Feeding the cat Flashcards
5 traits of a cat
- nocturnal (crepuscular)
- predators
- territorial
- solitary
- maternal
hunting behavior sense
- sound (motion)
- sight
- scent
- texture
- taste
at what temp do cats most prefer their food
body temp (37C)
how often to cats like to eat
10-20 small meals/day
what is a cat’s natural food consumption based on
energy density, not bulk of food
what taste buds do cats lack
sweet (sucrose)
neophilia
love of new
neophobia
fear of new
what enzyme do cats lack
salivary amylase
what are nutritional age effects
lowered thirst and total body water, more fragile water balance
are a cat’s enzymes adaptive or non-adaptive
non-adaptive (always on and active at a certain level)
what nutrients are essential in cat but not dogs
arginine, taurine, arachidonic acid, niacin
what happens when cats lack arginine in diet
hyperamonemia from inability to perform urea cycle –> seizures, death
what happens when cats lack taurine in diet
cardiac and eye issues
what AA are associated with taurine
cysteine and methionine (sulfur-containing)
what nutrient can cats consume high amounts of that dogs can’t
fat (up to 65% of diet)
what type of fat do cats not tolerate well
medium chain triglycerides
do cats have high or low fructokinase/glucokinase activity
low
do cats or dogs have higher gluconeogenesis
cats
what vitamins are very important in cats
A and D
how must vitamin A be supplied
not as beta-carotene
when might a cat require dietary vitamin k
long-term antibiotic therapy
how does feline sodium requirement compare do canine requirement
feline requirement is 3x that of a dog
what does magnesium excess lead to
struvites
