CPN Life Stage Nutrition & Feeding Management 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: During peak lactation, a queen's energy requirement may increase to approximately how many times her resting energy requirement?
- 1.25–1.5 times
- 1.5–2 times
- 2–4 times (Correct answer)
- 5–6 times
Correct answer: 2–4 times
Lactation imposes the greatest nutritional demand of any life stage in cats, with energy needs reaching 2–4 times maintenance at peak milk production.
Question 2: What is the recommended feeding strategy for a queen during the last 3 weeks of pregnancy?
- Restrict food to prevent excessive fetal size
- Supplement daily with calcium carbonate
- Allow free-choice access to a high-quality kitten food (Correct answer)
- Maintain the same adult maintenance ration
Correct answer: Allow free-choice access to a high-quality kitten food
In the final weeks of gestation, the queen's uterus compresses the stomach, so free-choice access to energy-dense kitten food ensures she can meet her rising caloric needs in smaller, more frequent amounts.
Question 3: At approximately what age should solid food first be introduced to puppies during the weaning process?
- 1–2 weeks
- 3–4 weeks (Correct answer)
- 5–6 weeks
- 7–8 weeks
Correct answer: 3–4 weeks
Introduction of moistened solid food typically begins at 3–4 weeks of age, coinciding with eruption of deciduous teeth and declining milk production.
Question 4: Which is the primary nutritional concern unique to toy breed puppies compared to larger breed puppies?
- Skeletal overgrowth from excess protein
- Hypoglycemia due to limited glycogen stores (Correct answer)
- Hypercalcemia from rapid bone turnover
- Polydipsia from high dietary sodium
Correct answer: Hypoglycemia due to limited glycogen stores
Toy breed puppies have a high surface area-to-volume ratio and minimal glycogen reserves, making them highly susceptible to hypoglycemia between meals.
Question 5: Which AAFCO nutritional adequacy statement(s) confirm a commercial food is appropriate for growing puppies?
- 'Complete and balanced for maintenance' only
- 'For all life stages' only
- 'Growth and reproduction' only
- Either 'For all life stages' or 'Growth and reproduction' (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Either 'For all life stages' or 'Growth and reproduction'
Both 'For all life stages' and 'Growth and reproduction' AAFCO statements confirm the food meets the higher nutrient density required for puppies.
Question 6: Senior cats (>11 years) with loss of lean body mass typically require which dietary change?
- Significantly reduced protein to protect kidneys
- Increased highly digestible protein to maintain muscle (Correct answer)
- Higher fiber content to slow digestion
- Reduced fat to prevent pancreatitis
Correct answer: Increased highly digestible protein to maintain muscle
Older cats experience decreased protein digestibility and anabolic resistance, so providing increased high-quality protein helps preserve lean muscle mass.
Question 7: What Body Condition Score (BCS) range on a 9-point scale is considered ideal for growing puppies?
- 2–3
- 4–5 (Correct answer)
- 6–7
- 8–9
Correct answer: 4–5
A BCS of 4–5 on the 9-point scale represents ideal condition for growing puppies, allowing normal growth without excess adipose deposition.
CPN Life Stage Nutrition & Feeding Management 2
During peak lactation, a queen's energy requirement may increase to approximately how many times her resting energy requirement?