While the jury is still out on the health effects of the popular Atkins diet in humans, a new study shows that diabetic cats may benefit from eating a high-protein "Catkins" diet.

With funding from Morris Animal Foundation, Drs. Deborah Greco and Mark Peterson, staff endocrinologists at The Animal Medical Center in New York have found that, in many cases, veterinarians and cat owners can control diabetes with diet. Their results show that diabetic cats on the "Catkins" diet often can ditch daily insulin shots altogether.

Dr. Greco says feline diabetes is similar to Type 2 diabetes in humans -- it is caused by too much fat. It occurs most often in obese male cats, and 45 percent of all cats between the ages of 8 and 12 are overweight or obese.

"The way to control the disease is to reduce the amount of body fat," she says.

Traditionally, diabetic cats are given a high-fiber diet to help them lose weight. The cats lose fat, but unfortunately, they also lose muscle. Once they go off the diet, the weight returns. Based on her results, Dr. Greco says a low-carb/high-protein diet is a better option. It helps the cats lose fat while still maintaining the muscle needed to keep the weight off permanently.

"It's the Atkins diet for cats," she says.

Feline patients at The Animal Medical Center and Colorado State University participated in the clinical trial. Of the cats on the high-protein diet, a whopping 68 percent went off insulin, while only 40 percent on the high-fiber diet went off insulin completely. Although both groups saw improvement, Dr. Greco firmly believes high-protein fare is best because it is similar to what cats in the wild would eat.

She says in general, cats shouldn't consume high-carbohydrate diets, which is what most dry foods offer. Canned diets provide more water in the food, she says, and pet owners can control the portions.

"The thing that convinced me that this was the right diet was the improved quality of life for these cats," Dr. Greco says. "They became kittens again."

Morris Animal Foundation is a 56-year-old nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring a healthier tomorrow for companion animals and wildlife. Since its inception, the Foundation has funded more than 1,150 humane animal health studies with funds exceeding $36 million. One hundred percent of all annual, unrestricted contributions support animal health studies, not administration or the cost of fund raising. For more information, call (800) 243-2345, or visit http://www.MorrisAnimalFoundation.org.

The Animal Medical Center is a not for profit, comprehensive veterinary hospital, dedicated to quality patient care, identifying advances in veterinary medicine through clinical research and postgraduate training for veterinarians and technicians. AMC treats over 50,000 patients each year.

For more information, please go to their website at http://www.amcny.org.

CONTACT:

Heidi Jeter
(800) 243-2345, ext. 202
hjeter@MorrisAnimalFoundation.org

Morris Animal Foundation
http://www.amcny.org