Weight reduction method for cats and other pets

Abstract

A pet food composition containing a small but sufficient amount of simmondsin component to provide a simmondsin activity within the range of 0.1% by weight of said pet food dry matter mix to about 1.5% by weight of said pet food dry matter mix. Also disclosed as part of the invention is a method of weight reduction of companion pets by adding pet food that contains the above-defined range of simmondsin activity contributed by a simmondsin component, simmondsin analogues or mixtures thereof, such as derived from defatted jojoba seed meal, and thereafter feeding the pet food to a companion pet on a regular and sustained basis until weight reduction occurs and then maintaining the pet's weight.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A method of weight reduction and weight maintenance in a cat comprising: feeding cat food containing dry matter to a cat, said cat food including a simmondsin component, a simmondsin analogue, or a mixture thereof, sufficient to provide in the cat food dry matter pure simmondsin of at least 0.24% by weight until the cat reaches its target weight; and then feeding the cat a simmondsin component, a simmondsin analogue, or a mixture thereof, sufficient to provide the cat pure simmondsin within the range from about 0.1% by weight of cat food dry matter mix to about 0.18% by weight of cat food dry matter mix to maintain the cat's target weight. 
     
     
       2. A method of weight reduction and weight maintenance according to  claim 1  wherein the simmondsin component is defatted jojoba seed meal. 
     
     
       3. A method of weight reduction and weight maintenance according to  claim 1  wherein the simmondsin component comprises 0.49% or less by weight of the cat food dry matter. 
     
     
       4. A method of weight reduction and weight maintenance according to  claim 1  wherein the cat reduces its food intake by at least 30.5% (±11.15%), over a period of time that is at least two weeks. 
     
     
       5. A method of weight reduction and weight maintenance in a cat comprising: 
       feeding cat food containing dry matter to a cat, said cat food including a simmondsin component, a simmondsin analogue, or a mixture thereof, sufficient to provide in the cat food dry matter pure simmondsin of at least 0.18% by weight until the cat reaches its target weight; and then feeding the cat a simmondsin component, a simmondsin analogue, or a mixture thereof, sufficient to provide the cat pure simmondsin within the range from about 0.1% by weight of cat food dry matter mix to about 0.18% by weight of cat food dry matter mix to maintain the car's target weight.  
     
     
       6. A method of weight reduction and weight maintenance according to  claim 5  wherein the simmondsin component is defatted jojoba seed meal. 
     
     
       7. A method of weight reduction and weight maintenance according to  claim 5  wherein the simmondsin component comprises 0.24%, but more than 0.12%, by weight of the cat food dry matter.