New research suggest chonky cats could help humans lose weight and tackle obesity issues.
We’re more similar to the domestic pets than we realise and it’s all to do with the goings on in our guts, reports What’s The Jam.
Microbiomes in felines reacts to dietary changes just like ours does.
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A new journal outlines how researchers analysed poo samples from overweight cats.
The felines were given four different diets over 16 weeks as their weight and other bodily changes were monitored.
The new research found high levels of propionic acid, also known as fatty acid, in kitty litter when the moggies were on a calorie-restricted diet – which assisted them in shifting some weight.
This is believed to be due to an increase of Prevotella 9 copri bacteria.
When the cats’ diet was altered back to a “maintenance diet” this acid level dropped.
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Due to the similarity in gut microbiomes, this discovery could potentially assist humans in losing weight.
The study with authors including J.C Rowe and J.A Winston from the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences at Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine, was based on US cats.
The report says that an estimated 60% of moggies in America are overweight or obese.
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“Rodent models and human clinical studies have shown gut microbiota-derived short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) play roles in obesity and insulin resistance,” the journal reads.
“These roles have been minimally explored in cats, where in the USA an estimated 60% of cats are overweight or obese.”
Authors added: “Like humans, obese cats experienced an altered microbial community structure and function, favoring propionic acid production, during caloric restriction-induced weight loss.”
This also means you could make your moggie your fat fighting partner.
It’s just another reason to love cats, really.
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