Morfo-Functional Adaptations of the Digestive System of the Cat Induced by Domestication

This study was conducted to investigate the possible existence of microscopic morphological differences between the digestive tract of the domestic cat (F. catus) and the wildcat (F. s. silvestris), in order to observe whether and how domestication has had an impact on the domestic species. There is still a lot unknown about this feline (F. s. silvestris) and this study was helpful to gain knowledge about the intestinal histology of this species. In order to assess the microscopic structure of the intestine, samples were collected from 22 subjects of F. silvestris silvestris and 9 individuals of F. catus. Histological samples were observed to assess the size of the intestinal villi (height and width) and depth of the crypts. From the average value of each parameter, means were obtained for each species, and these were compared using the Student’s t-test. The results show that there is a significant difference in the size of the villi and intestinal crypts between the two species. As described in literature, the F. catus has a higher Intestinal Index (intestine length divided by body length) than the wildcat, which means the intestine in the domestic species is longer than in the wild species. Despite the domestication of the cat being a process not yet fully understood, based upon published studies, we can conclude that domestication, in particular the change in eating habits, had a major effect on the digestive system that should be studied and known in more detail.