life stage nutrition for cats Flashcards
when do queens have their first oestrus?
6 months - age cycle 1-3 weeks
depends on factors = weight, breed, general health status, environmental conditions.
breeding season - according to temperature and an increasing number of daylight hours.
When do toms reach puberty?
5-8 months
how long does it take a cat to return back into season after having kittens?
back into season around eight weeks after the birth of their kittens,
What is a false pregnancy called?
pseudopregnancy
increase in appetite, weight gain and may even produce milk
oestrus will return 4-6 weeks later
How long is the gestational period?
58-67 days (around 9 weeks)
When do cats gain the most amount of weight during gestation?
within a week of conception
end of third week - gained 20% of extra weight
why is there an unusual pattern of body weight gain?
due to the laying down of fat reserves to be mobilised in late pregnancy and during lactation.
How is the nutrition of for the queen adapted
concentrated with respect to energy and nutrient density
highly palatable to encourage her to feed
highly digestible
food allowance should be gradually increased by 10% per week,
Why is inappropriate calcium supplementation bad for a queen?
causes elcampsia - low blood calcium levels
When is the most nutritionally demanding life stage for a queen?
lactation
what is giving birth to kittens called?
queening
what are the fat reserved that accumulate from early pregnancy?
pregnancy anabolism
Why do cats weigh 20% more of their original weight after queeing?
fat reserves, will be drawn on to cover her energy requirements during lactation, which demands a much greater expense of energy than gestation.
How much do kitten weigh?
85-120g
For how many weeks are kittens dependant on their mother’s milk? and what do they first suckle?
first 4 weeks
colostrum
how much more time does the queen need in energy requirements compared to before? and for how long does the consumption remain high?
FOUR
week 7
What are important nutritional consideration during lactation?
protein, water and energy
Wha are the diet requirements for lactation?
high palatable, digestible and nutrient dense diet
ad libitum feeding is acceptable
when do kittens eat solid foods?
3-4 weeks
when does weaning occur? and the energy requirements of kittens per body unit are ____ moew than an adult?
3-4 weeks
3-4 times more
how many meals are recommended for kittens?
4-5 meals
If a kitten is orphaned how often do they need feeding and what requirements are needed?
feeding every 2 hours with milk substitute
promote urination and defecation by stimulating them
What should the diet provide kittens?
optimal intake of energy, protein, taurine and calcium.
supply all of the nitrogen and essential amino acids they require for maintenance as well as the synthesis of new tissue.
The omega 3 fatty acid DHA is essential for the development of brain and nervous tissue.
do male or female kittens grow faster?
male kittens grow faster - 45% heavier after one year
why can cats not survive on dog food?
require higher amounts of protein plus essential nutrients from derived sources
what are some factors/advice for feeding indoor cats?
Offer a reduced calorie diet if needed, to help prevent obesity and maintain a healthy body condition.
Always weigh the cat’s food (never estimate it).
Provide a diet that contains ingredients which help to reduce the frequency of hairballs and their symptoms, such as natural fibre.
Provide a diet that supports urinary tract health with a controlled mineral level.
Adopt a mixed feeding regime to boost moisture intake which further supports urinary tract health and helps cats maintain a healthy weight.
when is a cat consider senior
8 years
How do cats contrast to dogs in nutritional requirements?
do not exhibit an age related decline in metabolic ER or lean body mass to fat ratio
undertake similar levels of exercise, so that there are no obvious age related changes in physical activity
cats aged 11 years plus exhibit a significant decline in their ability to digest fat and protein - thus start losing weight (significant decline in energy digestibility.)
the cats with compromised digestive function increased their daily food intake to compensate for this effect suggesting that cats continue to control energy intake as they age.
what is the condition called characterised by loss of skeletal muscle mass and function, and is seen in older cats.
Sarcopenia
what can cause sarcopenia?
protein deficiency, systemic diseases, reduced activity levels, and musculoskeletal and neurologic disorders.
What are important factors in seniors diets?
high quality and highly digestible protein
what is a major cause of illness and death in older cats?
Chronic kidney disease (CKD)
dietary modification through a kidney support diet can be implemented. This helps minimise the accumulation of end products of protein breakdown such as urea, as well as help slow the progression of disease.
