Cats fed dry diets may be less willing to eat other food types, study shows

Research published in the Journal of Veterinary Behavior suggests that feedings cats exclusively a dry petfood diet may make them less willing to eat other types of foods. 
The study involving 18 cats examined how cats develop dietary preferences. Researchers looked at whether kittens first fed moist diets, then switched to kibble, would make an easier transition back to moist foods than kittens that were fed dry food from the beginning.
From ages 9-20 weeks, 13 cats were fed either commercial canned food, commercial raw food or homemade raw diets. Another five cats were fed only dry diets during the same age period. At the end of the post-weaning period, all 18 cats were fed a commercial dry diet from 7-23 months. As adults, the 18 cats were offered one of three moist foods: commercial canned, commercial raw or homemade raw. 
According to the study:
• Kittens fed exclusively kibble for more than a 7-month period after weaning were not interested in the moist diets, including cats fed a moist diet during the post-weaning period.
• Cats fed one of the moist diets during the post-weaning period maintained their weight better when the moist food was reintroduced if they spent less time on the dry food diet. Four of five cats (80 percent) that were fed dry food for 7 months maintained their weight once reintroduced to the moist foods, compared with two of five cats (40 percent) that maintained their weight after 17 months of eating dry food.
• Kittens fed canned foods were more accepting of both raw and canned diets than kittens fed exclusively raw diets during the post-weaning period.
The study's authors point out that this is a preliminary study and that a larger sample of cats is required to verify these findings, but believe the research supports the benefit of offering dietary variety to cats throughout their life. 

Wet, dry cat food study links diet preference to nutrient intake

New research from an experiment with wet and dry cat foods may explain the reason some cats are so picky about their petfood.
The study, published in the Journal of Comparative Physiology B, offered different petfood options to cats. When given the choice, cats selected a mixture of wet and dry foods that provided them with a consistent intake of protein, fat and carbohydrates in their diet.
Cats in the experiment were offered a combination of wet and dry foods: one wet and three dry, one dry and three wet, and three wet and three dry. The food choices were offered first all at once, and then in a three-day cycle.
In all trials of the experiment, cats selected foods that provided close to 52 percent calorie intake from protein, 36 percent from fat and 12 percent from carbohydrates. The study's authors noted that the cats' choice of foods was similar to what has been observed about feral cats' diet choices in other studies, indicating that house cats may have retained an instinctual ideal diet from their wild ancestors. In fact, the only major difference observed in the study was that feral cats have been previously observed to consume about 2 percent of their calories from carbohydrates; however, the study's authors noted this may be due to the formulation of the petfoods used.
"This research has important implications for owners as it shows that cats are able to select and combine wet and dry foods to achieve their target intake of protein, fat and carbohydrate,” said lead author, Adrian Hewson-Hughes of the Waltham Center for Pet Nutrition. “In terms of products currently on the market, wet foods typically have higher proportions of protein and fat, while dry foods have a higher carbohydrate content."

9Lives finds cats not getting proper nutrition

A survey commissioned by 9Lives of US cat owners found that 94% are confident they feed their cats the most nutritious meals possible. However, 48% admit they’ve fed their cat table scraps, which do not provide the essential nutrients cats need.
In order to help owners be aware of the nutrition cats need, 9Lives is offering its online Nutrition Simulator, which provides nutritional advice and information on selecting the proper peffood for a cat.