We sit down to eat ... and there they are those big cute begging eyes! I am sure you may think a little bit of this and a little bit of that won’t hurt him. But do you really know what table food does to your cat? Combining table food, treats and lack of exercise are all factors in making your cat fat, which can cause health problems.
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) says obesity is an extremely common problem in pets and, as with humans, can be detrimental to the health of a cat. The overweight pet has many added stresses upon his body and is at an increased risk of diabetes, liver problems and joint pain. You can read their views on Overweight Cats.
Cats and Carbohydrates
Did you know that cats, unlike most mammals, do not have a carbohydrate-digesting enzyme called amylase in their saliva? Humans and dogs do, and begin the digestion of carbohydrates in the mouth. In our intestines, amylase secreted from the pancreas breaks down large carbohydrate molecules into absorbable smaller units of glucose.
Cats generally have less amylase activity than humans or dogs. For this reason it is very important that you do not give your cat certain human foods! Cats need the nutrients specifically provided for them in good, premium cat foods, and any "extras" that they consume will take away their appetites for their regular meals.
