A collaborative team of researchers from the Waltham Centre for Pet Nutrition has shown that adding moisture to a cat's diet leads to an increase in activity and may help slow down weight gain.

In a series of studies conducted in partnership with the University of Aberdeen, Waltham scientists found that cats fed a dry diet with added water were more physically active and gained less weight than those cats fed the dry diet alone. According to the Centre, this is the first time reduced energy density diets have been associated with an increase in physical activity levels in cats.

Waltham scientist and author of the study, Dr. Penelope Morris, said: "These findings advance our understanding of the factors that influence body weight in cats and provide a strong basis for further research.

"Obesity is a growing problem in the cat population, recent figures indicate that up to 50 per cent of cats are either overweight or obese. These findings could have important implications for developing tailored diets that meet cats' energy and nutritional needs."

The research is part of a wider programme of ongoing collaborative research into the effect of food and nutrition on body weight in both cats and dogs.

The research has been published in the June edition (Volume 95, Issue 3) of the Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition and is available in print and online: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1439-0396.2010.01107.x/abstract

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