Impact of food type on long term consumption kinetics in group-housed domestic cats (Felis catus)

Abstract

Impact of food type on long term consumption kinetics in group-housed domestic cats (Felis catus). The aim of the current research was to assess the impact of the type of dry food on the long term acceptance in cats, expressed as consumption curves. A group of 14 adult neutered domestic cats were subsequently offered three types of products: economy, medium and premium. The consumption of food has been carefully monitored each day of the experiment, which enabled the drawing of the precise consumption curve. The average daily consumption showed differences between feeding periods (98.33, 61.17 and 55.04% for premium, medium and economy diet type, respectively). In all groups the monotony effect has been observed, but the relative stability of the consumption has been observed only in cats fed with the premium type of food. The attractiveness of the economy type of food was distinctively low, resulting in a regularly waved consumption curve. It can be concluded, that the prolonged offering of a particular type of complete dry pet food within the limits of metabolizable energy requirements may potentially lead to adverse consequences for cats. The food consumption level that supplies the minimal daily energy amount can likely result in imbalanced macronutrient intake.