Mary Allen
In a study, fixed daily rations were determined for cats that had constant access to food. The behavior of the cats changed so much.
How does cat behavior change when you change the way you feed it? dr Ligiut, who studies animal behavior at the François Rabelais University (France), researched this with her team as part of a study. Their results provide cat owners with an exciting clue as to how their type of feeding influences their cat’s behavior.
From Ad Libitum to Restricted Feeding – That is Changing
Specifically, the researchers investigated how cat behavior changes when switching from ad libitum feeding to restrictive feeding.
- Ad libitum feeding: The cat always has food available.
- Restrictive feeding: The amount of food per day is precisely fixed.
All cats participating in the study were originally fed ad libitum, meaning they had food available at all times. Except for a small control group, these cats were given a diet tailored to the cat’s health and activity level as part of the study. In the morning, the cats received a portion of wet food, and the cats received the remaining food ration as dry food from an automatic feeder.
These Behavioral Changes Have Been Recognized
The cats whose food ration has been restricted
- ate fewer portions than when fed ad libitum.
- ate larger portions than when fed ad libitum.
- ate faster than when fed ad libitum.
- returned to the feeding site faster than with ad libitum feeding.
If the food ratio of cats in multi-cat households was restricted, conflicts between the cats over the feeding place were frequent. The cats whose food ratio has been restricted
- avoided each other more often than with ad libitum feeding.
- scared away the conspecific by staring or approaching more often than with ad libitum feeding.
- threatened their conspecifics more frequently than when fed ad libitum.
The most striking was the conflicts before the first feeding of the day, i.e. when hunger was greatest.
No behavioral changes were observed in cats that continued to be fed ad libitum. After 9 months, all cats were fed ad libitum again. The cats quickly reverted to their old behavior on ad libitum feeding.
Tips For Cat Owners Who Need to Ration Food
Ad libitum feeding is not an option for every cat. If the cat eats too much, there is a risk of obesity and secondary diseases such as diabetes mellitus. It is therefore important in most cases to limit the feed ratio and adapt it to the cat’s individual needs. You should pay attention to this:
- Feed as many small portions as possible throughout the day. If this is not possible, an automatic feeder takes over this task.
- Only offer dry food in fiddle boards or other intelligence toys. This is how you reduce your eating speed.
- Let your cat chase or search for dry food.
- In multi-cat households, feed your cats at separate feeding places. Bullying among cats often takes place at the feeding ground and is rarely noticed by owners.