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Review
. 2020 Sep;50(5):939-953.
doi: 10.1016/j.cvsm.2020.05.003. Epub 2020 Jul 8.

Feeding Cats for Optimal Mental and Behavioral Well-Being

Mikel Delgado  1 , Leticia M S Dantas  2
Affiliations
Review

Feeding Cats for Optimal Mental and Behavioral Well-Being

Mikel Delgado et al. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract. 2020 Sep.

Abstract

In this article, we review cats' feeding behaviors, and discuss ways of feeding cats that promote physical and mental/behavioral health, while providing cats with choices that allow expression of preferences. We address the management of several feeding issues that cat owners may face, such as obesity, pickiness, begging for food, and feeding in multi-cat households. Food puzzles are one way to provide environmental enrichment for cats, and food can be used in multiple ways for behavior modification in the clinical setting, including counterconditioning and differential reinforcement of alternative behaviors.

Keywords: Domestic cats; Feeding behavior; Food puzzles; Foraging; Mental health; Predation.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure Dr. Delgado was supported by funding from Maddie’s Fund and the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, through grant number UL1 TR001860 and linked award TL1 TR001861 to MD. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the NIH. The funding sources had no role in study design or in the collection, analysis, or interpretation of data.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Mobile food puzzles can be manipulated to release food.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Example of a stationary food puzzle.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Gege, 13 year-old male neutered DSH cat, using a home-made food toy.
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
Cats can be trained to sit on a scale for routine weight monitoring.
Figure 5.
Figure 5.
Cats may engage in attention-seeking behaviors to solicit food from owners.
Figure 6.
Figure 6.
Nina, 1 year-old female spayed DSH cat, using an automatic feeder.
Figure 7.
Figure 7.
Cats should be fed at least a few feed apart from one another. Courtesy of S. Globerman, DVM, Marietta, GA.
Figure 8.
Figure 8.
Senior cat using a microchip activated feeder. Courtesy of I. Johnson, CCBC, Marietta, GA.
Figure 9.
Figure 9.
Food puzzles are instrumental in behavior therapy, promoting counter conditioning between cats, encouraging positive social behavior and decreasing conflict.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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