Cat Food Research Articles

Anaerobic decomposition of substandard pet food as a raw material source for producing hydrogen from methane

A potential raw material for producing hydrogen (the main carrier for the accumulation, storage and transportation of energy) is methane from biogas. An approach to producing biogas with a high methane content (69–72%) from waste commercial dry and wet food for dogs and cats under mesophilic conditions has been demonstrated. For 27–28 days under anaerobic conditions, the degree of biotransformation of waste was 60–88%. As a result of mineralization of watered organic waste, the content of ammonium nitrogen and phosphorus in the form of phosphates amounted to 676–887 mgNH4+/l and 77–160 mgPO43-/l, respectively. In anaerobically treated effluent, accumulation of sulfide ions up to 22 mg/l was observed. The solid sediment and anaerobically treated effluent (liquid fraction) obtained upon completion of the biotransformation of pet food waste are a potential organic fertilizer for agricultural needs, and methane from biogas is a raw material for producing hydrogen and pure carbon for the needs of the nanoindustry.

Different artificial feeding strategies shape the diverse gut microbial communities and functions with the potential risk of pathogen transmission to captive Asian small-clawed otters (Aonyx cinereus).

Captive otters fed with different diets possessed distinct gut microbial communities and functions, with the enrichment of several pathogens and multiple resistance genes in their gut microbiota. The current artificial feeding strategies had the possibility to accelerate the colonization and proliferation of various pathogenic bacteria in the intestines of otters and the spread of resistance genes, increasing the risk of diseases. In addition, supplementation with commercial cat food had benefits for otters' intestinal fermentation and the metabolism of gut microbiota.

Dietary phosphorus and renal disease in cats: where are we?

Phosphorus is an essential nutrient required for the normal function of every cell in the body and a deficiency in dietary phosphorus may lead to adverse effects. Conversely, high dietary phosphorus may cause kidney damage in otherwise healthy adult cats, particularly when provided in highly bioavailable forms and when the calcium-to-phosphorus ratio is low. For cats that have chronic kidney disease (CKD), phosphorus is the most important mineral in its pathogenesis and morbidity. As the disease progresses, elevated phosphorus may increase the risk of complications such as soft tissue mineralization, which can lead to a further decrease in renal function. Additionally, the hormones secreted in response to increased circulating phosphorus have harmful effects, such as bone resorption, and can cause cardiovascular pathology. Very low phosphorus diets can also be problematic in cats with early CKD, potentially leading to hypercalcemia. There is currently a lack of maximum safety limits for dietary phosphorus in accepted nutritional guidelines in North American and Europe, which makes it difficult to assess the safety of some higher phosphorus cat foods. Additionally, information regarding phosphorus bioavailability is unknown for many diets and there are no commercially available tests. Similarly, there is no consensus regarding phosphorus requirement and recommended intake in cats with International Renal Interest Society stage 1-4 CKD despite there being targets for serum phosphorus. This review evaluates dietary phosphorus in healthy cats and cats with renal disease, and describes how newer research is informing evolving clinical approaches in feline nutrition. The article is aimed at general practitioners, internal medicine specialists and veterinary nutritionists. Information provided in this article is drawn from the published literature.

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PSIX-6 Algal oil as an alternative source of docosahexaenoic acid in feline diets

Abstract The global demand for eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) supplementation by humans and their necessity in companion animal foods has raised questions related to environmental sustainability and nutrient content of fish oil. The combination of reported diminishing EPA and DHA content in fish oil and the forecasting of a significant decline in global fish stocks over the next decade make it critical to consider alternative sources of omega-3 fatty acids to reduce dependence on fish harvests. Cultured algal oil has been identified as a promising and viable alternative to fish-based oils. As such, the purpose of this study was to determine the inclusion level of algal oil in cat foods necessary to deliver the same serum concentrations of DHA provided from fish oil. Cats (n = 26) were first fed a control food formulated to avoid ingredients that contain long chain omega-3 fatty acids [ɑ-linolenic (ALA), EPA, and DHA] for 5 wk, to establish a baseline serum concentrations of these fatty acids. Cats were then randomized into two groups, and fed test foods containing either fish oil or algal oil in sequential increasing levels of DHA (0.2%, 0.4%, and 0.6%) for 5-wk periods each. Blood was analyzed for serum DHA and EPA concentrations after each of these feeding periods. A regression analysis was used to calculate a bioequivalence factor between fish oil and algal oil inclusion levels. There was no difference (P > 0.05) in intake or body weight between cats consuming diets containing algal oil or fish oil. Analysis of serum fatty acid concentrations showed that increasing fish and algal oil had no effect (P > 0.05) on serum linolenic acid, ALA, or arachidonic acid; however, increasing fish and algal oil did have an effect on DHA such that serum DHA was increased at similar rates as fish oil (P = 0.050) and algal oil (P = 0.026) levels were increased in the diet. Although increasing levels of fish and algal oil both increased serum EPA concentrations (P < 0.001), fish oil increased serum EPA to a greater extent than algal oil when fed at all levels. Overall, these data indicate that inclusion of algal oil is a good alternative dietary source of DHA, but less of EPA, and that algal oil will need to be added to the diet in higher concentrations to achieve similar serum EPA concentrations as fish oil.

PSIX-11 Effects of black soldier fly larvae on the serum chemistry, hematology, fecal characteristics, and oral health measures of healthy adult cats

Abstract Black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) serve as an alternative protein source for pet food products. Even though BSFL are one of many insect species being added to dog foods and treats, knowledge of its effects in cats remains limited. Further investigations are imperative to delineate the effects of BSFL-based ingredients in cats. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the effects of BSFL on serum chemistry, hematology, fecal characteristics, and oral health measures of adult cats. All procedures were approved by the University of Illinois IACUC prior to experimentation. Adult cats [n = 25; 17 females, 8 males; 6.28 ± 0.27 yr of age; 4.50 ± 0.18 kg body weight (BW)] were used in a completely randomized design. The study was composed of a 21-d baseline phase and a 70-d experimental phase. During the baseline phase, all cats were fed a control diet based on chicken meal (35% of diet). After baseline, cats were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 experimental diets: control diet (n = 12) or BSFL-containing diet (20% whole BSFL meal and 24% chicken meal; n = 13). At baseline, teeth were cleaned by a veterinary dentist. Breath samples were analyzed for volatile sulfur compounds (VSC), salivary pH was measured, and blood samples were collected for serum chemistry and hematology at baseline and after 35 d and 70 d on treatment. At baseline and after 70 d on treatment, fecal samples were scored and collected for pH, dry matter, and metabolite measurement. Gingivitis, plaque, and calculus scores were performed by a veterinary dentist after 70 d on treatment. All data were analyzed using the Mixed Models procedure of SAS. Diet, time, and diet*time interaction effects were tested, with P < 0.05 being considered significant. Over time, VSC increased (P < 0.0001) in all cats, but was unaffected by diet. Diet*time interactions were observed for fecal pH, fecal scores, and blood cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations. Blood cholesterol concentrations increased (P < 0.05) over time in cats fed the control diet, but remained stable in cats fed the BSFL diet. The opposite effect was observed with blood triglycerides. Triglyceride concentrations increased (P < 0.05) in cats fed the BSFL diet over time, but were stable in cats fed the control diet. Cats consuming BSFL had reduced (P < 0.05) fecal pH, dry matter content, and protein catabolite concentrations, but increased (P < 0.05) fecal short-chain fatty acid concentrations and fecal scores. Overall, 20% BSFL dietary inclusion had comparable effects as chicken meal, suggesting that it will serve as a suitable replacement in cat foods.

293 Impact of black soldier fly larvae meal in a dry extruded food on nutritional quality and health in adult cats

Abstract Insects like the black soldier fly larvae (Hermetia illucens; BSFL) have been proposed as protein-rich feed ingredients to support the growing demand for meat. The BSFL hold also promise for use as a protein source in pet foods and, as such, it has been studied for palatability, nutritional quality and health effects in dogs and cats. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of including BSFL meal in a dry, extruded food on nutritional quality and health in healthy adult cats. Two similar compositions of dry, extruded foods were formulated to meet the FEDIAF nutrition guidelines for adult cats of which one was chicken meal-based (control, with 34.3% chicken meal) and the other BSFL meal-based (inclusion of 37.5% BSFL meal). BSFL meal contained 95.0% dry matter, 53.1% crude protein, 14.3% crude fat, 6.0% ash (Protix, Dongen, The Netherlands). Two groups of four cats were each fed one of the two foods for two 28-d periods in a crossover design, with sample collection during the last 7 d of each period. Cats were housed in groups of the same sex during the first 21 d of each period. Both foods were well-accepted by the cats. No health problems (including coat and skin condition) were noted throughout the study. Food type did not impact body weight (P = 0.850). Food intake was greater when cats were fed the BSFL-based food (P < 0.001). Consistency scores of fresh feces were optimal and did not differ between the foods. Compared with the control food, the food with BSFL meal had decreased apparent fecal digestibility values for dry matter, organic matter, nitrogen, and gross energy (P < 0.05) although all values were high. Digestibility values for acid-hydrolyzed fat were similar for both foods (P = 0.628). Diets resulted in changes in fermentation product concentrations, like fecal ammonia was less when cats fed this food compared with the control food (P < 0.001), but the fecal concentrations of the short-chain fatty acids and biogenic amines were generally increased (P < 0.05). Moreover, reduced fecal bacterial diversity and affected bacterial relative abundance suggested that inclusion of BSFL meal steered the microbial composition in the distal gut of cats. It was observed increased relative abundance of bacteria genus considered beneficial for host health like Bifidobacterium (P < 0.001) and Megasphaera (P < 0.036); and inhibition of genus Negativibacillus and Lachnoclostridium (P < 0.001), previously associated to digestive issues and negative for gut health. Overall, the data gathered in this study suggests that BSFL meal is an adequate alternative ingredient for extruded dry cat foods and may exert a prebiotic effect on intestinal microbiota.

291 Isoenergetic reduction of dietary macronutrients changes body composition and physical activity in cats, regardless of body condition, when fed to maintenance

Abstract Commercial extruded cat foods deviate noticeably from the natural diet of wild cats and contain greater carbohydrate and less protein. This alteration in macronutrient distribution is postulated as a potential factor in feline obesity, yet the precise role of carbohydrates in either predisposing to, or treating, obesity in cats remains inconclusive. This study explored the effects of diets differing in protein, fat, and carbohydrates (NFE) on physical activity and body composition when fed to adult male cats to maintain body weight (BW). Three extruded diets were formulated for adult maintenance according to AAFCO in an isoenergetic approach using the same ingredients in varying proportions: low-protein (LP; protein 28% of metabolizable energy [ME], fat 40% ME, NFE 32% ME), low-fat (LF; protein 42% ME, fat 30% ME, NFE 30% ME), or low-carbohydrate (LC; protein 36% ME, fat 41%ME, NFE 23% ME). Lean (n = 9) and obese (n = 9) adult male neutered cats were fed each diet for 4-wk in a 3 x 3 Latin square design. Physical activity was measured via actigraphy on d 15 to 21 of each period. On d 23 total tissue mass (TTM), body fat mass (BFM), lean soft tissue mass (LSTM), and bone mineral content (BMC) were assessed by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry. Daily food intake and weekly BW were recorded. Data were statistically analyzed in SAS Studio via the GLIMMIX procedure with diet and body condition (bc) as fixed effects and cat as subject. A Tukey post-hoc analysis was performed to assess multiple comparisons when significant (P < 0.05). Body weight (Pbc < 0.0001), TTM (Pbc < 0.0001), BFM (Pbc < 0.0001), LSTM (Pbc < 0.0001), and BMC (Pbc = 0.004) were greater in obese compared with lean cats. Regardless of body condition, LSTM was greater in cats consuming the LF diet (P = 0.010). Daily physical activity was similar between lean and obese cats; however, activity as a ratio of light:dark activity was greater for lean cats compared with obese (Pbc = 0.027). Additionally, cats were more active during dark hours when fed LC and LF (Pdiet = 0.016), though no difference was observed for activity during light hours (P = 0.452). These findings support previous observations regarding body composition disparities between lean and obese cats. Contrary to previous reports, no discernible distinctions in voluntary physical activity were noted between lean and obese cats. In previous studies, both high-carbohydrate and high-fat diets reduced voluntary physical activity when fed to maintain BW which was attributed to a potential alteration in mood and energy levels seen in other species. An increase in physical activity in cats consuming the LF diet could suggest a similar pattern. Future research should explore the metabolic implications of varied macronutrient distributions to expand upon the physiological insights presented herein. Funding for this study was provided by Champion Petfoods, Mitacs Accelerate, and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Council of Canada.

Analysis of chicken and pig DNA content in commercial dry foods for adult cats.

Among pets, cats are the most popular in Europe. Despite the fact, the interest in the safety and quality of their food is much lower compared to the interest of caregivers in the nutrition of dogs. In this research, 27 commercial cat foods were analyzed for mislabeled component composition. Cat foods were divided into a control group, a group of fish foods and a group of other foods with alternative sources of animal protein. Chicken and pig DNA detection was performed using real-time PCR. In this research, 100% of the cat foods contained chicken DNA and 96% of the foods - pig DNA, despite the lack of declaration of these ingredients on the product label. The results indicate that cat food appear to be mislabeled to an even greater extent than dog food. Moreover, manufacturers' declarations in terms of ingredient composition do not reflect the actual composition of commercial products available on the market and intended for everyday feeding of animals. Mislabeling of these products also poses a risk for animals suffering from food allergies.

Rapid prediction of the chemical composition of pet food using a benchtop and handheld near-infrared spectrometer

Quality of pet foods can be affected by many factors such as raw materials, formulations, and processing techniques. The pet food manufacturers require fast analyses to control the nutritional quality of their products. Herein, near-infrared spectroscopy (NIR) was evaluated to quantify the chemical composition of pet food, and the performances of two NIR spectrometers were investigated and compared: a benchtop instrument (1000–2500 nm) and a low-cost handheld instrument (900–1700 nm). Seventy cat food and thirty-six dog samples were characterized using reference methods for crude protein, crude fat, crude fibre, crude ash, moisture, calcium (Ca), and phosphorus (P). Principal component regression (PCR) and partial least squares regression (PLSR) were used to establish the models that involved the cat food and mixed model. The characteristic wavelengths were selected using a competitive adaptive reweighted-sampling (CARS) algorithm. The Optimal models obtained from the benchtop instrument for crude protein, crude fat, and moisture were classified as “Good” or “Very good” (Residual prediction variation (RPD) > 3), for crude fibre were classified as “Poor” (RPD>2), and for crude ash, Ca and P (RPD<2) were classified as “Very poor”. The Optimal calibrations obtained from the handheld instrument for crude protein, crude fat, and moisture were classified as “Good” or “Very good” (RPD>3), for crude fibre, crude ash, Ca, and P were classified as “Very poor” (RPD<2). Generally, the the performance of benchtop and handheld instrument was close, and the cat food model outperformed the mixed model. Results from the current study revealed the potential to monitor the chemical compositions in pet food on a large scale.

Early-life diet does not affect preference for fish in herring gulls (Larus argentatus).

Urban populations of herring gulls (Larus argentatus) are increasing and causing human-wildlife conflict by exploiting anthropogenic resources. Gulls that breed in urban areas rely on varying amounts of terrestrial anthropogenic foods (e.g., domestic refuse, agricultural and commercial waste) to feed themselves. However, with the onset of hatching, many parent gulls switch to sourcing more marine than anthropogenic or terrestrial foods to provision their chicks. Although anthropogenic foods may meet chick calorific requirements for growth and development, some such foods (e.g., bread) may have lower levels of protein and other key nutrients compared to marine foods. However, whether this parental switch in chick diet is driven by chicks' preference for marine foods, or whether chicks' food preferences are shaped by the food types provisioned by their parents, remains untested. This study tests whether chick food preferences can be influenced by their provisioned diet by experimentally manipulating the ratio of time for which anthropogenic and marine foods were available (80:20 and vice versa) in the rearing diets of two treatment groups of rescued herring gull chicks. Each diet was randomly assigned to each of the 27 captive-reared chicks for the duration of the study. We tested chicks' individual food preferences throughout their development in captivity using food arrays with four food choices (fish, cat food, mussels and brown bread). Regardless of the dietary treatment group, we found that all chicks preferred fish and almost all refused to eat most of the bread offered. Our findings suggest that early-life diet, manipulated by the ratio of time the different foods were available, did not influence gull chicks' food preferences. Instead, chicks developed a strong and persistent preference for marine foods, which appears to match adult gulls' dietary switch to marine foods upon chick hatching and may reinforce the provisioning of marine foods during chick development. However, whether chicks in the wild would refuse provisioned foods, and to a sufficient extent to influence parental provisioning, requires further study. Longitudinal studies of urban animal populations that track wild individuals' food preferences and foraging specialisations throughout life are required to shed light on the development and use of anthropogenic resource exploitation.

Study on the labels of selected cat and dog foods from Türkiye

At first look, the label contains details about the contents and properties of the cat and dog foods. Label information must be included in accordance with national and international requirements. The sufficiency of cat and dog food labelling in Türkiye has not before been evaluated. In this study, the labelling information for 215 chosen cat and dog foods (164 cats and 51 dogs) available in Türkiye was analysed using Turkish national legislation and the Federation of the European Pet Food Industry standards. It was determined that all food labelling information was compliant with Turkish feed legislation. In comparison, only 67.1% of cat and 78% of dog diets included the metabolised energy value on the package. Cat foods have a website at 60.8%, whereas dog foods have 81.7%. It is found that the cat and dog food labels totally comply with Turkish legislation rules. On the other hand, more information may be valuable in enlightening customers. The recommended amount of food per day was unclear in numerous products, which is an area of improvement. In future studies, competencies of the daily nutrition advice information on the labels can be evaluated.

Generation of Olfactory Compounds in Cat Food Attractants: Chicken Liver-Derived Protein Hydrolysates and Their Contribution to Enhancing Palatability.

The present study investigated the impact of four chicken liver protein hydrolysate-based cat food attractants on palatability. Aroma compounds were analyzed in these attractants, which were subsequently sprayed onto four different types of cat foods. Results revealed that CF4 exhibited the highest intake ratio and the first choice ratio, followed by CF2 sample. Orthogonal partial least-squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) demonstrated significant differences among 50 volatile compounds identified from the four cat foods. Using variable importance in projection (VIP) values, we selected 17 key flavor compounds responsible for distinguishing between the four cat foods. Peptides with a molecular mass <180 Da showed correlation with nonanoic acid and cedrol, while those >3000 Da correlated with hexanoic acid ethyl ester. Regression coefficients (RCs) calculated from partial least-squares regression (PLSR) results showed positive correlations between compound content and palatability for six compounds, whereas negative correlations were observed for ten compounds. Validation experiments confirmed that nonanal, 2-propylpyridine, and 3-octen-2-one enhanced palatability and correlated with peptides ranging from 180 to 500 Da; conversely, nonanoic acid ethyl ester and 3-methyl-pentanoic acid reduced palatability and correlated with peptides ranging from 1000 to 3000 Da.

Serological and molecular survey of Toxoplasma gondii infection and associated risk factors in urban cats in Kunming, Southwest China.

Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is a worldwide zoonotic parasite that can infect almost warm-blood animals, including humans, which seriously affect the health of host. Cats are known to be the only definitive host of T. gondii and continuously excrete highly infectious oocysts. This parasite carried by the companion animals leads to a great public health risk. However, there is little information on epidemiology of T. gondii in urban cats in Kunming, Southwest China. In the present study, a total of 231 serum and fecal samples were collected in Kunming aera, and then seroprevalence of T. gondii IgG antibodies in serum and molecular investigation in feces were analyzed to elucidate T. gondii infection in urban cats. The results revealed that 168 of 231 cats (72.7%) were positive for T. gondii antibodies, and 1 of 74 cat feces (1.4%) also showed a positive PCR for T. gondii DNA. The positive fecal sample was sequenced and then phylogenetically analyzed, and the isolate of T. gondii in the present study was closely related to T. gondii strain CN. In addition, the food, water and age of cats were identified as the risk factor for seropositivity. Overall, our findings indicate the widespread occurrence of T. gondii infection in urban cats in Kunming, Southwest China and identify food, water and age are the risk factors associated with T. gondii infection, which can provide effective information for developing strategies to prevent and control this zoonosis.

Predicting the chemical composition of pet food with hyperspectral imaging

Performing fast analyses to control the nutritional quality of pet food products is of great interest in the pet food industry. The purpose of this study was to test the efficacy of near-infrared hyperspectral imaging (HSI) in determining chemical composition content of cat and dog food, and evaluate the influence of mixed model and characteristic wavelength on the performance of the quantitative model. Seventy cat food and thirty-six dog food samples were characterised using reference methods for moisture, crude protein (CP), crude fat (CF), crude fibre (CFe), crude ash (CA), calcium (Ca) and total phosphorus (TP) content. The Partial Least Squares regression (PLSR) was used to establish the quantitative models that involved the cat food model and mixed model. The characteristic wavelength was selected using a competitive adaptive reweighted-sampling (CARS) algorithm. Results showed that, except for CFe, the performance of the cat food model was similar to the mixed model. When using feature band, the prediction results of the mixed models for CP, CF, moisture, and CFe were optimized with R2p between 0.73 and 0.96 and RPD in the range 2.22–5.20, but the prediction results of TP, CA, and Ca did not meet the actual demand. Optimal quantitative models were used to visualise the sample chemical composition distributions. The results of this study provide theoretical and technical support for the rapid online quality control of pet food.

Translating Human and Animal Model Studies to Dogs' and Cats' Veterinary Care: Beta-Glucans Application for Skin Disease, Osteoarthritis, and Inflammatory Bowel Disease Management.

The inclusion of beta-glucans in dog and cat food is associated with numerous beneficial effects on the health of these animals. In this regard, there is an effort to elucidate the potential of this nutraceutical in chronic patients. Since there is a lack of a review on the topic, this review article aims to compile and discuss the evidence found to date. Atopic dermatitis, inflammatory bowel disease, and osteoarthritis are diseases of significant clinical relevance in dogs and cats. In general, the pathophysiology of these chronic conditions is related to immune-mediated and inflammatory mechanisms. Therefore, the immunomodulation and anti-inflammatory effects of beta-glucans are highlighted throughout this review. The available information seems to indicate that the studies on beta-glucans' impact on allergic processes in dogs indicate a reduction in clinical signs in atopic dermatitis cases. Additionally, while beta-glucans show promise as a safe supplement, particularly for osteoarthritis, further clinical trials are imperative, especially in uncontrolled environments. Beta-glucans emerge as a potential nutraceutical offering immune benefits for inflammatory bowel disease patients, although extensive research is required to define its optimal origin, molecular weight, dosage, and specific applications across animals suffering from this disease.

Influence of mineral source and inclusion levels of iron, copper, and zinc on the oxidative stability of extruded cat food

This study aimed to compare inorganic sources (sulfates) and chelated organic sources (proteinates) of minerals on the oxidative stability and shelf-life of extruded cat food. Five complete foods were formulated, including a negative control without supplementation of iron (Fe), copper (Cu), or zinc (Zn). The other formulations were obtained by supplementing the negative control formulation with these microminerals in organic or inorganic form at one (1x) or two (2x) times the FEDIAF (2021) requirement level for adult cats. The effects of supplementation on oxidative stability and shelf-life were determined before and after extrusion and during the 365-day storage period. The levels of fatty acids and synthetic antioxidants (BHA and BHT) were significantly lower after extrusion (P < 0.05). While inorganic and organic mineral sources did not differ, the negative control retained higher levels of fatty acids and synthetic antioxidants compared to mineral sources and levels. After extrusion, saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated fatty acids were reduced by 22.82% ± 1.8%, 22.91% ± 1.9%, and 19.32% ± 2.5%, respectively, with no mineral source and level effects. The Concentrations of synthetic antioxidants were significantly lower after extrusion, with a retention of 49.72% in the negative control and 35.09% ± 1.23% in the other treatments. Storage studies showed that fatty acids declined over time without significant treatment differences (P > 0.05). As expected, the most evident change was that of polyunsaturated fatty acids. Synthetic antioxidant levels also lowered during storage, with significant differences among treatments (P < 0.05). The highest losses were observed in formulations supplemented with inorganic sources. These differences affected peroxide value, which was influenced by both supplementation level and source. At the end of 365 days of shelf life, the peroxide value in foods supplemented with inorganic minerals was 92.3% (1×) and 49.7% (2×) greater than in foods with the same level of organic minerals. The negative control formulation had the lowest peroxide value among all treatments. From this data, we can conclude that the source of the microelements Fe, Cu, and Zn does not influence the oxidative stability of cat food during the extrusion process; however, the inorganic sources (e.g., sulfates) favor the oxidation during storage, which may be attenuated using less reactive, organic trace mineral sources, such as proteinates.

Proof-of-concept study of anti-Fel d 1 IgY antibodies in cat food using the MASK-air® app.

An innovation to better manage cat-allergic patients utilises anti-Fel d 1 IgY antibodies to neutralise Fel d 1 after its production by the cat. However, there is no published study showing its clinical efficacy in humans in a home setting. A longitudinal, open-label, proof-of-concept study was carried out to approach clinical efficacy of the cat food in cat-allergic patients. After a baseline evaluation, the cats ate only the cat food for the following 4months. Daily evaluation of efficacy was performed for 2weeks at baseline and after 1, 2 and 3months of intervention for periods of 2weeks. The MASK-air app was used daily to assess symptoms, work productivity and medications. Of the 49 patients screened, 42 were followed up and 33 (78.5%) reported MASK-air data at all 3 evaluation periods. The primary end point (visual analogue scale[VAS] for global allergy symptoms) was significantly improved (p<0.0001). Allsymptoms (VAS nose, eye, and asthma), VAS work and the combined symptom-medication score significantly improved after 1month. The percentage of uncontrolled days (VAS>20/100) decreased from 64% at baseline to 35% at 1month (p<0.0001) and 14% at 3months. A sensitivity analysis in patients with uncontrolled disease at baseline found similar results. A cat diet containing anti-Fel d 1 antibodies was able to (i) show decreased allergic symptoms and related outcomes, (ii) inform the design and feasibility of future studies with a control arm and (iii) estimate the sample size of the study. clinicaltrials.gov: NCT05656482.

How competent are cat owners in caring for their cats?

Objective. This study was conducted to determine the perceptions of cat owners in Türkiye regarding the welfare conditions of their cats and their attitudes and knowledge levels during the care of their cats. Materials and methods. The research material consists of data obtained from questionnaires conducted with 494 cat owners. Results. Among cat owners, 98.6% kept cat food in closed boxes and 93.5% took precautions to prevent their cats from accessing household chemicals. In this study, according to the answers given by the participants to the questionnaire questions, statistically significant differences were found between the options in terms of their answers to all other questions, except for the answers given by the cat owners to the questions of whether they use nets for their cats on the windows and/or balconies of their houses and the frequency of changing the litter of their cats (p&lt;0.01). Conclusions. It was determined that the majority of cat owners were generally correct and adequate in terms of their attitudes and knowledge levels during the care of their cats. However, it has been determined that cat owners do not have sufficient and correct information and preferences about using nets for their cats for protective purposes in the windows and balconies of their houses, giving their cats additional foods such as sausage, salami, sausage.

Antecedents of Purchase Behavior in Commercial Cat Foods

Antecedents of Purchase Behavior in Commercial Cat Foods