Effects of Dietary Fiber on Diet Palatability, Serum Antioxidant Indices and Fecal Microbiota in Domestic Cats

Title ：Effects of Dietary Fiber on Diet Palatability, Serum Antioxidant Indices and Fecal Microbiota in Domestic Cats

Abstract: This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary fiber on diet palatability, serum antioxidant indices and fecal microbiota in pet cats. Twenty healthy adult British Shorthair Golden Shaded cats aged (2.63±0.73) years with body weight of (3.79±0.89) kg were selected and randomly divided into 2 groups with 10 cats per group (half males and half females). Cats in the control group were fed a basal diet, and the experimental group received the basal diet supplemented with 5% dietary fiber. The trial lasted for 30 days. The results showed as follows: 1) There were no significant differences in final body weight and average daily feed intake of cats between the experimental group and the control group (P＞0.05). 2) Compared with the control group, serum total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) of cats in the experimental group was significantly increased (P＜0.05). 3) Compared with the control group, fecal score was significantly decreased (P＜0.05), fecal pH was significantly increased (P＜0.05), while concentrations of fecal ammonia nitrogen and environmental ammonia were significantly reduced in the experimental group (P＜0.05). 4) No significant differences were observed in the relative abundances of fecal microbes at phylum and genus levels between the two groups (P＞0.05). Compared with the control group, the relative abundance of Bifidobacterium was elevated, whereas the relative abundances of Solobacterium and Peptoclostridium declined in the experimental group. In conclusion, supplementation of 5% dietary fiber in the basal diet of pet cats does not impair diet palatability. It can elevate serum T-AOC, optimize fecal consistency, reduce fecal ammonia nitrogen concentration, modulate fecal microbiota, and consequently maintain intestinal health of pet cats.

Keywords: dietary fiber; pet cats; palatability; serum antioxidant indices; fecal microbiota

Authors: Wang Jianfeng, Wu Jianyao, Zhuang Pingzhen, Zhang Shizhong