OBLIGATE CARNIVORE - THE FEEDING REQUIREMENTS OF CATS

摘要

In their natural environment, cats are an obligate carnivore, meaning that their nutritional needs are met by eating a diet that consists of animal-based proteins (i.e., mice, birds). How have our efforts to domesticate cats been affected by this? Strictly speaking, cats and dogs are members of the order Carnivora and are, therefore, classified as carnivores. From a dietary perspective, dogs are omnivores and cats and other members of the suborder Feloidea are strict carnivores. Domesticated cats (Felis catus) have evolved unique anatomic, physiologic, metabolic, and behavioral adaptations consistent with eating a strictly carnivorous diet.