Carcass feeding of captive cheetahs: effects of a naturalistic feeding program on oral health and psychological well-being

Bond and Lindburg compared feeding captive cheetahs whole carcasses against conventional processed diets, assessing both behaviour and oral health. Carcass feeding prolonged feeding time, increased species-typical feeding behaviour and was associated with better dental and gum condition, while also appearing to improve psychological well-being through more naturalistic activity. The study was an early demonstration that the form of food, not just its nutritional content, matters for welfare and health in felids. It provided concrete evidence that the tearing and gnawing involved in carcass consumption benefits oral hygiene and behaviour, informing debates over carcass versus processed feeding that continue in cheetah and big-cat husbandry today.