FEEDING HABITS OF CATS: The Obligate Carnivore

摘要

Most technicians are familiar with the saying that cats are not small dogs ... but do they really believe this? In their natural environment, cats are obligate carnivores, meaning that their nutritional needs are met by eating a diet that consists ofanimal-based proteins (e.g., mice, birds). How have efforts to domesticate cats been affected by this? Technicians are often the first individuals that clients approach when they have questions about their pets' nutrition. Can you explain to your clients what an obligate carnivore is and ivhy cats, and not dogs, fall into this category?