Diet Of Cats Research Articles

Diet of invasive cats, rats and tegu lizards reveals impact over threatened species in a tropical island

Vertebrates introduced in non-native habitats have contributed to several extinctions in the modern era, with direct effects mainly over birds, mammals and reptiles on islands. Fernando de Noronha Archipelago, in tropical Atlantic Ocean, is a World Heritage natural site, holding the most diverse breeding seabird community off Brazil, in addition to endemic landbirds and reptiles. It also holds invasive black rats (Rattus rattus), tegu lizards (Salvator merianae) and feral cats (Felis catus), among the 26 exotic species reported in the archipelago, all of which are species with potentially high impact upon native fauna. Aiming to assess the role of exotic vertebrates on the fauna, we investigated their diets through stomach content and scat analysis, and stable isotope analysis (SIA) followed by isotopic mixing models. The main food items for tegu lizards were fruits, with relative importance (Prey-specific Index of Relative Importance – %PSIRI) of 41.3%, and the endemic Noronha skink (Trachylepis atlantica; 19.6%) and for black rats was Noronha skink (30.3%). The diet of feral cats was composed by rodents (31.6%), birds (28.6%) and Noronha skink (18.8%). SIA and Bayesian mixing models provided evidences that invasive species use marine matter to synthesize tissues, probably derived directly or indirectly from seabird colonies. This study demonstrated that exotic species feed on other exotic, as well as endemic species. The most heavily impacted species was the endemic Noronha skink. We demonstrated the predation pressure of exotic fauna upon endemic vertebrates, and strongly recommend the implementation of an invasive species control and eradication plan.

Modelling of sulphur amino acid requirements and nitrogen endogenous losses in kittens

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to estimate the sulphur amino acid (methionine + cystine) requirements and nitrogen endogenous losses in kittens aged 150 to 240 d. Thirty-six cats were distributed in six treatments (six cats per treatment) consisting of different concentrations of methionine + cystine (M + C): T1, 6.5 g/kg; T2, 8.8 g/kg; T3, 11.3 g/kg; T4, 13.6 g/kg; T5, 16.0 g/kg; and control, 6.5 g/kg. Diets were formulated by serial dilution of T5 (a diet relatively deficient in M + C but containing high protein concentrations) with a minimal nitrogen diet (MND). Thus, crude protein and amino acid concentrations in diets T1–T5 decreased by the same factor. The control diet was the T1 diet supplemented with adequate concentrations of M + C (6.5 g/kg; 8.8 g/kg; 11.3 g/kg; 13.6 g/kg and 16.0 g/kg). All diets were based on ingredients commonly used in extruded cat diets. Digestibility assays were performed for the determination of nitrogen balance. Nitrogen intake (NI) and nitrogen excretion (NEX) results data were fitted with an exponential equation to estimate nitrogen maintenance requirement (NMR), theoretical maximum for daily nitrogen retention (NRmaxT), and protein quality (b). M + C requirements were calculated from the limiting amino acid intake (LAAI) equation assuming a nitrogen retention of 45 to 65% NRmaxT. The NMR of kittens aged 150, 195, and 240 d was estimated at 595, 559, and 455 mg/kg body weight (BW)0.67 per day, respectively, and M + C requirements were estimated at 517, 664, and 301 mg/kg BW0.67 per day, respectively.

Ancient Pets. The health, diet and diversity of cats, dogs and monkeys from the Red Sea port of Berenice (Egypt) in the 1st-2nd centuries AD

ABSTRACT Exploration of the ancient transcontinental port of Berenice has enabled us to reveal some of the cultural roots of today’s societal bond with ‘commensals’; this bond included emotional ties with domesticated animals. The ‘pet cemetery’ at the port functioned from the mid-1st to mid-2nd century AD. The 585 unearthed burials were dominated by cats, dogs and two species of macaques. At least some of these animals came from outside the African continent. The sex and age profiles of the cats corresponded to those recorded in contemporary urban populations. Among the animals buried at Berenice there featured numerous pathological lesions and diseases that would have prevented unaccompanied survival. Although dogs were mainly of a light, Spitz-type, there was also a taller variant, as well as toy-dogs. The type of burial and furnishings point to the transposition of funerary customs also to pets.

Microencapsulation of Probiotic Strains by Lyophilization Is Efficient in Maintaining the Viability of Microorganisms and Modulation of Fecal Microbiota in Cats.

High extrusion temperatures may compromise the functionality of probiotics in dry food. This study aimed to (i) evaluate the effects of two types of microencapsulation techniques, different encapsulating agents, and 120 days of storage on the viability of a commercial probiotic product and (ii) investigate fecal microbiota populations and fecal characteristics of adult cats fed with diets supplemented with probiotics. Three experimental treatments were evaluated: T1, commercial feed (control); T2, commercial kibbles coated with probiotics; and T3, commercial feed supplemented with freeze-dried probiotics and fructooligosaccharides. Fructooligosaccharides and gum arabic were used as encapsulating agents for freeze drying and spray drying and a pool containing Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus lactis, Bifidobacterium bifidum, Enterococcus faecium, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a probiotic. Diets were provided to 18 adult cats for 20 days. Feed samples were evaluated microbiologically, and feces were characterized according to their microbial content, pH, and fecal score. Freeze drying was more effective in maintaining microbial viability. Microcapsules prepared using fructooligosaccharides as encapsulants had the highest bacterial count: 8.74 log CFU/g of lactic acid bacteria and 8.75 log CFU/g of enterococci. Probiotics and synbiotics positively modulated (P < 0.05) the fecal microbiota of cats, increasing the lactic acid bacteria counts from 3.65 to 4.87 and 5.07 log CFU/g, respectively. Microbial viability decreased significantly (P < 0.05) after storage, demonstrating the need for effective protection mechanisms against extrinsic agents. In conclusion, the supplementation of cat diets with probiotics positively affected the gut microbiota. However, the results reinforce that probiotic microorganisms must be incorporated into the animal feed via effective mechanisms to withstand harsh processing conditions and storage.

Effect of a struvite dissolution diet in cats with naturally occurring struvite urolithiasis.

ObjectivesThe aim of the study was to determine the efficacy of the low struvite relative supersaturation diet in dissolution of feline struvite cystoliths.MethodsThis was a prospective, open-label, two-center study. Twelve client-owned cats were enrolled based on the radiographic appearance of their uroliths and urinalysis parameters. Cats were fed the test diet exclusively for up to 56 days. Cats were radiographed every other week until radiographic evidence of dissolution occurred or the end of the study period was reached. Cats with radiographically apparent uroliths at the end of the study period underwent cystotomy for stone retrieval and analysis.ResultsNine of the 12 cats completed the study. Eight experienced radiographic dissolution; seven of these had complete dissolution within the first month of treatment. One cat, whose owner declined cystotomy after partial dissolution at day 56, had complete radiographic resolution at 70 days of treatment. Two calcium oxalate urolith cores were removed from a cat that had partial radiographic dissolution.Conclusions and relevanceThe test diet was successful in dissolving suspected struvite cystoliths. As this diet is suitable for maintenance feeding of adult cats, it may be a suitable choice for long-term prevention of feline struvite urolithiasis.

Ancestors of domestic cats in Neolithic Central Europe: Isotopic evidence of a synanthropic diet

Cat remains from Poland dated to 4,200 to 2,300 y BCE are currently the earliest evidence for the migration of the Near Eastern cat (NE cat), the ancestor of domestic cats, into Central Europe. This early immigration preceded the known establishment of housecat populations in the region by around 3,000 y. One hypothesis assumed that NE cats followed the migration of early farmers as synanthropes. In this study, we analyze the stable isotopes in six samples of Late Neolithic NE cat bones and further 34 of the associated fauna, including the European wildcat. We approximate the diet and trophic ecology of Late Neolithic felids in a broad context of contemporary wild and domestic animals and humans. In addition, we compared the ecology of Late Neolithic NE cats with the earliest domestic cats known from the territory of Poland, dating to the Roman Period. Our results reveal that human agricultural activity during the Late Neolithic had already impacted the isotopic signature of rodents in the ecosystem. These synanthropic pests constituted a significant proportion of the NE cat's diet. Our interpretation is that Late Neolithic NE cats were opportunistic synanthropes, most probably free-living individuals (i.e., not directly relying on a human food supply). We explore niche partitioning between studied NE cats and the contemporary native European wildcats. We find only minor differences between the isotopic ecology of both these taxa. We conclude that, after the appearance of the NE cat, both felid taxa shared the ecological niches.

Nutrition and petcare

For nearly five decades, staff at the Waltham Centre for Pet Nutrition have been investigating how the diet of dogs and cats can influence their health and wellbeing. John Bonner visited the site to find out what is on the menu for the researchers working there now, and learn how those efforts will affect the future duration and quality of life for the nation’s companion animals

Analysis of cat diet across an urbanisation gradient

The domestic cat is a widespread and abundant predator that negatively impacts a wide range of species. However, the predation activity and prey type of free-ranging cats may vary between areas with different levels urbanisation. Previous analyses of cat diet have used differing techniques to measure predation that often differ with one another. Given the variability in these methods we hypothesised that cats in rural areas will have a more diverse diet than in urban areas and their predation rate may be higher than those in the urban sites. Moreover, we hypothesized that the diet of urban cats should be highly influenced by anthropogenic food. We selected sites across a rural-to-urban gradient and used three methods of analysis to determine prey in the diet (cat stomachs, cat scats, and prey brought home). We collected 81 stomachs, 409 scats, and 337 prey items of free-roaming cats from six study sites located in southern and eastern Poland. We found seasonal and habitat related differences in prey composition. The proportion of scats and stomachs containing vertebrate varied from 17% in urban areas to 79% in one of the rural areas. Small rodents were the dominant prey category, followed by birds and soricomorphs. Anthropogenic food was found to be an important part of urban cats’ diet, but its significance decreased with a decrease in urbanisation level. Both predation rate and prey diversity were highest in rural areas. While diet analysis provided a better estimation of cat predation rate, the detailed prey examination provided better insight into less common taxa killed by the cats, such as reptiles and small mustelids. Our results contribute to the discussion about the risks associated with the activity of free ranging cats especially in areas with high conservation values.

New diet for cats that reduces allergic reactions in people

Veterinary RecordVolume 186, Issue 19 p. 632-632 News and reports New diet for cats that reduces allergic reactions in people First published: 25 June 2020 https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2042-7670.2020.tb00491.xRead the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat No abstract is available for this article. Volume186, Issue19June 2020Pages 632-632 RelatedInformation

Fats in the diet of indoor and free-ranging domestic cats

Fats in the diet of indoor and free-ranging domestic cats

Feeding behaviour of red fox and domestic cat populations in suburban areas in the south of Paris

Among medium-sized carnivores, red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and domestic cats (Felis silvestris catus) are the most abundant species in human-dominated landscapes worldwide. Both are known to be generalist predators that exploit a wide range of prey groups (e.g., mammals, birds, and invertebrates). Identifying red fox and domestic cat predation pressure on shared prey could shed light on their ecological role in shaping wildlife communities in human-dominated landscapes. Here, we assess the seasonal diet of red foxes and domestic cats in terms of composition, breadth, and overlap. Over two years, we collected their scats across three human-dominated study sites: park (n = 220 for foxes and n = 0 for cats), agricultural land (n = 159 for foxes and n = 146 for cats), and managed forest (n = 169 for foxes and n = 47 for cats). We detected similar diet breadth (B) for red foxes and domestic cats (B = 0.32 and B = 0.36, respectively) as well as strong dietary overlap (O = 0.83) between them. Moreover, the diet composition of both predators varied according to the study sites and seasons. Our results confirm the highly flexible trophic behaviour of these carnivores at the study sites, probably as a consequence of prey availability, and also the simultaneity of their predation over the same prey groups. Future studies should simultaneously monitor predator diet as well as predator and prey abundance in human-dominated landscapes to better understand the predatory impact of red foxes and domestic cats.

Fermentability characteristics of different Saccharomyces cerevisiae cell wall using cat faeces as inoculum

Yeast cell wall are a source of prebiotics in animal nutrition, able to improve microbial function in the large intestine. The purpose of this paper was to compare the fermentability of six Saccharomyces cerevisiae (SC) cell wall obtained from three production processes (alcoholic, brewers and bakers). For each production process the two aliquots characterised by the highest the lowest carbohydrate levels were selected. In order to perform the in vitro trial, each SC substrate was incubated at 39 °C under anaerobic condition for 72 h, using cat faecal inoculum. The results showed that the production processes did not affect organic matter disappearance, while significantly (p < .01) influenced cumulative volume of gas which appeared the lowest for alcoholic substrates. The alcoholic SC substrate showed significantly highest (p < .01) fermentation rate. All SCFA were affected by the production processes (p < .01). In particular, brewers substrates showed the highest acetate and butyrate production, while the fermentation of SC cell wall obtained by bakers showed the highest production of valerate, iso-butyrate and iso-valerate. Considering the high fermentability and acetate and butyrate production, the SC cell wall obtained by brewers seem more suitable to be used as prebiotic in cat diet. The bakers extract seems less advisable, due to its less fermentability at which corresponded the highest production of gas and iso-butyrate and iso-valerate, which are considered the less desirable end-products. The study underlines that it is necessary to evaluate the fermentation characteristics of these ingredients before their use in diet formulation as source of prebiotics. Highlights The production process affects the in vitro fermentation parameters differently from the carbohydrate’s concentration. The production processes significantly influenced cumulative volume of gas and all short chain fatty acids production. The SC cell walls obtained by brewers seem more suitable to be used as prebiotic in cat diet and the bakers extract seems the less advisable.

Adaptations to prey base in the hypercarnivorous leopard cat Prionailurus bengalensis

Investigating biogeographical variations in diet composition can help understand the adaptability and generalism of species. Although the dietary adaptability of omnivorous mesocarnivores is well established, far less work has explored how more specialist hypercarnivores optimise their diets. By reviewing 11 studies of the leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis), we quantitatively examined how dietary composition varies over the wide range of biomes they occupy in Asia. Specifically, we contrasted the diet of the Iriomote Island sub-species (south-western Japan), where native rodents are absent, with that of the mainland. Leopard cat diet typically comprised mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles, and invertebrates. In Iriomote Island, however, the low relative frequency of occurrence of small mammals (only introduced rats) was compensated by higher frequencies of reptiles and amphibians compared to the mainland. Consequently, trophic diversity and dietary niche breadth were higher for leopard cats in Iriomote Island than for the mainland. This shows that even hypercarnivorous species can use trophic plasticity to adapt to local prey availability. Given that rodent numbers often fluctuate substantially over time, the availability of alternative prey, such as herptiles, may be vital for the conservation of the leopard cat, and especially the critically endangered Iriomote cat. More generally, the trophic versatility of hypercarnivores must be considered when assessing their vulnerability to environmental change.

Distribution and diet of feral cats (Felis catus) in the Wet Tropics of north-eastern Australia, with a focus on the upland rainforest

Abstract ContextFeral cats have been identified as a key threat to Australia’s biodiversity, particularly in arid areas and tropical woodlands. Their presence, abundance and potential impacts in rainforest have received less attention. AimsTo investigate the distribution and diet of feral cats (Felis catus) in upland rainforest of the Wet Tropics. MethodsWe collated available occurrence records from the Wet Tropics, and data from upland camera-trapping surveys over an 8-year period, to assess geographic and elevational distribution of feral cats in the bioregion. We also assessed the diet of feral cats from scats collected at upland sites. Key resultsFeral cats are widespread through the Wet Tropics bioregion, from the lowlands to the peaks of the highest mountains (&amp;gt;1600m), and in all vegetation types. Abundance appears to vary greatly across the region. Cats were readily detected during camera-trap surveys in some upland rainforest areas (particularly in the southern Atherton Tablelands and Bellenden Ker Range), but were never recorded in some areas (Thornton Peak, the upland rainforest of Windsor Tableland and Danbulla National Park) despite numerous repeated camera-trap surveys over the past 8 years at some of these sites. Scat analysis suggested that small mammals comprise ~70% of the diet of feral cats at an upland rainforest site. Multivariate analysis could not detect a difference in mammal community at sites where cats were detected or not. ConclusionsFeral cats are widespread in the Wet Tropics and appear to be common in some upland areas. However, their presence and abundance are variable across the region, and the drivers of this variability are not resolved. Small mammals appear to be the primary prey in the rainforest, although the impacts of cats on the endemic and threatened fauna of the Wet Tropics is unknown. ImplicationsGiven their documented impact in some ecosystems, research is required to examine the potential impact of cats on Wet Tropics fauna, particularly the many upland endemic vertebrates. Studies are needed on (1) habitat and prey selection, (2) population dynamics, and (3) landscape source–sink dynamics of feral cats in the Wet Tropics.

Introduced cats eating a continental fauna: invertebrate consumption by feral cats (Felis catus) in Australia

Abstract ContextRecent global concern over invertebrate declines has drawn attention to the causes and consequences of this loss of biodiversity. Feral cats, Felis catus, pose a major threat to many vertebrate species in Australia, but their effect on invertebrates has not previously been assessed. AimsThe objectives of our study were to (1) assess the frequency of occurrence (FOO) of invertebrates in feral cat diets across Australia and the environmental and geographic factors associated with this variation, (2) estimate the number of invertebrates consumed by feral cats annually and the spatial variation of this consumption, and (3) interpret the conservation implications of these results. MethodsFrom 87 Australian cat-diet studies, we modelled the factors associated with variation in invertebrate FOO in feral cat-diet samples. We used these modelled relationships to predict the number of invertebrates consumed by feral cats in largely natural and highly modified environments. Key resultsIn largely natural environments, the mean invertebrate FOO in feral cat dietary samples was 39% (95% CI: 31–43.5%), with Orthoptera being the most frequently recorded order, at 30.3% (95% CI: 21.2–38.3%). The highest invertebrate FOO occurred in lower-rainfall areas with a lower mean annual temperature, and in areas of greater tree cover. Mean annual invertebrate consumption by feral cats in largely natural environments was estimated to be 769 million individuals (95% CI: 422–1763 million) and in modified environments (with mean FOO of 27.8%) 317 million invertebrates year−1, giving a total estimate of 1086 million invertebrates year−1 consumed by feral cats across the continent. ConclusionsThe number of invertebrates consumed by feral cats in Australia is greater than estimates for vertebrate taxa, although the biomass (and, hence, importance for cat diet) of invertebrates taken would be appreciably less. The impact of predation by cats on invertebrates is difficult to assess because of the lack of invertebrate population and distribution estimates, but cats may pose a threat to some large-bodied narrowly restricted invertebrate species. ImplicationsFurther empirical studies of local and continental invertebrate diversity, distribution and population trends are required to adequately contextualise the conservation threat posed by feral cats to invertebrates across Australia.

The effects of diets varying in fibre sources on nutrient utilization, stool quality and hairball management in cats.

Pet food companies use fibrous ingredients in cat foods to aid weight and hairball management. Miscanthus grass could be an alternative novel fibre source for cat foods. The objectives of this work were to determine the effects of Miscanthus grass as a fibre source on nutrient utilization, stool quality and hairball management in cats. Dry extruded cat foods (average chemical composition; digestibility trial: 94.54% dry matter—DM, 34.47% crude protein—CP, 11.67% crude fat, 7.06% ash and 13.04% total dietary fibre—TDF; and hairball trial: 94.88% DM, 34.60% CP, 11.30% crude fat, 7.02% ash and 9.77% TDF) were fed to 12 cats for a 9‐day (digestibility trial) or 16‐day (hairball trial) adaptation period followed by a 5‐day total faecal collection period. Digestibility trial was performed as a replicated Latin square design, and the hairball trial was performed as a switchback design. In general, the cats fed the beet pulp diet (BPD) had higher DM, organic matter, gross energy and TDF digestibility than cats fed Miscanthus grass (MGD) or cellulose (CED) diet (p < .05). However, CP digestibility was lower for cats fed BPD (82.1 vs. 84.7 and 85.1%, respectively, for BPD, MGD and CED). These differences could be due to the differences in dietary fibre content and(or) composition. Faecal scores were lower for cats fed BPD (2.84) compared with MGD (3.32) and CED (3.21; p < .05). No effects due to fibre were reported on the faecal hairball variables, with the exception of less total hair weight and hair clumps per gram of dry faeces for cats fed Miscanthus grass (MGH) compared with control diet (COH; p < .05). In conclusion, Miscanthus grass could be used as an alternative ingredient to cellulose in cat diets.

PSIII-40 Dietary effects on food intake, body weight, body composition and metabolism of adult female cats after spay surgery

Abstract Spay and neuter surgeries are common procedures to control the pet population, but have been associated with increased risk for obesity due to changes in appetite, decreased metabolic rate, and decreased energy expenditure. Dietary management post-spay could help decrease obesity risk, but few research studies have been conducted on cats following spay surgery. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of a high-protein, high-fiber diet (HPHF) vs. a moderate-protein, moderate-fiber diet (MPMF) in female cats following spay surgery. Twenty healthy female cats (9.5±0.1 months old) were used. After a 5-wk baseline phase with cats fed MPMF to maintain BW, 16 cats were spayed and randomly 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, then fed up to twice that amount during the subsequent 12 wk of study. Daily food intake, twice weekly BW and twice weekly BCS were assessed. Body composition using DEXA, serum metabolite concentrations, and voluntary physical activity levels were measured prior to spay (wk 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 effects, 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. A treatment*time effect was observed for blood urea nitrogen, ALP, and fructosamine, while blood triglycerides, total cholesterol, creatinine, total protein, phosphorus, and bicarbonate were affected by time. Physical activity was also reduced over time. Our results demonstrate that spay surgery affects food intake, BW, metabolism, and physical activity in cats. Dietary intervention in this study, however, led to minor changes.

PSIII-18 Protein efficiency ratios of various dried chicken, egg, and pea proteins used in diets for dogs and cats

Abstract Various ingredients from both animal and plant sources are used to supply indispensable amino acids in pet foods. The proportion and availability of the limiting amino acids is critical when formulating nutritionally complete diets. Therefore, the objective of this experiment was to determine the protein quality of chicken, egg, and pea protein sources using one-day-old broiler chicks as a model. Dietary treatments contained 10% of the protein from spray dried granulated egg powder (SPDEG), spray dried chicken protein isolate (SDCPI), various spray dried chicken proteins (1SDCP, 2SDCP, and P3547), spray dried partially hydrolyzed chicken (SDPHC), spray dried organic chicken protein (SDOCP), spray dried partially hydrolyzed organic chicken (SDHOC), pea protein isolate (PPIHG), a 50:50 blend of PPIHG and SDCPI (PPCPB), or spray dried egg white (HSDEW). A negative control diet (NEGC) contained no added protein source. After seven days acclimation on a starter diet, chicks were grouped by weight into 48 pens with 6 chicks per pen. Treatments were randomly assigned to pens with battery (n = 2) as a blocking factor. Feed consumption and body weight were measured after nine days of feeding experimental diets. Amino acid and proximate composition of each protein source were also analyzed. Treatment means were separated using statistical analysis software (GLIMMIX; SAS 9.4) with significance at P &amp;lt; 0.05. The SDGEP (5.32) had the highest (P &amp;lt; 0.05) protein efficiency ratio value (PER). PPCPB had a greater (P &amp;lt; 0.05) PER than PPIHG (4.02 vs. 1.92); whereas the SDOCP (4.52), SDHOC (4.56), and SDPHC (4.10) did not differ (P &amp;gt; 0.05) in PER from 1SDCP (4.44), 2SDCP (4.52), and P3547 (4.47). In conclusion, PER of pea protein was improved by blending with dried chicken protein isolate and the organic and hydrolyzed chicken products were comparable to non-organic non-hydrolyzed chicken protein products.

Concentrations of macronutrients, minerals and heavy metals in home-prepared diets for adult dogs and cats

Pet owners often don’t acknowledge the need for home-prepared diet formulation by a trained professional and may use recipes from sources such as the internet. Macronutrient and mineral composition of home-prepared diets were analyzed and compared to NRC and FEDIAF recommendations, and heavy metal concentrations were analyzed and compared to FDA maximum tolerable levels (MTL) for dogs and cats. Recipes of home-prepared diets for adult dogs (n = 75) and cats (n = 25) were evaluated. Analyses of protein, fat, and fiber were performed according to AOAC, and mineral and heavy metal analyses were performed using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). None of the diets supplied recommended levels of all nutrients evaluated, and more than 84.0% of diets presented three or more nutrients below recommendations. Nutrients with most levels below recommendations were calcium and potassium in recipes for dogs and iron and zinc in recipes for cats. As for heavy metals, levels of lead, cobalt, mercury, uranium, and vanadium were above MTLs. Results suggest that home-prepared diets may be a health risk to dogs and cats if not properly formulated. Furthermore, the chronic heavy metal intake must be better elucidated in order to understand the full impact of results.

Introduced cats (Felis catus) eating a continental fauna: The number of mammals killed in Australia

Predation by cats (Felis catus) is implicated in the decline and extinction of many Australian mammal species. We estimate the number of mammals killed by cats across Australia through meta-analysis of data on the frequency of mammals in cat diet samples from 107 studies. For feral cats in largely natural landscapes, the spatially-weighted mean frequency of mammals in diet samples was 70% (44% for native species, 34% for introduced species). Frequency was significantly higher on the mainland, and in areas of low temperature and topographic ruggedness. Geographic patterns varied markedly between native and introduced mammals, with native mammals most frequent in northern Australia. We estimate that: (i) 815 million individuals yr−1 are killed by feral cats in natural landscapes, 56% of which are native species; (ii) 149 million individuals yr−1 are killed by unowned cats in highly modified landscapes; and (iii) 180 million individuals yr−1 are killed by pet cats. For the latter two components, mainly introduced species are killed. Collectively, across the three components of the cat population, 1,144 million individuals yr−1 are killed by cats, of which, at least 40% (459 million individuals yr−1) are native species. It remains challenging to interpret this tally in terms of its impact on population viability for Australian mammals, because demographic information is not available for most species. However, our estimate of annual mammal mortality due to cat predation is substantially higher than that due to another key threatening process, land clearing.