymes, and antioxidants. Kibble goes through four different cooking processes that reach 400℉, eliminating almost all nutrients that the ingredient had in its raw state.
- Artificial Additives: Artificial dyes are used in pet foods to add color to brown kibble in an attempt to give them a more desirable and aesthetically pleasing color. They use only mixed tocopherols, which is a natural preservative, in all Medicus Diets. While it functions as a way to keep each bag of food shelf-stable and fresh, it is also an antioxidant.
Third-Party Testing
Each Medicus diet went through complete comprehensive 3rd party testing.
Transitioning to a Metabolic Diet
Transitioning your cat to a metabolic diet should be done gradually to avoid digestive upset. Medicus recommends following their transitioning guide to help pets gradually adapt to their new food before fully feeding Medicus.
Feeding Recommendations
- Nugget Rehydration Directions: Rehydrate by adding +/- ¾ cup of warm water for every cup of food.
- Chicken Bone Broth: Hydrate your cat’s food with chicken bone broth (no sodium) as a nutritious and enticing way to add moisture and flavor.
- Kefir: Hydrate your cat’s food with kefir, which contains probiotics, beneficial enzymes, and vitamins B & K.
- Nutritional Yeast: Sprinkle nutritional yeast over your cat’s food or mix in.
- Moisture is Key: It is extremely recommended that you add some kind of moisture to your pet’s meal, whether that be from warm water, bone broth, or kefir. Moisture aids overall digestion and helps move any harmful substances out of the body.
Storage Instructions
Store freeze-dried food like you would any of your dry goods. Keep them in a cool, dry place, out of direct sunlight for peak freshness. It is important to note that because these foods are freeze-dried, moisture can affect the shelf life. To prevent that, reseal the product properly after every use by pushing out all residual air. If you live in a hot, humid environment, the product may be exposed to more moisture and shorten shelf life, so follow the above and store it in the fridge. They recommend keeping the food in its original packaging since that bag was picked specifically to keep oxygen out. Their recipes are only packaged in individual, resealable bags to ensure the freshest food.
If there is remaining food left in your pet’s bowl, you can transfer it to an air-tight container and store it in the refrigerator for up to five days.
Palatability
Because all of our ingredients are freeze-dried, the original flavor remains, making it similar to a fresh or home-cooked diet in taste. They recommend looking at our palatability enticers for each diet on their respective page, as they are catered to each aspect of health that the diet is centered around.
Read also: Guide to Raw Feeding for Cats
Customer Reviews
Customer reviews offer valuable insights into the real-world effectiveness of a product. Here are a few reviews of the Metabolic Diet for Cats:
- One customer reported a weight loss of 3.5 oz for their diabetic cat after trying the diet for over 3 months. They felt the Metabolic diet is very healthy for any cat and hoped to transition their other two cats (with diabetes and FIV) to it eventually.
- Another customer stated they really liked the cat kibble, as their cat was recently diagnosed with diabetes.
- One customer had a negative experience. Metabolic DietUnfortunately, cats ran away from it. They would not have it under any circumstances.
- One customer has been introducing this food to my cat, little by little. So far he seems to like it and it hasn’t affected his health negatively. He’s a special needs cat and doesn’t do well with diet changes. I do feel it’s super expensive.
Consultation with a Veterinarian
When it comes to your pet, your veterinarian is your best source of information and care. It’s their unbiased feedback that helps us maintain and refine our pet food formulas. Always consult your veterinarian before introducing this diet to your cat. Consult with your veterinarian before following these suggestions.
Medicus Therapeutic Diets consist of both Complete & Balanced Diets and those for Supplemental Feeding only.
Conclusion
Choosing the right metabolic diet for your cat is a crucial step in managing obesity and related health conditions. Medicus Veterinary Diets offer a unique approach with their whole food, freeze-dried formulas. By prioritizing high-quality ingredients, addressing common fillers and artificial additives, and focusing on bioavailability, Medicus aims to provide optimal nutrition for cats with specific dietary needs. As with any dietary change, consulting with your veterinarian is essential to ensure the chosen diet is appropriate for your cat's individual health status and needs.
Satisfaction Guarantee
At Hill’s, we’re dedicated to making foods your pet will love. If you’re not satisfied for any reason with a product purchased from one of our authorized sellers, simply return the unused portion to the place of purchase for your money back or a replacement product.
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