Feeding Cats Flashcards
(45 cards)
What does “mature market” mean in western countries?
Meaning almost all cats are fed commercial pet foods
What are the top world manufacturers of pet food?
Mars, Nestle Purina, Hill’s
What are the market categories of pet food?
1) Popular Brand (many private label)
2) Premium/Super Premium Brands
3) Foods that mimic human foods
4) Raw foods (not the same)
Are differences among pet foods small or large?
small - they have identical nutrients
What are the different types of pet foods?
1) Dry
2) Canned/pouch (wet food)
3) Soft-moist (soft-dry)
4) Supplements and treats
5) Raw foods
What are the general characteristics of dry pet foods?
1) ≈ 10% moisture (AAFCO defines <20%)
2) Most are low-fat
3) Inexpensive/kcal
4) Fat sprayed on - more expensive
5) Low palatability
6) 3/4 of dog and cat foods sold
7) Energy-dense ≈ 4 kcal/g
Who determines what pet foods are sold in the U.S.?
Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO)
Where is dry food mostly made in?
Mostly made in an extruder. It has three zones: The feed zone, the kneading zone, and the final cooking zone.
Dry food that emerges from an extruder is…
low fat
Could you tell me the parts of an extruder? Is there a chance of bacteria?
1) Plate with a hole in it & a rotating blade –> not a chance of bacteria being present
2) Fat is sprayed on in a dryer –> there is theoretical risk of bacteria here
What are the general characteristics of canned/pouch food?
1) Next most important in sales volume
2) 75-80% moisture (AAFCO > 65%)
3) Usually higher fat, higher protein
4) Less energy dense ≈ 1 kcal/g
5) Highly palatable
6) More expensive/kcal
What are the general characteristics of soft-moist food?
1) 30% moisture (AAFCO 20-65%)
2) Contains sugar humectants (ex: sorbitol and glycerin)
3) Do not feed to diabetic
4) Minor importance
5) Expensive
6) Usually palatable
What are the general characteristics of homemade diets?
1) NOT recommended for cats
2) Always deficient unless balanced by an expert because it has special requirements
3) Pet food recalls raised concerns
4) Cats pick and choose an unbalanced diet even when given a balanced diet
5) Time-consuming and often expensive
6) Not tested on cats
What does cooking do?
1) Destroys pathogens
2) Modest cooking increases digestibility
- Denatures protein, solubilizes starch, allowing enzymes access to molecules
- Destroys antinutritional compounds
3) Excess cooking decreases digestibility
- Cross-links protein (lysine) and carbohydrate
4) Destroys/reduces availability of nutrients
- Free amino acids (ex: taurine, methionine)
- B vitamins (ex: thiamine)
- Creatine
Is raw food risky? Why?
Raw food IS risky because they often contain potential pathogenic or resistant bacteria, viruses, and parasites
Who should you not feed raw food to?
Do NOT feed to the young, old, pregnant, or sick
Is there any essential nutrients that’s only found in raw foods?
No
Is processed food recommended for human foods?
No because it’s not balanced and it’s high in salt and fat
Is processed food recommended for pet foods?
Mostly yes because it’s balanced, the salt and fat content is okay, and the mixed protein sources are okay.
What are some meat by-products? What are not considered meat by-products?
- Includes spleen, liver, kidney, bone, blood, fat, and intestine cleaned of contents
- Does NOT include meat, hair, horn, hoof, and teeth
What are the by-products of meat regarding striated muscle?
Skeletal, heart, diaphragm, and esophagus
Meat + By-products = ?
Complete carcass
What kind of diet should you choose for your cat?
Choose a “Complete and Balanced” diet
What is the prevalence of obesity in cats?
6-52%
