Captive Siberian tigers in China overfed by tourists

This is another example of animal cruelty in China, albeit of a relatively mild kind compared to the brutal cat meat markets in the south. There are around 1000 Siberian tigers in the Harbin Siberian Tiger Park and the park keepers unusually allow the tourist visitors to feed them in addition to their usual diet provided by the keepers. Very strange I'd say. Very careless and indulgent.

Siberian tiger in the wild in China.

The tigers can become obese. No surprise. The end result: intermittent fasting. The enclosures will be subject to a program of rotating fasting. Messy cat caregiving I would say and obesity causes health problems of all kinds as humans know. Fasting may also cause some health problems. 

This is what AI says about intermittent fasting for humans:

"Intermittent fasting has been linked to several potential health concerns. Some large observational studies suggest that eating within very short daily windows—particularly under eight hours—may be associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular death, especially in people who already have heart disease or cancer. These findings do not prove causation but highlight possible long‑term risks that are still being investigated.

Evidence for weight loss is mixed. Reviews of clinical trials show that intermittent fasting often performs no better than standard calorie‑restricted diets, and in many cases offers only modest or uncertain benefits. Long‑term effectiveness remains unclear, and some people may compensate by overeating during eating periods.

Short‑term side effects are common. These can include hunger, irritability, low energy, difficulty concentrating, and disrupted sleep. Some individuals experience patterns of overeating or find the regimen difficult to sustain. Intermittent fasting may also be unsuitable for people with diabetes, those taking glucose‑lowering medications, individuals with a history of eating disorders, and some older adults.

Overall, while intermittent fasting can be tolerated by many, research indicates meaningful uncertainties and potential risks, particularly with very restrictive eating windows."

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P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins. Also, sources for news articles are carefully selected but the news is often not independently verified. And, I rely on scientific studies but they are not 100% reliable. Finally, (!) I often express an OPINION on the news. Please share yours in a comment.

Are domestic cats genuinely picky about food?

I'm one of those cat caregivers who is unsure whether domestic cats are genuinely picky about their food. I think we can do a little test in our minds. We don't have to do it with our cat. We can just think about this. Let's say a domestic cat hasn't eaten all day for whatever reason. Perhaps for two days. You give them some lousy cat food and they gobble it up because they are starving. If a cat is hungry they will eat the decent food you give them. And leave the bowl empty.

If, by contrast, you give them a nice treat perhaps a little too often, they will be waiting for that treat the next time. If you give them some standard cat food in its place they might not be inclined to eat it but rather wait for the treat that they know is coming in the not too distant future, or so they think.

I have a feeling that many of us - and I am probably equally guilty on this - tend to give our cats too many treats because we love them so much. We want to please them. We might give them really high quality cat food which is expensive from time to time and they wait for that next high quality meal. They might turn up their noses at food which is of a lesser quality.

This is not being picky as such. It is simply being rational and sensible. To be "picky" is to be fussy and difficult to please. To be overly fussy. When a cat turns down food I don't believe they are being difficult to please or fussy. They simply believe that there's something better for them in the kitchen and, in addition, they aren't particularly hungry.

The key is probably to feed your cat a bit less. This would square up nicely with information that we know is true namely that there is pet obesity epidemic in America and the UK and perhaps other Western countries. Around 40% of cats and dogs are assessed as being obese by veterinarians. They are being fed too much. That's the simple cause so feeding less to make them a little hungrier will have two benefits (1) lose some weight (2) be less picky! No, they aren't picky, just sensible.

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P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins.