BackgroundAlternative feeding practices have become increasingly popular among companion
animal owners. We sought to identify possible factors behind the choice of alternative
feeding types.MethodsA cross-sectional study was performed with Hungarian pet owners.
Descriptive data analysis and logistic regression models were undertaken to determine
factors that may increase the likelihood of adopting alternative feeding practices.ResultsIn
total, 1007 pet owners completed the questionnaire, of which 789 were dog owners and
218 were cat owners. The type of settlement was identified as a possible factor influencing
the choice of application of alternative feeding patterns for dogs and cats. In the
case of dogs, the owner's diet variable showed significantly increased odds of choosing
an alternative feeding pattern where the owner followed an alternative diet. For cats,
the owner's diet did not have a significant effect on choosing alternative feeding
practices for these pets.ConclusionsOwners who followed an alternative diet were more
likely to choose an alternative feeding pattern for their dogs but not for their cats.
Further study is required to identify additional factors that may influence the owners'
choice of feeding practices and to more widely investigate the feeding habits of cat
owners.
