Your beloved house cat may seem like the perfect cuddly companion, but he also shares 95.6 percent of his DNA with the fierce tiger. Just like the tiger, he needs a lot of protein—preferably meat—to survive. So, when cats are overweight, Mud Bay often recommends that owners consider reducing non-essential carbohydrates to help boost weight loss.
To find out more about the link between a cat’s biology and the right balance of macronutrients for felines, we talked to Julie McCulloch. Julie started as a part-time store staff member, but after a few years, she became the manager of the Sammamish store. She’s also an expert in cat weight loss, in part because she spent a lot of time helping her own cat, Khan, reach a healthy weight.
JM: Cats are what are known as obligate carnivores. That means their diet should primarily consist of high protein, high fat and little to no carbohydrate content. Any carbs they do tend to eat aren’t processed by their bodies very well, so carbohydrates can result in cats being more likely to be overweight.
JM: Kibble must have a certain amount of carbohydrates so the dough will hold together. There are a lot of good lower carbohydrate kibbles, but every kibble contains a minimum amount of carbohydrates.
So wet food, having higher moisture and lower carbohydrates, tends to be much better for cats who are losing weight or need to maintain a healthy weight. Moisture in food is very healthy for cats. It not only protects cats from dehydration, but there’s more bulk in moisture-rich foods, which can prevent overeating.
Raw food has even fewer carbs. And frozen raw food will naturally have the moisture in the food that your cat needs. All raw foods have beneficial natural enzymes in it, as well as being easier to digest than kibble.
JM: One of the biggest dangers for cats—which can happen if they don’t eat enough or don’t eat often–is what’s known as fatty liver disease (hepatic lipidosis). So, if you drastically reduce a cat’s food too quickly, it’s hard on the liver to process all that body fat so it can be used for fuel. It can be fatal for cats.
Going slow can help you figure out what’s right for your cat and their build, as well as make it easier for your cat to switch and adjust to a new diet. Three to four percent weight loss per month is ideal.
JM: Something to consider is how much you’re feeding, not just the food type. You may have cut carbs, but you may have changed to a food with a higher calorie content.
Other options are looking into different types of food. If you’re still using a kibble food, you might want to try cutting more carbohydrates by switching to a wet or a raw food.
And beyond diet—and this is always important—exercise is extremely important for cats to lose weight. So, try creating a play schedule, and figure out what best suits your cat’s activity needs along with their new diet.
My cat Khan, when he was younger, he was about 11 pounds or so. It doesn’t sound like much for a cat, but he has a small frame. And it meant that he was about two pounds overweight.
And when the vet first told he was overweight, I thought she was crazy. Having grown up with overweight or obese cats my entire life, an 11-pound cat was the smallest cat I’ve ever had.
So, I talked to my vet about different food options for him, and I mentioned that there was this pet food store near where I lived, called Mud Bay. And she said, “Yes, you could go there, and talk to them about different weight loss options for your cat.”
And so I did. I went to Mud Bay, I bought a lower carbohydrate, higher protein kibble for Khan after I talked to a Muddy.
And then, in about three months, I started working for Mud Bay. I started learning more about a cat’s diet and what it should contain, and what types of foods are better for them for weight loss. I transferred him to an all wet food diet shortly after that.
Then, after I got over my own squeamishness with raw food, I started feeding him a raw diet. Within about a year and a half or so, he had lost those two pounds. And ever since then, he’s been on a raw food diet, and I exercise him more frequently, and he’s hovering around a 2 ½ pounds loss.
JM: Well, of course, you can come into any Mud Bay. Just come in and ask for a staff member that has a lot of knowledge about cats or has helped their own cats lose weight. There’s a lot of us!
We can find a food option that works for you and your cat. Maybe you’re not interested in a raw or wet food diet, and so we can try a lower carbohydrate kibble for your cat. And there are tons of literature and solution sheets, like “How to Help a Cat Return to a Healthy Weight,” we’ll be happy to give you as well.
We can go over our new feeding calculator and the resulting feeding guidelines to help decide exactly what amount of food works best for your cat. Because every cat—just like every person—has varied nutritional requirements, and the manufacturer’s feeding guidelines aren’t rules. And we can set up a custom feeding plan for anyone who comes to Mud Bay.
We can also talk about an exercise regimen, and find out what works for your cat, as well as your personal lifestyle. We’ll just try a lot of different options together until we find out what works best for you.
Sammamish Store Manager Julie McCulloch has been a Muddy for nearly four years. Come visit the Sammamish store to talk to her about healthy weight, feline feeding or anything else you’d like to discuss.
🐝 🌷 🌈 Spring is here, and that means fleas and ticks are back. To help protect your cat, we’re excited to offer new TropiClean 🌴 options designed to make care simple and effective.
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TropiClean Laundry Additive helps tackle fleas, ticks, eggs, and larvae right in your wash. Just add half a cup with your regular detergent, let it soak for 10 to 15 minutes, and use it on bedding, towels, blankets, rugs, and toys. Plus, it’s safe for use with your dog!
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TropiClean Gentle No-Rinse Cat Shampoo offers an easy way to clean and protect without the hassle. It helps eliminate fleas, ticks, and mites, protects against mosquitoes, and is safe for pets and kids.
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TropiClean Gentle Mist for Cats is a quick, on-the-go option for added protection. Just spray and go for an easy way to help protect against fleas, ticks, mites, and mosquitoes.
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You can shop TropiClean products for your cat in-store and online at Mud Bay.
#mudbay #fleaprotection #tropiclean #tropicalclean #healthypets
Furvor bone 🦴 broth for dogs is made with 100% human-grade ingredients and is highly concentrated, so every squeeze adds real nutrition to your dog’s routine.
🐕 It’s packed with protein, amino acids, and nutrients that can support gut health, mobility, skin and coat, and overall wellness.
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It’s also an easy way to boost hydration and bring a little excitement back to the bowl—especially for picky eaters. Just mix it with water, pour it over kibble, or serve it on its own.
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Shop Furvor 🛒 🛍️ 🐕 Bone Broth in-store or online at Mud Bay!
#mudbay #furvor #bonebroth #dogs #healthypets
Weruva WX Phos Focused Freeze-Dried Chicken and Tilapia is a low-phosphorus, high-protein supplement made from 93% boneless, skinless chicken breast, tilapia, and egg white. It has no grains, fillers, bones, or organs.
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Due to its naturally low phosphorus content, this food is suitable for cats requiring phosphorus management, particularly those with kidney conditions. Additionally, it’s highly digestible protein helps maintain lean muscle mass.
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You can serve it dry or add water to soften the texture. Adding water can help your cat digest it more easily and boost their daily water intake. This recipe is meant as a supplement and works well as a topper or treat alongside a complete, balanced diet.
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If you want help figuring out if this is right for your cat, visit your local Mud Bay and speak with a Muddy, or shop with us online today.
#mudbay #healthypets #kidneyhealth #cats #catfood
If your pup brings the energy indoors, meet their new favorite toy. The ultra plush Fluff & Tuff Soccer Ball is designed for fetch, toss, and all-out play.
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With a strong inner mesh liner and concealed double stitching, it delivers the durability Fluff & Tuff is known for in a soft, soccer-inspired design.
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Kick off the fun and shop the Fluff & Tuff Soccer Ball in-store or online at Mud Bay.
#mudbay #fluffandtuff #dogs #timetoplay #healthypets
Need to keep your dog engaged while you work, host, or help them burn energy?
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The Woof LickMat and LickMix make enrichment easy.
The textured design encourages longer licking, helping promote calm behavior and engagement. Premeasured lines make portioning easy every time.
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Simply mix the grain-free Cheddar and Bacon LickMix. It’s easy to digest, simple to prepare, and each bag provides 10 or more lick sessions. Made from 100 percent silicone, BPA-free, and dishwasher safe. Strong suction cups keep the LickMat stable for easy, everyday use.
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Enhance your dog’s daily enrichment—visit us in-store or online and bring home the woof LickMat and LickMix today.
#mudbay #woof #healthypets #dogs #petenrichment
👀 Looking for a way to slow down mealtime and keep your dog thinking? The GURU Pet Company Bobble Ball turns your dog’s food into an interactive activity.
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Simply fill it with kibble or small treats, screw the top back on, and let the wobble begin. The weighted base creates unpredictable movement that keeps dogs engaged and working for every bite.
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A great option for dogs new to enrichment or seasoned puzzle pros.
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Shop in-store or online at Mud Bay today.
#mudbay #dogs #staybusy #healthypets #dogtoys
🎉 New Mud Bay Air-Dried Toppers are now available in-store and online at Mud Bay!
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We’re excited to offer two new formulas that are complete and balanced for both cats and dogs.
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The Digestive Support Formula has beneficial fiber from lentils and sweet potato, along with probiotic inulin from chicory root. It also includes organic apple cider vinegar for extra immune and digestive support.
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Our Hip & Joint Support Formula features turmeric, oat flour, and omega-3 fatty acids from tuna 🐟 to help support joint mobility and immune health.
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All Mud Bay Air-Dried Toppers are veterinarian-formulated and free of corn, wheat, soy, and artificial preservatives. And they are convenient and easy to use as a complete meal, a treat, or a topper.
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You can find the full line—including Skin & Coat, Cognitive, Digestive, and Hip & Joint Support formulas—exclusively at Mud Bay.
#mudbay #healthypets #mealtime #pnwpets #mudbayairdriedtoppers
💫 New at Mud Bay!
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CocoTherapy Cranberry Sweet Potato Pie and Peanut Butter Blondie Coco-Charms. Small in size and low in calories, they are an ideal training treat.
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Made with 100% organic ingredients, you can feel good giving them to your dog during longer training sessions. CocoTherapy Coco-Charms are also free from grains, dairy, gluten, eggs, and preservatives, and are low glycemic.
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Shop the Cranberry Sweet Potato Pie and Peanut Butter Blondie CocoTherapy Coco-Charms in-store or online today!
#mudbay #cocotherapy #trainingtreats #dogs #healthypets
🎉 🎉 GIVEAWAY! New Mud Bay Air-Dried Toppers for Cats & Dogs
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We’re excited to give you a chance to win a bag of one of our newest Mud Bay Air-Dried Topper formulas.
Mud Bay Air-Dried Toppers are veterinarian-formulated, complete and balanced for cats and dogs, and easy to use as a topper, treat, or complete meal.
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New Mud Bay Air-Dried Topper Formulas:
Digestive Support
Made with turkey, chicken, and lentils, plus organic apple cider vinegar and chicory root to help support healthy digestion and immune function.
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Hip and Joint Support:
Made with turkey, chicken, fish, and oats, plus turmeric and omega-3s from tuna to help support mobility and joint health.
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To enter:
👍 Like this post
😃 Tag us and tag a friend
🤝 Follow us
We’ll pick winners at random and notify them on April 16th. Each winner will receive a bag of our newest Mud Bay Air-Dried Toppers. 🍀 🤞 Good luck!
#mudbay #foodtoppers #dogs #cats #petfood
Check out these new aquatic-themed toys for your pup from Fluff & Tuff.
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Available in-store now: Claude the squid, with tentacles that are great for tugging.
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We also have Dottie the Puffer Fish, who will keep your pup active with a nice fetch session, and, last but not least, we have Millie the Axolotl, who is an engaging option for all of the above and ready to shake up your pup’s toy selection.
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Shop these fun new Aquatic options for your pup in-store or online today!
#mudbay #fluffandtuff #dogtoys #playtime #pnwpets
We visited the local dog park today to share a fun spring surprise 👀🎉
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The park pups got to try our newest Mud Bay Air-Dried Toppers!
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We can’t share all the details on these new toppers yet, but here’s what we can tell you:
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Two new formulas are coming soon, and you’ll find them both in stores and online. They’ll be available in 8-ounce and 24-ounce bags.
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Just like our current toppers, these new formulas give both cats and dogs complete and balanced nutrition. You can serve them as a full meal, sprinkle them on top of their food, or offer them as a treat.
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Thank you to all the pups who came by to try them today.🐾🎉
Check back next week because we have a giveaway coming up. Stay tuned and have a great spring!🌈 💐 🌷 ☀️ ☔
#mudbay #dogpark #sneaktreat #mudbayairdriedtoppers #new
Keep your pet happy and blissfully engaged with the woof LickMat and LickMix.
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The LickMat is BPA-free, 100% silicone, and dishwasher safe on the top rack, with suction cups for stability and a design that encourages longer licking. It also features suction cups for stability and a design that encourages longer licking, while its built-in mixing bowl and measuring lines make mixing easy.
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The Bacon and Cheese LickMix is grain-free and designed for use with the LickMat, woof Pupsicle, or as a meal topper. Each bag yields about 10 LickMat sessions when used as directed.
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Treat your dog with the Woof LickMat and LickMix. Shop all woof products in-store and online today!
#mudbay #woof #dogs #enrichment #petproducts
