Food and water intake and urine composition in cats: influence of continuous versus periodic feeding.

Twenty healthy, noncastrated, adult male cats had periodic (11 am to 12 am) or continuous (24 hours daily) access to food. With periodic feeding, cats ate less food, drank less water, and produced less urine than when food was available continuously. The composition of urine obtained by cystocentesis at 7:30 am, 3:30 pm, and 10 pm was influenced somewhat by feeding pattern.

Effect of hypocalcemia on motility of the ruminant stomach.

The sensitivity of ruminal and abomasal contractions to hypocalcemia was evaluated in sheep. Serum diffusible calcium concentrations were determined during induction of hypocalcemia (IV infusion of Na2EDTA) and recovery from hypocalcemia (no infusion). Contractile strength of the rumen gradually decreased as serum diffusible calcium concentrations decreased; significant correlation (r = 0.