To advise veterinarians, veterinary students, veterinary technicians and cat owners about the ways cats naturally feed, and to recommend how to feed the pet cat to optimally satisfy its behavioral needs using feeding programs that include play and predation, reduce stress in single and multi-cat environments, and meet nutritional requirements for overall health. Feeding strategies need to be tailored to the individual cat and household.
Higher dry matter, organic matter and protein digestibility was seen in two commercial raw diets compared with a heat-processed diet. Digestibility differences could have been due to variance in dietary protein, fat and carbohydrate concentrations between the diets, variance in dietary ingredients or quality, alterations in protein structure secondary to heat processing, as well as alterations in gastrointestinal flora. Future research examining digestibility in diets with the same macronutrient proportions and ingredients, and mechanisms for any differences, is warranted.
Objectives The objective of this study was to determine if two raw feline diets were nutritionally adequate for kittens. Methods Twenty-four 9-week-old kittens underwent an Association of American Feed Control Officials' (AAFCO) 10 week growth feeding trial with two raw diet groups and one cooked diet group (eight kittens in each). Morphometric measurements (weight, height and length), complete blood counts, serum chemistry, whole blood taurine and fecal cultures were evaluated. Results Overall, the growth parameters were similar for all diet groups, indicating the two raw diets used in this study supported feline growth, within the limitations of an AAFCO growth feeding trial. Kittens fed the raw diets had lower albumin ( P = 0.010) and higher globulin ( P = 0.04) levels than the kittens fed the cooked diet. These lower albumin levels were not clinically significant, as all groups were still within normal age reference intervals. A red cell microcytosis ( P = 0.001) was noted in the combination raw diet group. Increases in fecal Clostridium perfringens were noted in all groups, along with positive fecal Salmonella serovar Heidelberg and Clostridium difficile toxin in the combination raw diet group. Conclusions and relevance The majority of the parameters for feline growth were similar among all groups, indicating the two raw diets studied passed an AAFCO growth trial. In theory, it is possible to pass an AAFCO growth trial but still have nutrient deficiencies in the long term due to liver and fat storage depots. Some of the raw feeders had elevated globulin and microcytosis, likely associated with known enteropathogenic exposure. Disease risks to both pets and owners are obvious. Additional research in this area is needed to investigate the impact of raw diets on the health of domestic cats.
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