Digestion is the method of breaking down ingested meals and turning it into vitamins, which the cat’s physique makes use of for power, development, and cell restore. All these processes are important for survival. The digestion course of additionally entails creating waste to be eradicated as feces. Moreover, digestion performs an vital position in serving to to take care of the correct steadiness of fluid and electrolytes (salts) within the cat’s physique.
The digestive system or gastrointestinal tract is mainly an extended twisting tube with specialised segments or organs. It begins on the mouth and ends on the anus. The digestive system additionally depends on the motion of accent organs that aren’t a part of the tube however are related to it. Accent organs (the liver and the pancreas) produce and secrete the mandatory salts and enzymes to interrupt down the meals. The abdomen and intestines are made up of a sequence of muscle tissues that assist to maneuver the meals alongside the best way.
It ought to take round 10–24 hours for one thing your cat has ingested to work by means of its system. Whereas this vary may sound very huge, in people the vary is even larger, 24-72 hours. The quantity of meals, the kind of meals, and the water consumption, are simply a few of the many variables that may have an effect on digestion time. On this article, we’ll clarify every a part of the cat’s digestion course of.
The 7 Vital Components of the Cat’s Digestive System
1. Mouth
When meals is first ingested by the cat, digestion begins within the mouth. A cat’s mouth has specialised enamel made for shearing and tearing by means of their prey. In contrast to people, cats don’t chew on their meals however relatively tear and swallow.
Salivary glands within the cat’s mouth secrete saliva to lubricate meals and defend the oral mucosa. Saliva has antimicrobial properties and accommodates the enzyme amylase, which produces minimal digestive exercise.
2. Esophagus
The meals leaving the mouth into the esophagus known as “bolus”. The esophagus is a tube that connects the mouth to the abdomen.
3. Abdomen
A cat’s abdomen has robust muscle tissues that assist to mechanically break down the meals. The abdomen has acid-producing glands that chemically assist this course of. Gastric juice accommodates Ions and proteases, that are enzymes that assist to interrupt down proteins. By the point the bolus is able to go away the abdomen, it has been processed right into a thick liquid known as “chyme”.
4. Small Gut
That is the place the vast majority of digestion and almost all absorption happens. The primary portion of the small gut known as the duodenum. The duodenum receives the chyme from the abdomen in addition to secretions from the liver and pancreas. Iron absorption takes place within the duodenum. The big center portion of the small gut, the place nutrient absorption takes place, is the jejunum. The final portion of the small gut known as the ileum. That is the place salts and vitamin B are absorbed. The remaining ileum contents empty into the massive gut.
Accent Organs
5. Liver
The liver performs many very important capabilities within the physique, however its solely position in digestion is the manufacturing of bile.
Bile is a green-tinted fluid that assists within the breakdown and absorption of fat. Bile enters the duodenum by means of the bile duct. When digestion shouldn’t be occurring, like between meals, bile is saved within the gall bladder.
6. Pancreas
The pancreas is a gland that produces a few of the most potent digestive enzymes. These enzymes are launched into the duodenum, the place they perform their capabilities.
Moreover its digestive capabilities, the pancreas can also be concerned within the regulation of blood sugars.
7. Massive gut:
The big gut can also be divided into 4 areas: the colon, cecum, rectum, and anal canal. Water absorption and formation of feces begin within the colon. The primary portion of the colon is the ascending colon. A blind pouch known as the cecum hangs slightly below the purpose at which the ileum joins the massive gut. Feces are moved from the colon to the rectum, the place they’re saved earlier than leaving the physique by way of the anal sphincter.
Remaining Ideas:
Digestion is a posh course of that enables a cat to interrupt down meals to acquire the required vitamins for survival and to do away with waste. A number of organs are working collectively to make this attainable. A cat will take between 10-24 hours to completely digest its meals and excrete the waste product as feces.
Featured Picture Credit score: Laura Chouette, Unsplash
