Game Hunter And Carnivore

A RUFUS Reading Room Article - 1,325 words

The Evolution of Canines and Felines From Their Carnivore Ancestors

The evolution of modern dogs from wolves, and today’s cats from African and European wildcat species, is a fascinating journey that blends genetic, archaeological, and behavioral evidence. Here's a concise overview:

Modern Dogs

Dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) are directly descended from wolves (Canis lupus). Wolves, as part of the Canidae family, have a long history traceable back to the Miacis, a small, civet-like mammal that lived around 50 million years ago.

Genetic studies suggest that the divergence between dogs and wolves occurred around 20,000 to 40,000 years ago. However, there's ongoing debate and research, with some evidence suggesting domestication might have started even earlier.

However, modern dogs, from Teacup Chihuahua to Irish Wolf Hound, all trace their ancestry back to the Wolf.  Wolves have and still do hunt game animals.  It’s simply who they are.  And those ancient genes are still floating around in your lovable goofy BFF.

Modern Cats

Similarly, modern cats have a common carnivore ancestor.  The actual lineage of cats goes back as far as 30 million years ago, but around 10 million years ago, that ancestral lineage split into what we now refer to as “small cats” and “large cats.”

Your sometimes grumpy, aloof, condescending feline BFF has its more recent ancestry traced to African and European wildcats, with domestication starting to occur around 9,000 years ago.  But cats have always been carnivores - from 10 million years ago to now (we know that cats get set in their ways!).

It goes without saying that there were no corner pet food markets or online pet food stores thousands of years ago, so your BFFs' ancestors had to get out there and find their own food. 

Often that food was not willing to be food, either putting up a fight or trying to escape as fast as possible. So for wolves and wildcats, stalking, hunting and pursuing of game was the essence of survival.  Observing your cat as it stalks a bird or a a bird dog motionlessly eyeing a pheasant is clear evidence of the natural game hunter still ingrained in their genes.

Compelling Carnivore Evidence:  Dogs’ Teeth / Jaw Shape and Amylase

  • Classically, herbivores have flat back teeth to grind plants down into a ‘slush’ before ingesting. Many omnivores, such as humans also have flat rear teeth. Dogs, as do all classic carnivores, have no flat grinding teeth. Dog’s teeth are all sharp and are used for grabbing and tearing meat and hide of animals, they are not suitable for grinding vegetables (which is required to assist access to the plant proteins).
  • Dogs do not chew side to side like cows, dogs jaws are only able to move up and down in a chopping movement. This is so that when they capture a live animal their heavy skull and rigid jaw maximize the chance of making a kill.
  • Another major case of dogs being carnivores is the location of the amylase enzyme in their body. Omnivores and herbivores both have salivary amylase, carnivores don’t.  Amalyse is an enzyme used by plant eaters to initiate breaking down starchy carbohydrates before they reach the stomach. While carnivores produce amylase, they only do so in the small intestine, which means that carnivores’ bodies must work overtime to digest and use nutrients in carbohydrates. This also causes a dog’s pancreas to work overtime to create much higher levels of amylase to deal with starch, cellulose and carbohydrates of plant matter.

The Teeth Of Cats And Their Jaw Structure Also Are Constructed For Eating Meat.

  • Incisors: Cats have small, sharp incisors at the front of their mouth. These teeth are primarily used for grooming and nibbling, but they can also help in the initial tearing of small bites from prey.
  • Canines: The most prominent teeth in a cat's mouth are canines. These are long, sharp, and ideal for grasping prey, puncturing skin, and holding onto it. The sharp, pointed shape allows for efficient penetration into flesh, which is crucial for a carnivore.
  • Premolars and Molars: Unlike herbivores or omnivores, which have flat molars for grinding, cats have premolars and molars that are serrated and sharp. Known as carnassial teeth, these are specialized for shearing and slicing flesh rather than grinding. The upper premolars and lower molars work together like scissors to cut through muscle and sinew.
  • Jaw Shape and Musculature
Jaw Structure: The cat's jaw is relatively short and robust with a hinge-like joint that allows for significant vertical movement but limited side-to-side movement. This structure is optimized for the up-and-down cutting motion required to slice through meat and bone rather than the side-to-side grinding motion seen in herbivores.
Muscle Strength: Cats have powerful jaw muscles, particularly the temporalis and masseter muscles, which provide the strength needed for biting down with force. This muscular strength is essential for delivering the fatal bite to prey and for breaking through bone to access the nutrient-rich marrow.
As With Dogs, Cats Do Not Have Salivary Amylase. As mentioned above, omnivores and herbivores both have salivary amylase, but carnivores don’t.  Amalyse is an enzyme used by plant eaters to initiate breaking down starchy carbohydrates before they reach the stomach. While carnivores produce amylase, they only do so in the small intestine, which means that carnivores’ bodies must work overtime to digest and use nutrients in carbohydrates. 
    • Cats Are Obligate Carnivores: Obligate carnivores, sometimes called "true carnivores," are animals that rely entirely on a diet of animal flesh to meet nutritional requirements.  True carnivores lack the physiological adaptations necessary to effectively digest plant material as a primary food source. This means their bodies are specifically adapted to thrive on a diet rich in proteins and fats from animal tissues, with little to no nutritional need for or ability to process significant amounts of vegetation. You can see this in practice when you see your cat sometimes eating  grass for the sole purpose of throwing up - grass being an emetic, which is a food that upsets their stomachs, to self-induce vomiting.

      Of course, a comprehensive discourse of this topic of carnivorous behavior and evolution would be book-length.  This discussion is meant to be only a general overview so that you can more fully discern what the balance of your BFF’s diet is.

      Is there any downside to including plant matter in your dog’s or cat’s diet?  The consensus answer is “no” – unless there is a specific allergy to that plant matter present.  As domesticated dogs and cats have evolved over thousands of years, they have become more tolerant to omnivorous behavior and plant matter in their diet; but, even with that slow evolution of tolerance, their digestive systems (from teeth to enzymes) are optimized for eating meat.

      Finally, Why RUFUS BFF Beast Treats ?

      As referenced, above, unless there are allergies or other digestive problems specific to your dog or cat, it is rare that grains, vegetables, fruits etc. are problematic for feeding. Consequently, the marketplace has an incredible array of foods and treats for your besties, some all meat, some with meat and plant matter.

      If you wonder why pet food manufacturers provide so much carbohydrate in pet food, all you need to do is compare the price per pound/kilo of rice, corn or any other bulk grain to that of any meat.  The economics of this issue is discussed in the RUFUS' READING ROOM article, "Cost and Quality: How To Interpret"

      RUFUS BFF’s Approach Is To Offer You A Selection of Meat Treats With Only A SINGLE INGREDIENT, and that is what the ingredient list states.  If, for example, you buy our Rabbit Snackers Beast Treats, rabbit is the only ingredient. Nothing else. There are no fillers, grains, salt, sugar chemicals, hormones, antibiotics or preservatives. We do not compromise on quality, safety and purity. 

      Your BFF is going to love RUFUS BFF Beast Treats !