Gut microbiota of domestic cats under different environmental and dietary conditions
This study examines the effects of diet, outdoor access, age, and gender on the gut microbiome of felines. Our findings reveal that outdoor access and diet significantly influence bacterial composition, with outdoor cats exhibiting greater microbial diversity and natural diets favoring Firmicutes over Bacteroidota. Age and gender play a secondary role, with minor variations in Actinobacteriota and Proteobacteria. Additionally, Clostridium perfringens prevalence was higher in outdoor and naturally fed cats, suggesting potential zoonotic implications. These results highlight the need for tailored dietary and environmental management strategies to optimize feline health and mitigate zoonotic risks.