Protein Intake during Weight Loss Influences the Energy Required for Weight Loss and Maintenance in Cats1–3

The effects of 2 diets with different protein contents on weight loss and subsequent maintenance was assessed in obese cats. The control group [Co; n = 8; body condition score (BCS) = 8.6 ± 0.2] received a diet containing 21.4 g crude protein (CP)/MJ of metabolizable energy and the high-protein group (HP; n = 7; BCS = 8.6 ± 0.2) received a diet containing 28.4 g CP/MJ until the cats achieved a 20% controlled weight loss (0.92 ± 0.2%/wk). After the weight loss, the cats were all fed a diet containing 28.0 g CP/MJ at an amount sufficient to maintain a constant body weight (MAIN) for 120 d. During weight loss, there was a reduction of lean mass in Co (P < 0.01) but not in HP cats and a reduction in leptinemia in both groups (P < 0.01). Energy intake per kilogram of metabolic weight (kg−0.40) to maintain the same rate of weight loss was lower (P < 0.04) in the Co (344 ± 15.9 kJ·kg−0.40·d−1) than in the HP group (377 ± 12.4 kJ·kg−0.40·d−1). During the first 40 d of MAIN, the energy requirement for weight maintenance was 398.7 ± 9.7 kJ·kg−0.40·d−1 for both groups, corresponding to 73% of the NRC recommendation. The required energy gradually increased in both groups (P < 0.05) but at a faster rate in HP; therefore, the energy consumption during the last 40 d of the MAIN was higher (P < 0.001) for the HP cats (533.8 ± 7.4 kJ·kg−0.40·d−1) than for the control cats (462.3 ± 9.6 kJ·kg−0.40·d−1). These findings suggest that HP diets allow a higher energy intake to weight loss in cats, reducing the intensity of energy restriction. Protein intake also seemed to have long-term effects so that weight maintenance required more energy after weight loss.