Department of Molecular Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis 95616, USA.
J Anim Sci. 2013 Mar;91(3):1270-6. doi: 10.2527/jas.2011-4503. Epub 2013 Jan 24.
The diet of the feral domestic cat consists of primarily birds and small mammals, but the nutritional composition is relatively unknown. Because of the increasing popularity of natural diets for cats and other wild captive carnivores, the purpose of this study was to describe the body composition and AA concentrations of select birds and small mammals in northern and central California: wild-caught mice (n = 7), Norway rats (n = 2), roof rats (n = 2), voles (n = 4), moles (n = 2), gophers (n = 3), and birds (n = 4). Body water, crude fat (CFa), CP, ash, and AA composition for each specimen were determined. Results are reported as mean ± SD. All results are reported on a DM basis except body water (as-is basis) and AA (g/16 g N). Combined, carcasses had this mean composition: 67.35 ± 3.19% water, 11.72 ± 6.17% CFa, 62.19 ± 7.28% CP, and 14.83 ± 2.66% ash. Concentrations of Arg, Tau, Cys, and Met were 5.63 ± 0.46, 0.92 ± 0.33, 1.91 ± 0.89, and 1.82 ± 0.19 g/16 g N, respectively. Using NRC physiologic fuel values for CP, CFa, and carbohydrate by difference, the combined average energy content of the carcasses was 3,929 kcal/kg DM, but the fiber content was not determined. With the exception of mice and rats, little historical data exist regarding the body and AA composition of many of the species analyzed in this study. Wild-caught mice and rats were composed of less fat but more ash compared with previously reported data in their purpose-bred counterparts. The CP content of mice in this study was similar to previous reports in purpose-bred mice. The CP content of rats was similar or slightly greater compared with historical findings in purpose-bred rats. The N content of rats and AA concentrations on a per-N basis for both rats and mice were similar to previously published data on purpose-bred rodents. The discrepancies in nutrient composition, especially fat concentration, indicate that using purpose-bred animals to represent the diet of the feral domestic cat may not be valid in many instances. When consumed to meet energy needs, the nutrient content of the species reported in the present study exceed the NRC (2006) recommended allowances (RA) for total fat, CP, and essential AA for felines at all life stages.
描述加利福尼亚州北部和中部地区野生捕获的老鼠、挪威鼠、屋顶鼠、田鼠、鼹鼠、地鼠和鸟类的体成分和 AA 浓度，因为越来越多的人给猫和其他野生圈养食肉动物喂食天然食物。
本研究共收集了 7 只野生捕获的老鼠、2 只挪威鼠、2 只屋顶鼠、4 只田鼠、2 只鼹鼠、3 只地鼠和 4 只鸟类。分析了每只动物的体水分、粗脂肪（CFa）、粗蛋白（CP）、灰分和 AA 组成。结果以平均值±标准差表示。除了体水分（原样基础）和 AA（每 16 g N 的克数）外，所有结果均以干物质（DM）为基础报告。
总体而言，尸体的组成部分包括 67.35%±3.19%的水分、11.72%±6.17%的 CFa、62.19%±7.28%的 CP 和 14.83%±2.66%的灰分。Arg、Tau、Cys 和 Met 的浓度分别为 5.63±0.46、0.92±0.33、1.91±0.89 和 1.82±0.19 g/16 g N。根据 NRC 对 CP、CFa 和差分数值的生理燃料值，尸体的平均能量含量为 3929 kcal/kg DM，但未测定纤维含量。除了老鼠和大鼠外，本研究分析的许多物种的体成分和 AA 组成都很少有历史数据。与经过特殊培育的老鼠和大鼠相比，野生捕获的老鼠和大鼠的脂肪含量较低，但灰分含量较高。本研究中小鼠的 CP 含量与经过特殊培育的小鼠的报告相似。大鼠的 CP 含量与历史数据中经过特殊培育的大鼠相似或略高。大鼠的氮含量和基于每氮的 AA 浓度与之前发表的特殊培育啮齿动物的数据相似。营养成分的差异，特别是脂肪浓度，表明在许多情况下，使用经过特殊培育的动物来代表家猫的饮食可能是不合理的。当消耗这些物种以满足能量需求时，本研究报告的物种的营养成分含量超过了 NRC（2006）对所有生命阶段猫科动物的总脂肪、CP 和必需 AA 的推荐允许量（RA）。
