Diet Of Cats Research Articles

Environmental impact of diets for dogs and cats

Food production is responsible for almost one-quarter of the environmental impact and, therefore, its importance regarding sustainability should not be overlooked. The companion animal population is increasing, and an important part of pet food is composed of ingredients that have a high environmental impact. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of dry, wet, and homemade pet diets on greenhouse gas emission, land use, acidifying emission, eutrophying emissions, freshwater withdrawals, and stress-weighted water use. The wet diets were responsible for the highest impact, and dry diets were the type of diet that least impacted the environment, with a positive correlation between the metabolizable energy provided by animal ingredients and the environmental impact. It is necessary to consider the environmental impact of pet food since it is significant, and the population of pets tends to increase.

Distinctive diets of eutherian predators in Australia.

Introduction of the domestic cat and red fox has devastated Australian native fauna. We synthesized Australian diet analyses to identify traits of prey species in cat, fox and dingo diets, which prey were more frequent or distinctive to the diet of each predator, and quantified dietary overlap. Nearly half (45%) of all Australian terrestrial mammal, bird and reptile species occurred in the diets of one or more predators. Cat and dingo diets overlapped least (0.64 ± 0.27, n = 24 location/time points) and cat diet changed little over 55 years of study. Cats were more likely to have eaten birds, reptiles and small mammals than foxes or dingoes. Dingo diet remained constant over 53 years and constituted the largest mammal, bird and reptile prey species, including more macropods/potoroids, wombats, monotremes and bandicoots/bilbies than cats or foxes. Fox diet had greater overlap with both cats (0.79 ± 0.20, n = 37) and dingoes (0.73 ± 0.21, n = 42), fewer distinctive items (plant material, possums/gliders) and significant spatial and temporal heterogeneity over 69 years, suggesting the opportunity for prey switching (especially of mammal prey) to mitigate competition. Our study reinforced concerns about mesopredator impacts upon scarce/threatened species and the need to control foxes and cats for fauna conservation. However, extensive dietary overlap and opportunism, as well as low incidence of mesopredators in dingo diets, precluded resolution of the debate about possible dingo suppression of foxes and cats.

Dietary Ground Flaxseed Increases Serum Alpha-Linolenic Acid Concentrations in Adult Cats.

Simple SummaryThe use of flaxseed in complete pet foods as a source of omega-3 fatty acids, and in particular alpha-linolenic acid, has been studied extensively in dogs. However, to date, no scientific published literature exists on the impacts of feeding whole ground flaxseed as an ingredient in cat food on nutrient digestibility, fatty acid bioavailability, and overall health in cats. In addition, dietary flaxseed inclusion has been challenged as providing little nutritional value for cats by not changing serum fatty acid levels and lowering nutrient digestibility. Therefore, the objective of this study was to directly evaluate the effects of adding ground flaxseed to dry cat food on fatty acid bioavailability, stool consistency, nutrient digestibility, and overall health in adult cats. These results clearly exhibit that a flaxseed-supplemented diet resulted in no changes in stool quality or nutrient digestibility, and elicited an increase in serum alpha-linolenic acid concentrations in healthy cats. Overall, these results clearly demonstrate that ground flaxseed can be used to modulate serum fatty acid concentrations and serve as a bioavailable source of alpha-linolenic acid in commercial cat food.We evaluated effects of dietary ground flaxseed on fecal and serum alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) concentrations, nutrient digestibility, and stool quality in female and male adult cats (n = 20 (8 males, 12 females); 3.95 ± 1.49 years of age (mean ± SD); 3.88 ± 0.82 kg BW). We hypothesized that adding ground flaxseed would increase serum ALA compared with feeding no flax, without changing nutrient digestibility. Cats were fed as-is 2.6% added-flaxseed (flax, n = 10) or no-flax (control, n = 10) diets (2.66 vs. 0.78% ALA of total fatty acids; crude protein 35%, fat 20%, fiber 3% as-fed) twice daily to maintain body weight for 28 days. Fecal collections were conducted on days 23–27 for total-tract nutrient digestibility, stool quality (scale 1–5; 1 = watery diarrhea, 5 = hard, dry, crumbly) and long-chain fatty acid (LCFA) analyses. Blood was collected on days 0, 14, and 28 for serum LCFA and chemistry analysis. Digestibility and fecal data were analyzed by ANOVA (SAS v9.4, Cary, NC, USA) and a repeated measures ANOVA for serum ALA. Flax-fed cats, compared with control-fed, had greater (p < 0.05) serum ALA after 14 days (4.00 vs. 0.71 µg/mL) and 28 days (7.83 and 3.67 µg/mL). No differences were observed in stool quality, and dry matter, protein, fat, and ALA digestibility. However, metabolizable energy was greater in the flax vs. control diet (4.18 vs. 3.91 kcal/g; p < 0.05). Overall, these data demonstrate that ground flaxseed added to cat diets increases serum ALA within 14 days, with no detriments to nutrient digestibility. We conclude that flaxseed can be used as a bioavailable source of ALA in cat diets.

From Nutritional Adequacy to Hygiene Quality: A Detailed Assessment of Commercial Raw Pet-Food for Dogs and Cats.

Simple SummaryAs alternative diets to processed pet food, raw meat-based diets (RMBDs) have received increasing attention in recent years. Commercial RMBDs consist mainly of raw meats, animal by-products, such as offal, and bones. Most RMBDs do not contain additives; therefore, they potentially pose a risk of nutritional imbalances to adults and, to a greater extent, growing animals. RMBDs are frozen ready-to-use products that are fed to pets after being thawed. Bacterial contamination of RMBDs is an area of concern, including the risk of spreading zoonotic diseases to humans. In this study, a detailed assessment of commercial RMBDs was performed in relation to nutritional adequacy and hygiene quality. The results showed that the tested products often provided deficient amounts of essential nutrients, were nutritionally unbalanced, and very rich in fat. They were also characterized by high microbial contamination, showing low hygiene quality. This study provides information that indicates the need for strict monitoring of the nutritional and microbiological quality of commercial RMBDs.Raw meat-based diets (RMBDs) are widely used as unconventional diets for dogs and cats at different life stages, despite concerns regarding nutritional adequacy and microbial contamination. The aim of this study was to evaluate both the nutritional and hygiene quality profile of RMBDs purchased in Germany. For this purpose, crude nutrients were assessed in 44 RMBDs and compared to declared values. In addition, selected minerals were determined in 31 RMBDs labelled as complete and compared to the minimum requirement (MR) for intended species and life stages. Aerobic colony count (ACC) and Enterobacteriaceae were used to assess the hygiene quality of 37 commercial RMBDs, while the presence of Salmonella spp. was examined in 10 products. Fat and protein content exceeded tolerated deviation from declared values in 33% and 45% of RMBDs, respectively. Each RMBD showed at least one concern regarding nutrient content. The RMBDs had high fat contents (mean 69, range 33–95 g/Mcal) that were negatively correlated with protein (r = −0.74, p < 0.0001). Considerable contaminations by ACC and Enterobacteriaceae were found (2.61 × 108 ± 3.63 × 108 and 3.61 × 106 ± 8.39 x106 CFU/g, respectively). A higher count of Enterobacteriaceae was detected in a frozen RMBDs made of poultry or carcasses from different animals, compared to the thawed counterpart (p = 0.003), as well as compared to other sources, such as beef, horse, and lamb, regardless of the storage condition. Salmonella spp. were found in 2/10 RMBDs. This study confirmed that feeding commercial RMBDs might pose a risk to pet health.

Modeling moisture adsorption isotherms for extruded dry pet foods

Two mathematical models were used to determine the moisture adsorption isotherm curves of dry pet foods. Ten extruded commercial diets for dogs (n = 6) and cats (n = 4) were tested within 7 days of manufacture. The equilibrium moisture content of each food at 30 and 40 °C was determined by gravimetry. Six saturated saline solutions (lithium chloride, potassium acetate, sodium nitrite, magnesium chloride, sodium chloride, and potassium chloride) were prepared and used to obtain pet food samples at different water activities. Solutions were placed in airtight flasks containing food samples (without direct contact) and oven-dried to constant weight. The relationship between water activity and equilibrium moisture content was modeled by the exponential Peleg and Guggenheim–Anderson–de Boer (GAB) models. All pet foods exhibited a type II isotherm. Akaike information criterion, R2, and standard deviation values were − 29.79, 0.914, and 3.89, respectively, at 30 °C by the Peleg model; − 28.86, 0.876, and 6.36 at 40 °C by the Peleg model; − 31.17, 0.937, and 4.34 at 30 °C by the GAB model; and − 29.63, 0.888, and 7.71 at 40 °C by the GAB model. At 0.60 water activity, equilibrium moisture contents by the Peleg and GAB models were 12.04 ± 0.84 and 11.67 ± 0.78 g H2O/g dry matter, respectively, at 30 °C and 7.83 ± 1.31 and 8.09 ± 0.81 g H2O/g dry matter at 40 °C. The GAB model also allowed estimating monolayer moisture content (5.81 ± 0.81%). Both models provided similar results and may be useful for determining quality parameters for pet foods. Adsorption isotherm studies can provide practical information about the moisture ranges of pet foods, contributing to the optimization of food safety, palatability, and processing conditions.

Effects of a high-protein, high-fiber diet rich in antioxidants and l-carnitine on body weight, body composition, metabolic status, and physical activity levels of cats after spay surgery.

Spay and neuter surgeries are useful in controlling pet populations, but increase obesity risk due to increased appetite, decreased metabolic rate, and decreased energy expenditure. Dietary management may help limit post-spay weight gain, but few research studies have been conducted in cats. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of a high-protein, high-fiber diet (HPHF) compared to a moderate-protein, moderate-fiber diet (MPMF) in female cats following spay surgery. Twenty healthy female cats (9.5 ± 0.1 mo) were used. After a 4-wk baseline phase with cats fed MPMF to maintain body weight (BW), 16 cats were spayed and allotted to MPMF (n = 8) or HPHF (n = 8), with the remaining cats being sham-operated and fed MPMF (n = 4). Cats were fed to maintain BW for 12 wk and then allowed to eat up to twice that amount for another 12 wk. Daily food intake, twice weekly BW, and twice weekly body condition scores (BCS) were assessed. Back fat thickness (BF) using ultrasound, body composition using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), feline body mass index (fBMI), body fat percentage estimates using zoometry measurements, serum metabolites, and voluntary physical activity levels were measured prior to spay (week 0) and every 6 wk post-spay. A treatment*time effect was observed for food intake (g/d), but not caloric intake (kcal ME/d). Caloric intake was affected by time and treatment, being reduced over the first 12 wk and reduced at higher amounts in HPHF and MPMF cats vs. sham cats. BW, BCS, and body fat percentage were affected over time. Treatment*time effects were observed for blood urea nitrogen, alkaline phosphatase, and fructosamine, whereas blood triglycerides, total cholesterol, creatinine, total protein, phosphorus, and bicarbonate were affected by time. Physical activity was reduced over time. Our results demonstrate that spay surgery affects food intake, BW, metabolism, and physical activity of cats. Dietary intervention in this study, however, led to minor changes.

Commercial vs Homemade Cat Diets: What you need to know.

A feeding plan recommendation for cats, both healthy and with disease, should include diet choice, amounts to feed and the feeding method. Diet choice can be complex owing to the abundance of products, sometimes with conflicting marketing messages, and the prevalence of information with no scientific basis. It is important to be aware of the specific challenges of both commercial and homemade diets. Moreover, a nutritional assessment is a prerequisite when recommending a diet to ensure that it is safe, appropriate for the cat's life stage and nutritious for long-term feeding. There are a variety of commercial diets available, allowing considerable customisation. These products are regulated and can be tested to determine nutritional adequacy and safety, although as the industry is partly self-regulated, choice of manufacturer is important. Properly formulated homemade diets can be customised to the patient and are a good option when no commercial product that meets the patient's needs exists. Homemade diets can be an owner preference. A serious limitation is the lack of testing, potentially affecting safety and also resulting in a reliance on database information to determine nutritional adequacy. Generic homemade diet recipes (eg, sourced from the internet) have additional risks of deficiencies and imbalances, and are not recommended. Homemade diets should be devised by a veterinary nutrition specialist with consideration of both patient and owner factors. Dietary misinformation, which is all too readily available on the internet, may result in owners making questionable feeding choices for their pets. A homemade diet may be requested by owners based on the perception that there are poor ingredients in commercial foods. The veterinary healthcare team needs to have good evidence-based information to present to owners about diet choice. Several decades of research on feline nutrition forms the basis for nutritional requirements and dietary recommendations. There are varying degrees of evidence regarding requirements for each nutrient, and a lack of data on the effects of different types of processing on nutrient needs.

Effects of isoflavone supplementation on endometrial thickness, endometrial hyperplasia, and cancer in ovariectomized cats.

Ovariectomy is identified as a standard treatment in different European countries. Isoflavones, as nonsteroidal compounds in plants, are common constituents of soy and soy products. Some available cat diets contain different concentrations of soy products. This study aimed to examine the effects of isoflavone supplementation on endometrial hyperplasia and endometrial thickness in ovariectomized cats. Fifteen neutered adult cats were divided into control, estradiol, and isoflavone groups (five cats per group). Subcutaneous injection of estradiol (0.5 μg) in sesame oil (100 μL) was done for 30 days in estradiol-treated cats. Isoflavone-treated cats ingested a single oral tablet of soy extract for 30 days, while the controls received subcutaneous injections of the vehicle and oral placebo for 30 days. Histopathological findings of hematoxylin and eosin-stained sections revealed a significant difference between the estradiol group and other groups in terms of hyperplastic epithelium and simple hyperplasia. Thickness of myometrium was greater in the estradiol group compared to the isoflavone and control groups. Higher concentrations of estrogen can affect the endometrium and myometrium, while 30-day ingestion of isoflavone didn't have any uterine effect.

A review of modern approaches to healthy diets for dogs and cats

A review of modern approaches to healthy diets for dogs and cats

Influence of number of ingredients, use of supplement and vegetarian or vegan preparation on the composition of homemade diets for dogs and cats

BackgroundHomemade diets are a worldwide trend, and many recipes are currently available on websites but may not be considered balanced. This study aimed to evaluate if the number of ingredients, supplement, or vegetarian/vegan-only ingredients included in a recipe influence the nutrient content of homemade diets for dogs and cats. Chemical analyses were performed on 75 diets for dogs and 25 for cats prepared according to websites’ recipes, and minerals were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES).ResultsCanine diets that met fat requirements had more ingredients than those below recommendations. None of the cat diets met iron requirements, and feline diets that met requirements of manganese had fewer ingredients and those that supplied requirements of protein and sodium had more ingredients than the diets below recommendations (p < 0.05). Non-supplemented canine and feline diets had calcium and calcium:phosphorus ratio below recommendations (p < 0.05). Non-supplemented feline diets had lower sodium and iron, and zinc levels were below recommendation in diets for both species. Diets with animal products for dogs had higher levels of protein and zinc, although zinc was deficient in both groups, and there were higher amounts of crude fiber, magnesium, and manganese in vegetarian/vegan diets (p < 0.05). Diets with animal products for cats had higher levels of protein (p = 0.003), but there was a higher amount of crude fiber (p = 0.014) in vegetarian/vegan diets.ConclusionThe number of ingredients and vegetarian/vegan preparation did not guarantee nutritional adequacy of diets, and the presence of supplement did not ensure a balanced diet.

Dilated cardiomyopathy in cats: survey of veterinary cardiologists and retrospective evaluation of a possible association with diet

Introduction/objectivesThe objectives were to conduct a survey of cardiologists on their recent experiences with cats that have dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and to retrospectively review individual cases of feline DCM. Animals, materials and methodsPart one: A survey was distributed to cardiologists with questions regarding caseload and clinical management of cats with DCM diagnosed over the past two years. Part two: Cardiologists completing the survey were invited to submit data from cats recently diagnosed with DCM. Data on signalment, clinical signs, diet, echocardiographic measurements and outcome were recorded. ResultsPart one: From 52 completed surveys, many cardiologists responded that measuring and supplementing taurine and recommending a diet change in cats with DCM are common practices. Few (15%) cardiologists reported an increase in the number of feline DCM cases over the past two years, although some had cases that improved even if taurine deficiency was not present. Part two: Twenty of 37 (54%) cats ate low pea/lentil (low PL) diets, and 14/37 (38%) ate high PL diets at the time of diagnosis; three had incomplete diet information. Two of 13 cats (15%) in which taurine was measured had levels below the reference range. After adjusting for other variables, cats eating high PL diets that changed diets after diagnosis had a significantly longer survival time than that of cats eating high PL diets that did not change diets after diagnosis (P = 0.025). ConclusionsAdditional research is warranted to determine whether there could be a possible association between diet and DCM in cats.

Lipid Fraction Properties of Homemade Raw Cat Foods and Selected Commercial Cat Foods

The purpose of the present study was to characterize lipid fraction extracted from five self-prepared and seven commercial cat foods using gas chromatography (GC) and pressurized differential scanning calorimetry (PDSC) techniques. Self-prepared food recipes were composed using BARFny kalkulator, software dedicated for balancing cat diets, and prepared on the basis of fresh raw meat and offal. Extracted fat fractions were compared qualitatively and quantitatively with literature data for the fat of whole prey items to check the main assumptions of the software used. The fatty acid (FA) composition and distribution were determined using GC. The PDSC method was used for the determination of the oxidative stability of extracted fats. The obtained results indicate that self-prepared cat foods contained a high level of essential fatty acids (EFA) but low oxidative stability, especially for those with significant amounts of polyunsaturated FA. The FA profile and oxidative stability were examined for four dry and three wet commercial cat foods. It was found that their omega-6 to omega-3 ratio was beneficial reaching 5.3:1 to 10.1:1, despite the low amount of EFA. The longer induction time was determined for fats extracted from commercial cat foods than for self-prepared ones, which indicate their higher oxidative stability.

111 Validation of the Indicator Amino Acid Oxidation Technique in the Domestic Cat

Abstract There is a lack of data on the minimum Met or total sulfur AA (SAA) requirements for adult cats. Non-invasive and precise techniques, such as indicator AA oxidation (IAAO) can be used for these purposes. This pilot study aimed to validate the IAAO technique in cats and investigate the effect of dietary Met concentrations and sources on fasted plasma SAA concentrations. Six cats were fed three experimental diets in random order: Met-deficient diet (BASAL; 0.23% Met+Cys-DM) and two Met-sufficient diets in which either DL-Met (DLM) or Met-hydroxy-analogue (MHA) were supplemented, respectively, on an equimolar basis to meet the total SAA requirement (0.34%-DM). After 2d diet adaptation, IAAO studies were performed. Cats were offered 13 ½-hourly small meals. The 6th meal contained a priming dose (4.8 mg/kg-BW) of L-[1-13C]-Phe and the remaining meals the constant dose (1.04 mg/kg-BW). Breath samples were collected ½-hourly to measure 13CO2 enrichment. The following morning after an 16hr fast, blood samples were collected. Isotopic steady-state was evaluated through linear regression models. Plasma AA data were analyzed using PROC GLIMMIX procedure in SAS (Version 9.4). Met concentrations tended to be higher in cats fed DLM compared to BAS (P = 0.0877), but similar to those fed MHA (P &amp;gt; 0.05). Total cysteine plasma concentrations were similar between treatments (P &amp;gt; 0.05). Cats fed BAS had greater concentrations of plasma HCys compared to DLM and MHA (P = 0.0093). Cats did not reach isotopic steady-state in atom percent excess (P &amp;gt;0.05) regardless of the dietary treatment provided. Non-steady-state kinetics models are under development to predict 13CO2 flux. This study indicates that the short-term feeding of a Met-deficient diet in cats results in greater plasma Hcys and a tendency for lower plasma Met concentrations. A higher prime dose of L-[1-13C]-Phe is warranted to achieve isotopic steady-state and successfully apply the IAAO to estimate AA requirements.

PSIII-4 Nutritional evaluation of yeast biomass from candida utilis as a protein source in cat diets

Abstract Yeast products have found much favor within companion animal nutrition. A recently developed proprietary process has introduced an enhanced yeast biomass from Candida utilis (merchandised as SylPro®) into the animal food marketplace. Candida utilis has been shown to be a valuable protein in canine, swine and aquaculture diets; however, no previous research has evaluated its use in feline diets. Therefore, the current objective was to determine the nutrient digestibility of diets containing SylPro® yeast biomass (SYL) as the primary protein source relative to soybean meal (SOY), pea protein concentrate (PEA), and chicken meal (CKN) fed to cats. Apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of diets were estimated using Titanium dioxide as an indigestible marker. The DM ATTD for SYL was lower (P &amp;lt; 0.0001) than CKN (86.39 vs. 87.43%, respectively) but similar to both SOY (85.66%) and PEA (86.54%). The OM ATTD of SYL, SOY, and PEA were not different (P &amp;lt; 0.0001) and were each lower than CKN (average of 89.60 vs. 91.16%, respectively). The CP ATTD for SYL (89.9%) was not different from the other three treatments (P = 0.0200). Crude fat ATTD of SYL was lower (92.52%; P &amp;lt; 0.0001) than all treatments with PEA being greatest (94.82%) and CKN and SOY intermediate (average of 93.84%). The SYL and CKN had higher TDF ATTD (average of 66.20%; P &amp;lt; 0.0001) relative to PEA and SOY (average of 49.79%). The GE ATTD of SYL was lower than CKN (90.18 vs. 90.97%, respectively; P = 0.0154) but similar to both SOY (90.18%) and PEA (90.30%). In conclusion, all diets were highly digestible but CKN preformed the best. The SYL diet was similar to CKN for ATTD of CP and TDF. The SYL diet was also similar to both SOY and PEA for ATTD of DM, OM, CP and GE.

PSV-B-26 Performance of sunflower protein meal and dried yeast as secondary protein sources in feline diets

Abstract The objectives of this study were to assess graded inclusions of sunflower protein meal (SPM; crude protein: 54%, crude fat: 11%, crude fiber: 4%) and dried yeast (DY; crude protein: 50%, crude fat: 3%, crude fiber: 2%) on nutrient digestibility, stool quality, and palatability in adult cats. Both SPM and DY were included at 5% and 10% in replacement of pea protein in a high-protein, chicken-based feline diet to maintain equal macronutrient concentrations across all test diets (formulated to 41% crude protein, 18% crude fat, 3% crude fiber). The study was approved and followed by the facility’s Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee. A standard 2-bowl palatability test over a 2-day period was executed with adult cats (n = 30 each) to determine intake ratios between test diets (5% and 10% SPM or 5% and 10% DY), and test diets vs. control. Total tract nutrient digestibility was evaluated (n = 8 per diet) with 5 days of diet acclimation followed by 5 days of total fecal collection. Stool quality was evaluated on a 1–5 scale, where 1 = hard/formed and 5 = non-formed/diarrhea. All data were analyzed by ANOVA (SAS v9.4) and T-tests post-hoc (Minitab 18). Palatability and stool quality were similar (P &amp;gt; 0.05) between all diets. Protein digestibility was lower for DY-containing diets, compared with control (5% DY at P = 0.0083 and 10% DY at P = 0.0336), but not significantly different for SPM diets (P &amp;gt; 0.05). However, average protein digestibility was &amp;gt;88% across all diets. The alternative protein sources tested showed merit for inclusion to diversify ingredient sources while maintaining palatability in cat diets.

PSV-B-24 Palatability assessment of graded levels of grain distillers dried yeast (GDDY) fed to healthy adult cats

Abstract Traditionally, yeast products have been added to companion animal diets to improve palatability. Grain distillers dried yeast (GDDY), a coproduct from ethanol production which contains yeast, may be a viable option in pet food. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of increasing levels of GDDY in cat diets compared to soybean meal. The control diet contained 15% soybean meal (CON) and GDDY was exchanged for soybean meal at either 5%, 10%, or 15% (5G, 10G, 15G). For each test, experimental treatments were compared to the control. Twenty cats were presented two bowls each containing approximately 100g of diet once daily for 2 days. Cats were given diet access for 4 hours and bowl placement was reversed on the second day. Total food consumption and first choice preference were recorded for each cat. Individual intake ratios (IR) were calculated (intake of each diet/total intake) and first choice (FC) was analyzed with a Chi2 test. When comparing 5G to CON, the IR was 0.970 with FC of 30/40 occasions (P = 0.0016). The IR for 10G was 0.538 and FC was 18/40 with no difference from the CON (P = 0.5271). The IR for 15G was 0.590 and FC was 19/40 with no difference from the CON (P = 0.7518). Overall, these results suggest that cats may prefer GDDY over soybean meal, but preference may be influenced by inclusion level with the greatest impact observed at 5% and no detrimental impact at 10 or 15%.

The Diets of Companion Cats in Aotearoa New Zealand: Identification of Obesity Risk Factors.

Simple SummaryCurrently, there is a paucity of studies exploring the behaviours of people living in Aotearoa New Zealand regarding their responsibilities as pet owners and the factors that may influence these behaviours. In order to improve pet management and, in turn, animal welfare, we need to understand the factors that contribute to why humans behave the way they do towards their animals so that we can implement effective behaviour change programmes to benefit animal welfare. The current study aims to explore what companion cats in Aotearoa New Zealand are being fed and identify possible owner-related risk factors for developing obesity in cats. Identifying these risk factors may assist in developing future research and new approaches to obesity prevention in cats that focus on positive behaviour changes in their owners.One in four New Zealand cats are overweight or obese, conditions associated with poor health outcomes. As part of an online survey that was conducted from January 2019 to March 2019, NZ residents aged ≥18 years were asked demographic questions along with questions related to the body condition, breed and diet of their cat/s. From the responses, possible owner-related risk factors for developing obesity were identified. Of the respondents, 65.5% (n = 1537) owned cat/s; the owners being more likely to be female, live rurally, or live with children. Most of the respondents fed their cat/s biscuits from the supermarket (63%) and wet food (57%). Almost half (45%) fed their cat/s specialised food from a pet shop or veterinary clinic and gave them treats, with 31% of respondents feeding their cat/s raw meat. Feeding cats a variety of food types may make it difficult to estimate the appropriate amount of each needed to avoid excess caloric intake. In addition, approximately 30% of the respondents did not agree with the correct body condition statement, revealing a need for owner education. These findings highlight important areas of cat nutrition requiring future research to better inform the development of healthy weight interventions for NZ cats.

Contributions of wild and provisioned foods to the diets of domestic cats that depredate wild animals

AbstractPredation of wildlife by domestic cats Felis catus presents a threat to biodiversity conservation in some ecological contexts. The proportions of wild prey captured and eaten by domestic cats and thus the contributions of wild prey to cat diets are hard to quantify. This limits the understanding of any impacts of cats may have on wild animal populations and confounds analyses of the effects of interventions aimed at reducing wildlife killing. We used stable isotope analyses to quantify the relative contributions of wild and provisioned foods to the diets of domestic cats kept as companion animals and which frequently captured wild prey. We tested the effects of treatments aimed at reducing killing upon stable isotope ratios of cat whiskers and, where treatments had significant effects, we estimated variation in the contributions of wild prey to cats’ diets before and during treatment. We evaluated bells, Birdsbesafe collar covers, provision of food in a “puzzle feeder,” provision of food in which meat was the principal source of protein, object play, and a control group. As expected, cat diets consisted primarily of provisioned foods, though the contribution of wild animals to the diets of these cats, all of which regularly caught wild animals, was low (cat food ˜96%, wild animals ˜3–4%). Compared to the pre‐treatment period and control group, cats with a Birdsbesafe collar cover exhibited a significant reduction in nitrogen stable isotope ratios in their whiskers and consumed less wild prey, most likely attributable to effective inhibition of hunting, particularly for birds. Fitting cats with a Birdsbesafe collar cover, therefore, reduced both returns of wild birds and consumption of wild prey. While multiple interventions can significantly affect the numbers of wild animals that cats capture and return home, the remarkably small dietary contributions made by wild animal prey mean dietary change is harder to discern. Domestic cats rely almost exclusively on food provided by people, even when they frequently kill wild animals. This suggests that the hunting behavior of domestic cats may be driven by behavioral motivations, or by a need to address micronutrient requirements, but is unlikely to alter macronutrient intake.

Assessment of vegan complete diets for dogs and cats available in Germany

Nutritional assessment of commercial vegan complete diets for adult cats and dogs and the evaluation of the products' legal labelling. Four complete vegan diets for adult cats and dogs available on the German market were analyzed concerning their nutrient and mineral content. The required amount of food was determined by calculation and compared to the manufacturers' feeding recommendation. Data labelling was assessed for its accordance with EC regulation 767/2009. The supply of taurine and vitamins was evaluated for its adequacy by use of the nutritional additive data on the product label. In most cases, the labelled data complied with the regulatory framework. The manufacturers' feeding recommendation differed significantly from the calculated feed quantity in 2 out of 4 feeds. The recommendations resulted in a coverage of 64 to 121 % of the total energy requirement, more frequently leading to an underestimation of the required feed amount. The supply of minerals exceeded the recommended allowance by 5.2- to 8.2-fold in the adult dog and by 9.0- and 11.4-fold in the adult cat. In 1 out of 4 diets, the European Pet Food Industry Federation guidelines were undercut for crude protein, crude fat and phosphorus. Zinc and copper contents were in excess and/or insufficient. A shortfall in National Research Council (NRC) recommendations was present for zinc content in one diet. Most products met the recommended supply of essential amino acids; 2 products only met the minimum requirements for methionine and cystine but not the recommended provision. The added taurine met the recommended intake in one commercial diet for cats. Requirements for vitamin intake were fulfilled by the nutritional additives in 3 products. None of the products fulfilled the energy and nutrient requirements for a complete diet for adult dogs and cats without limitations. Therefore, deficiencies in the supply of individual nutrients cannot be ruled out under long-term feeding of the examined vegan diets.

Diet of the Pallas's cat (Otocolobus manul) in Mongolian steppe habitat during a population peak of Brandt's voles

Pallas's cats range across Central Asia and commonly consume small mammals. Most studies on Pallas's cats' diets found that they strongly selected particular prey species, such as pika (Ochotona spp.). Pika occurrence in Pallas's cat diet was disproportionately high compared to availability in Central Mongolia. We conducted research into Pallas's cat ecology in Khalzan Soum, Sukhbaatar Aimag since 2018. Brandt's vole density started to increase in 2017, peaked in 2018–2019, and decreased in 2020. We collected feces of Pallas's cats every month from May 2019 to May 2020. During this time, the monthly percent occurrence of Brandt's voles in Pallas's cats' diet ranged from 82.6 to 89.9%. We found a significant correlation between rodent abundance and occurrence in scats of Pallas's cats during the kitten rearing season. Brandt's vole (Lasiopodomys brandtii), Daurian ground squirrel (Ochotona dauurica) and Mongolian hamster (Allocricetulus curtatus) were significantly preferred. Our research provides insights into how Pallas's cats play an important role in biological control in this ecosystem during a Brandt's vole's population irruption.