How is food digested in cats? - briefly
Food digestion in cats begins in the mouth with minimal chewing, followed by the breakdown of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates in the stomach and small intestine through enzymatic action. Nutrients are then absorbed in the small intestine, while waste moves to the large intestine for final processing before excretion.
How is food digested in cats? - in detail
Food digestion in cats begins in the mouth, where mechanical breakdown occurs through chewing, although cats tend to chew less thoroughly compared to other animals. Saliva, which contains enzymes like amylase in minimal amounts, initiates the breakdown of carbohydrates, though cats are primarily carnivorous and rely less on this process. Once food is swallowed, it travels down the esophagus via peristalsis, reaching the stomach. In the stomach, gastric juices, including hydrochloric acid and the enzyme pepsin, are secreted. Hydrochloric acid creates an acidic environment essential for protein denaturation, while pepsin breaks down proteins into smaller peptides. The stomach’s muscular walls churn the food, mixing it with gastric juices to form a semi-liquid substance called chyme. From the stomach, chyme moves into the small intestine, where the majority of digestion and nutrient absorption occurs. The pancreas secretes digestive enzymes such as lipase, amylase, and proteases, which further break down fats, carbohydrates, and proteins, respectively. Bile, produced by the liver and stored in the gallbladder, emulsifies fats, enhancing their digestion. The small intestine’s lining is covered in villi and microvilli, which increase the surface area for efficient nutrient absorption into the bloodstream. Undigested material then passes into the large intestine, where water and electrolytes are reabsorbed, and the remaining waste is formed into feces. The feces are stored in the rectum until expelled through the anus. Throughout this process, the digestive system of cats is highly adapted to their carnivorous diet, emphasizing efficient protein and fat digestion while minimizing reliance on carbohydrates. The entire digestive process is regulated by hormones and neural signals to ensure optimal functioning.