Abstract
Simple SummaryCats tend to retain food preferences across their lifetime, but intrinsic variables could affect their diet choices so as to preserve internal homoeostasis. This work intended to study the feeding behavior of cats in relation to diet composition and some intrinsic variables (sex, age, and body weight) by analyzing data from a 10-year database of two-feeder food preference tests (2007–2017). Diet mineral components (calcium, crude fiber and ashes) affected food preferences negatively. In addition, the influence of body weight and sex manifested as lower food intake in both females and the heaviest cats (relative to bodyweight). However, only body weight affected food preferences, where the heaviest animals presented the higher preferences overall. During the cold season, animals (especially females) displayed higher food intake, whereas hot seasons increased male cat preferences for palatable diets, hence we observed an interaction between sex and climate season. In conclusion, understanding the relationship that both food composition and some intrinsic variables cats have with their diet preference could help in improving the formulation of specific pet food diets, so that these adequately satisfy the physiological and hedonic needs of domestic cats.A ten-year database of food preference tests (n = 1021; period 2007−2017) was used to explore the feeding behavior of domestic cats. Principal component (PC) analysis and linear regression between food nutrients and preferences (for the most preferred diet of each test; Diet A) were performed. Intake and preference for Diet A were analyzed by intrinsic cats’ variables and climate season. The PC1 (calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), and ash), PC2 (lipids and ether extract) and PC4 (crude fiber; CF) had borderline significance (p < 0.06; β = −1.42, β = −1.56, and β = 2.68, respectively). Ash and CF contents presented negative correlations with food preference (rho = −0.269, p = 0.031; rho = −0.338, p = 0.006, respectively), and Ca had borderline significance and negative correlation with food preference (rho = −0.241, p = 0.054). Body weight and sex influenced the intake of Diet A, being lower for females (β = 11.758; p = 0.014) and heaviest cats (β = −5.490; p < 0.001). However, only body weight affected food preferences, where the heaviest cats had greater preferences for Diet A. Hot season decreased food intake (β = −2,117; p = 0.032), mostly in females (rho = −3.537; p = 0.002). Males had greater preferences for Diet A during hot seasons (β = 10.216; p = 0.023) and females presented similar preferences throughout the year (p = 0.950). Mineral contents, body weight and sex affected food intake and preferences of cats under the influence of climate season, probably explained by adaptive changes in food detection.
Highlights
Domestic cats (Felis silvestris catus) display feeding behavior that stems from specific nutritional requirements [1,2,3] associated to their strict carnivore physiology, such as high levels of total crude protein linked to the presence of specific amino acids in the diet, vitamins
Variances for the first four principal components (PC1−PC4) were greater than one (>1) and, altogether, they explained more than 85% of the variability found in the original variable
[5,32], understandingofhow these variables diets may influence food preferences inbeen cats is highly relevant for but the development novel commercial influence food preferences in cats is highly relevant for the development of novel commercial diets that cater to specific populations and physiological conditions [32]
Summary
Domestic cats (Felis silvestris catus) display feeding behavior that stems from specific nutritional requirements [1,2,3] associated to their strict carnivore physiology, such as high levels of total crude protein linked to the presence of specific amino acids in the diet (i.e., arginine and taurine), vitaminsA, D, and complex B, as well as arachidonic acid [4,5,6]. Cats eat small portions throughout the day mimicking a feeding rhythm pattern that is typical of their wild cat ancestors (Felis silvestris lybica), who hunted small-sized prey [5,7]. Cats choose their diets based on smell, taste, temperature, and texture [6,8,9] up to the point of self-regulating consumption of certain kinds of foods to ensure an adequate intake of certain nutrients, balancing their diets themselves [10,11]. The latter situation has been observed in both wild and farm cats, helping them to broaden their food variability and meet their total nutritional requirements [14,15]
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