Pilot study evaluating the effect of feeding method on overall activity of neutered indoor pet cats
Indoor housing of cats is associated with a higher incidence of multiple diseases, including obesity. Increased exercise is often recommended as a method of creating or increasing the negative energy balance required for weight loss. Food-dispensing toys have been suggested as a method of increasing cat activity and providing environmental enrichment but have not been systematically evaluated in client-owned cats. To compare the effect of meal feeding from a bowl versus a food-dispensing toy on overall activity, 19 client-owned cats were enrolled in a 2-way, 2-period, and randomized repeated-measures mixed-effects crossover study.
Source: Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and Research - Category: Veterinary Research Authors: Raju Naik, Angela Witzel, Julia D. Albright, Kaitlin Siegfried, Margaret E. Gruen, Andrea Thomson, Joshua Price, B. Duncan X. Lascelles Tags: Feline Research Source Type: research
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