Evaluation of nutrient digestibility and fecal characteristics of exotic felids fed horse‐ or beef‐based diets: use of the domestic cat as a model for exotic felids

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of feeding commercially available beef- and horse-based diets on nutrient digestibility and fecal characteristics of large captive exotic felids and domestic cats. Four species of large exotic felids including cheetahs, Malayan tigers, jaguars, and Amur tigers, and domestic cats were utilized in a crossover design. Raw meat diets included a beef-based diet (57% protein; 28% fat) and a horse-based diet (51% protein; 30% fat). All cats were acclimated to the diet for 16 days followed by a 4 day collection period, where total feces, including one fresh sample, were collected. All feces were scored on collection. Intake did not differ due to diet, but fecal output was greater when cats consumed the horse-based diet. Total tract apparent dry matter (DM) digestibility was higher (P<0.05) and organic matter (OM) and crude protein (CP) digestibilities were lower (P<0.05) when cats were fed the beef-based diet compared with the horse-based diet. CP digestibility was similar in domestic cats and cheetahs, and greater (P<0.05) than Amur tigers. Fecal scores were lower and fecal DM was greater (P<0.05) when cats consumed the horse-based diet compared with the beef-based diet. Domestic cats had lower (P<0.05) fecal ammonia concentrations compared with all other species. Fecal ammonia concentrations were lowest (P<0.05) when cats were fed the horse-based diet. Fecal total short-chain fatty acid (SCFA), branched-chain fatty acid (BCFA), and butyrate concentrations were higher (P<0.05) when cats consumed the beef-based diet. Our results suggest that the domestic cat serves as an appropriate model for large exotic felid species, but differences among the species exist. Decreased nutrient digestibility by tigers and jaguars should be considered when developing feeding recommendations for these species based on domestic cat data.

Effects of inulin or yeast cell-wall extract on nutrient digestibility, fecal fermentative end-product concentrations, and blood metabolite concentrations in adult dogs fed raw meat–based diets

“…Total tract apparent CP and fat digestibilities of the dogs in the present study were similar to findings of previous raw meat studies [2][3][4]35 in cats (CP digestibility, 92.9 to 93.9; fat digestibility, 93.9 to 95.5) performed in the same laboratory. The digestibility of raw meat is much greater than that typical of kibble.…”

“…Crude protein digestibility has also been reported to differ between diets fed to exotic felids. 3 Because the fiber sources and amounts used in the present study were tightly controlled, differences in total tract apparent macronutrient digestibility were likely not due to fiber but to the higher concentration of animal fiber (ie, collagen) in the chicken-based versus beef-based diets, which was also considered in another study. 36 Fecal fermentative end-product concentrations can be used to infer the degree of protein and carbohydrate fermentation in the large bowel.…”

“…Reasons for feeding this type of diet include the lack of preservatives and possible improvement of feces, skin, or coat quality 1 as well as the high digestibility reported for domestic cats. [2][3][4] Conversely, consumption of raw meat-based diets can increase pathogen expoFructans are a group of fermentable carbohydrates classified as prebiotics. To qualify as a prebiotic, a compound must be resistant to gastric acidity, enzymatic hydrolysis, and gastrointestinal absorption (nondigestible); be fermented by cecal or colonic microflora; and selectively stimulate the growth or activity of bacteria that contribute to colonic and host health.…”

Apparent total tract energy and macronutrient digestibility and fecal fermentative end-product concentrations of domestic cats fed extruded, raw beef-based, and cooked beef-based diets

“…The authors are uuaware of any experiments that have determined the digestibility of a cooked meat-based diet in domestic cats. Vester et al (2010a) fed domestic cats raw beef diets with an ingredient composition similar to those fed in this study; however, macronutrient composition differed. Dietary GP in that study was 5 to 6% units greater and fat was 6 to 8% units greater than that of the RB fed in this study.…”

“…However, there are few peer-reviewed trials that have examined the digestibility of raw meatbased diets in exotic (Crissey et al, 2001;Vester et al, 2008Vester et al, , 2010a or domestic felids (Vester et al, 2010a). Moreover, exposure to raw meat iucreases the risk of bacterial contamination and illness to humaus aud animals (Joffe aud Schlesinger, 2002;Stiver et al, 2003;Morley et al, 2006).…”