Feeding behaviour in the cat—recent advances

The domestic cat, Felis catus, provides one of the few representatives of the order Carnivora whose behaviour may be studied within the laboratory environment. In recent studies of cat feeding behaviour, there has been a fundamental shift in emphasis away from internal factors of control, the homeostatic model, towards investigation of the controlling influence of external environmental factors on food choice and feeding patterns. Food choice is discussed in relation to prior dietary experience and the motivational level of the animal. Feeding patterns are shown to be strongly associated with food availability and energy economy rather than the momentary physiological state of the animal.