Research overview: metabolic water production from a high-protein diet

Animals generate water internally when they metabolise food, and this overview reviews the role of metabolic water for desert cats. Oxidising the fat and protein in prey yields water as a by-product, and for a cat that drinks little, this internally produced water supplements the moisture in prey tissue to meet daily needs. The high-protein carnivore diet shapes how much metabolic water is available against the cost of nitrogen excretion. Researchers estimate metabolic water contributions through physiological accounting. Why it matters: metabolic water is a subtle but real component of the desert cat water budget, linking the biochemistry of digesting prey to survival in dry country. It shows how even the act of burning food for energy helps an arid predator stay hydrated, integrating metabolism and water balance.