Table 3.
Daily energy and vitamin D3 intake from kitten pet food, safe upper limit for vitamin D3, nutritional maximum for vitamin D, and the percentage difference for each cat.
| Case 1 | Case 2 | Case 3 | Case 4 | Case 5 | Mean ±SD* | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Body weight (kg) | 0.85 | 2.35 | 3.20 | 4.00 | 3.10 | 2.70 ± 1.06 |
| Daily energy requirements (kcal ME/day)a | 180 | 280 | 292 | 253 | 213 | 243 ± 41.3 |
| Daily energy intake from KPF (% of daily energy requirements)b | 38 | 49 | 47 | 109 | 97 | 68 ± 28.9 |
| vitamin D3 intake (IU/cat) from KPFc | 18,823 | 37,647 | 37,647 | 75,293 | 56,470 | 45,176 ± 19,196 |
| SUL for vitamin D3 (IU/cat; NRC, 2006)d | 1,218 | 3,719 | 4,781 | 1,924 | 1,622 | 2,653 ± 1,365 |
| Δ% between vitamin D3 intake (KPF) and SUL | 1,445 | 912 | 687 | 3,813 | 3,382 | – |
| Nutritional maximum for vitamin D (IU/cat; FEDIAF, 2020)e | 1,355 | 2,092 | 2,187 | 1,899 | 1,601 | 1,827 ± 310 |
| Δ% between vitamin D3 intake (KPF) and the FEDIAF nutritional maximum for vitamin D | 1,289 | 1,699 | 1,621 | 3,866 | 3,428 | – |
*
Data are expressed as the mean value ± SD; KPF, kitten pet food.
a
Daily metabolizable energy requirement calculated by the NRC equations proposed for growth kittens after weaning (cases 1, 2, and 3) and adult cats at maintenance (cases 4 and 5).
b
KPF energy density: 98 kcal/100 g as fed.
c
Based on measured KPF vitamin D3 content IU/100 g = 27,300.
d
SUL = safe upper limit (IU vitamin D3/cat).
e
Established on the nutritional maximum for vitamin D (D2 + D3) recommended by FEDIAF = 7,500 IU/1,000 kcal ME.