Kittens That Nurse 7 Weeks or Longer Are Less Likely to Become Overweight Adult Cats

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Most pet cats are separated from the queen during the suckling period and before they are fully weaned. Weaning is characterized by rapid growth and development of the kitten and marks the transition from a fully milk-based diet to a solid-food diet. Early-life feeding is known to influence the development of the digestion system, eating behavior, and dietary patterns. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of the suckling period length (SPL) on adult weight status and whether a deficiency during a critical period of development—as a short SPL can be considered - may influence body weight regulation, control of appetite and energy expenditure. Our findings show that a shorter SPL increases the risk of overweight in cats. The odds for overweight was three times lower in cats with a SPL > 6 weeks (OR = 0.33, 95% CI = 0.10–0.99). The suckling period length (SPL) could be an easy modifiable risk factor in the primary prevention of overweight in cats. ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to examine the effect of the suckling period length (SPL) on weight status among adult cats while taking into account putative risk factors. To this end, the body fat percentage of 69 client-owned cats was determined. A body fat percentage of >30% was used for overweight classification. Cat owners were interviewed using a standardised questionnaire to collect information about the SPL, age, breed, sex, feeding amount and frequency, daily playing and outdoor access. SPL was categorized into four groups (0–6, 7–11, 12–16, 17–24 weeks). Logistic regression was used to estimate the association between overweight and SPL after adjusting for identified risk factors. Of the 69 cats, 37 were overweight. The odds for overweight was three times lower in cats with a SPL > 6 weeks (OR = 0.33, 95% CI = 0.10−0.99). This study identified a possible novel, modifiable early life risk factor for overweight in cats; the SPL. The results of this study indicate that allowing cats to nurse longer than 12 weeks might be a simple intervention to improve cat health and welfare.