Cats are unique, complex creatures. Researchers continue to study to learn more about felines. Professionals share the results of some of those studies at the Petfood Forum on September 24, 2021 in Kansas City.
Aging in the domestic cat; lifelong study
Like humans, domesticated cats and dogs live longer.
Emma Birmingham of Agrisearch Ltd. said, “It is not unusual for a cat to live to the age of 17 and the same lifespan is true for younger dogs.” Meditation.”
Birmingham presented their research from a lifetime study of aging in the domestic cat. She said the increased lifespan of pets comes with risks — more frequent health problems, including obesity, sarcopenia and diabetes. More than 40% of pets are now considered obese.
The Birmingham study examined the effects of diet on the cat microbiome to understand whether there were any long-term effects on a cat’s health. The study compared commercial cat food — a high-quality extruded kibble — against a canned product.
The study found a trend that starting at 1 year of age, cats fed an extruded diet maintained a heavier body weight than those fed canned cat food. This is in part due to the fact that starting around age 7, cats stop gaining/gaining weight based on seasonal changes in diets weaned out. Birmingham said the study suggests that older cats may be less able to tolerate higher levels of excess energy or dietary carbohydrates.
Cats fed extruded diets, protein digestibility increases after 1 year of age and then remains constant. In cats fed canned food, digestibility is more consistent throughout the cat’s life.
“In short, we have seen many changes in the cat as we age, and of course diet plays a role,” Birmingham said. “Eight years of age appears to be when the cat experiences a physiological change.”
Enjoyment of feeding a cat informs preference of food components
AFB International conducted a study to better understand how individual components of a whole food affect the pleasure of eating in cats, and a follow-up study to determine whether cats prefer to lick their food. Huh. Chris Wildman, Senior Manager of the Custom Engagement Team, presented the findings.
“The pleasure of eating provides a personal dimension of palatable performance and can guide product improvements as well as help us understand what constitutes an enjoyable eating experience for cats,” Wildman said.
It has been observed that cats lick the gravy, but leave the chicks behind. AFB studied why cats may choose gravy over chicks given their initial attraction and continued interest. The study showed that anything with gravy was preferred and maintained interest. Chunks seemed attractive, and was likely to have been approached at first, but did not maintain interest.
Follow-up studies showed that cats consumed slightly more mixed forms of food rather than the original forms because they were easier to eat. But the original forms interested more cats than mixed ones and much of it involved licking the gravy.
Potential Benefits of Supplementing Dietary Choline to Cats
Obesity is a major problem for the pet population, said Alexandra Rankovic, PhD candidate at the University of Guelph. About 60% of American cats are overweight. Feline Hepatic Lipidosis is the most common liver disease in cats in North America, most often due to anorexia.
Choline is an essential nutrient found in eggs, wheat germ, soybean meal and organ meats. It can also be a supplement in pet food.
Current published requirements for choline intake range from 2,040 to 2,550 mg/kg DM. Animals at risk for choline deficiency include animals on unconventional/homemade diets, restricted diets, obese or underweight animals, and growing animals.
Rankovic and his colleagues conducted three studies related to choline. The first study looked at supplementing additional choline over five times the required limit for obese cats. Research has shown that supplementing excess choline to obese cats can help eliminate liver fat and aid in the breakdown and mobilization of fat.
The second study looked at a supplement of choline after neutering to kittens when free-fed for 12 weeks. Choline reduced food intake, body weight and fat mass of growing kittens. Choline above the required minimum can help reduce the risk of obesity in neutered kittens.
The third study examined the response to choline dosage in overweight cats. The aim of the study was to determine the minimum effective dose of choline to promote fat utilization in overweight cats. Study results show that overweight cats have six times and eight times the dietary choline, which can enhance hepatic fat transport, improve liver health and function, and improve amino acid balance. .
