Cat Food Research Results
Abstract Materials Methods Results Top 10 Foods Interpretation Qualifications Bibliography Cat Toy Research Results
Abstract Materials Methods Results Interpretation Qualifications Acknowledgments Notes Bibliography
F e l i n e Food & Feeding Preferences (research results)
By Randy Moravec, Claude, Claire, Charlie & Suzanne West
Cats were asked to express their cat food preferences. A list of cat foods of various sizes, shapes, and styles was provided. The cats' responses were recorded and analyzed. Claude is a food driven feline and he said this study was important.
Nine (9) multiple choice questions about the subject cat's feeding habits were asked. Five (5) fill-in questions about the subject cat's general dimensions and physical characteristics were also asked. Finally, three (3) fill in questions about the amount and origins of the cat's daily food intake were posed.
The test subjects were 57% male and 43% female cats between the ages of 6 months and 20 years. The average participating cat weighed 10.66 lb. (4.84 kg). 1550 cats participated in the study which lasted 10 months.
To our knowledge no cats died or were harmed in any way
during or because of the study. An average research participant consumed
between 90 to 145 pounds of food during the course of the study. The average
resulting weight gain was not tracked.
Each cat was asked about its cat food preferences, amount of food consumed daily, and other preferred non-cat food items which they liked to eat. Cats were also asked ten (10) "behavior" related questions about which factors were important to them when making a food choice, the effect food had on the subject cat, as well as questions about who feeds them, how they get their foods and how they see themelves in relation to their food.
Each cat also was given the opportunity to express his/her opinion in a free-form way by telling us directly about their food and feeding preferences. All questions were presented in the same order to each cat.
As always, the soulless face of the Internet was used to
ensure that the cats were not influenced by feeding, stroking, petting,
(did I say feeding already?) or other unconscious (or overt) cues from the
assistant and/or researchers. The cats' reactions were assessed by collective
analysis and cross-breed comparison.
The results are presented in tables 1 to 13. The quantitative
results are average values calculated over our entire feline subject population.
Q U A N T I T A T I V E Results
TABLE 1
Average amount of Cat Food consumed daily : | |
| Amount of Cat Food consumed daily | 7.12 oz |
| 202 gm | |
TABLE 2
Average amount of Non Cat Food consumed daily: | |
| Amount of Non Cat Food consumed daily | 1.4 oz |
| 40 gm | |
NOTE: This comes out to be 8.52 oz of food per day. This is equivalent to about 5% of an average cats body weight in food each day. To put this is perspective, an 150 lb human would have to consume about 7.5 lb of food daily to keep up with their little tabby.
Q U A L I T A T I V E Behavior Results
TABLE 3
Cats were asked the type of Cat Food that make up the majority of their diet. Percentage breakdown of responding cats to Cat Food Diet. | |
| Percentage of cats that Like Commercial Moist food | 15% |
| Percentage of cats that Like Commercial Dry food | 57% |
| Percentage of cats that Like Commercial Can food | 13% |
| Percentage of cats that Like Home Cookin' | 1% |
| Percentage of cats that Like A Mix of foods | 14% |
TABLE 4
Cats were asked who controls their feeding. Percentage breakdown of responding cats to cat Feeding Control. | |
| Percentage of cats fed by their owners | 38% |
| Percentage of cats that feed them self | 62% |
TABLE 5
Cats were asked if flavor was important in food selection. (i.e. fish, liver chicken, etc.) Percentage breakdown of responding cats to the importance of Food Flavor. | |
| Percentage of cats who think flavor is Important | 57% |
| Percentage of cats who think flavor is Not Important | 19% |
| Percentage of cats who think flavor Doesn't Matter | 24% |
TABLE 6
Cats were asked if shape was important in food selection. (i.e. little fish, drumsticks, stars, etc.) Percentage breakdown of responding cats to the importance of Food Shape. | |
| Percentage of cats who think shape is Important | 25% |
| Percentage of cats who think shape is Not Important | 47% |
| Percentage of cats who think shape Doesn't Matter | 28% |
TABLE 7
Cats were asked if they were finicky eaters. Percentage breakdown of responding cats to Finicky Eating behavior. | |
| Percentage of cats who Are Finicky Eaters | 49% |
| Percentage of cats who are Not Finicky Eaters | 38% |
| AAAAAAAHHHAA! | 13% |
TABLE 8
Cats were asked to describe their mental state after eating. Percentage breakdown of responding cats to post meal Mental State. | |
| Percentage of cats that were Manic after eating | 9% |
| Percentage of cats that were Alert after eating | 36% |
| Percentage of cats that were Sleepy after eating | 34% |
| Percentage of cats that were Zombies after eating | 12% |
| Percentage of cats that were Comatose after eating | 9% |
TABLE 9
Cats were asked to categorize their eating habits. Percentage breakdown of responding cats to Eating Habit Category. | |
| Percentage of cats describing them self as Herbivorous | 2% |
| Percentage of cats describing them self as Carnivorous | 38% |
| Percentage of cats describing them self as Omnivorous | 60% |
TABLE 10
Cats were asked if given a choice, would they rather eat cat food or human food. Percentage breakdown of responding cats to cat food or human Food Choice. | |
| Percentage of cats who would eat Cat Food | 45% |
| Percentage of cats who would Human Food | 19% |
| Percentage of cats who would eat Both | 36% |
TABLE 11
Cats were asked if they remind their owners when it is feeding time. Percentage breakdown of responding cats to Feeding Time Reminding. | |
| Percentage of cats who Sometime remind | 36% |
| Percentage of cats who Always remind | 51% |
| Percentage of cats who Never remind | 13% |
TABLE 12
Listed here are the ten (10) most often listed | |
| 1. | Chicken / Turkey / Poultry |
| 2. | Tuna / Salmon / Fish |
| 3. | Potato Chips / French Fries / Chips |
| 4. | Cheese (Swiss was the most common) |
| 5. | Milk / Cream |
| 6. | Hamburger / Steak / Beef |
| 7. | Ice Cream (vanilla was the most common) |
| 8. | Vegetables (broccoli was the most common) |
| 9. | Breads (bagels were the most common) |
| 10. | Pizza (pepperoni was the most common) |
TABLE 12 listed the most common non cat food responses we received. There were may other interesting responses that did not make the top five list. The most noteworthy are listed in the table below.
TABLE 13
Listed here are the five (5) most interesting | |
| 1. | My Other Cat |
| 2. | My Homework |
| 3. | Ear Wax (yuk!) |
| 4. | Hand Cream |
| 5. | Coca Cola (not Pepsi!) |
C L A U D E
' s (feline) Interpretation
1. Cats set good examples. This study has show vegetables in general and broccoli in particular as one of the top 10 non cat food choices of cats. Cats eating their vegetables sets a good example for small children and ex-presidents.
2. Cats reduce saturated fat in the human diet. Our research indicates that cats selflessly consume many human foods high in saturated fat such as beef, potato chips, french fries, cream, ice cream, pepperoni pizza and cheese, thus putting their own health in jeopardy for the sake of their human counterparts.
3. Cats encourage human ingenuity. Only 24% of cats found the shape that their food came in to be important. Cats simply tolerate cat food shaped like tiny drumsticks and fish to fuel human ingenuity. This gives humans a sense of self worth that would otherwise be absent. This ingenuity can often spin-off other industries. For example, Russian cosmonauts can now be seen munching on space food shape into lamb chops, spare ribs and drumsticks rather than that dreary out of the pouch stuff.
These interpretations are not categorical. They are subject to several obvious qualifications. The most notable are listed below.
Qualification A. This study assumes that all cats have food and eat.
Qualification B. This study was conducted through a high tech (Internet) media. This limited our research to technically savvy/trend sensitive felines.
Qualification C. This study was conducted out of curiosity and fun. Much different results might have occurred if this study was conducted for other purposes, such as market (gag...fur-ball cough!!) research.
* Chow, Samuel, "Eatable & Non Eatable Nutrition In Felines," in Feline Nutritional Review, November 23, 1969, vol. 10, no. 3, pp. 75-112.
* Fish, K. Bob, "Felines & Mind Altering Foods," in Journal of Feline Food Studies, vol. 1, no. 12, August 1985, pp. 37-55.
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Updated 1/7/05.
©2005 West & Moravec. All rights reserved.
Photography ©2005 Randy Moravec. All rights reserved.