Recorded live at IPPE (International Production & Processing Expo), this episode of Real Science Exchange – Companion Animal features Dr. Pauline Kosmal, a Postdoctoral Fellow in Comparative Animal Nutrition and Physiology at the University of Guelph, sharing insights from her Pet Food Conference presentation, "Effects of Diet on Hydration in Healthy Cats," alongside Dr. Anna Kate Shoveller, Professor and Champion Petfoods Chair at the University of Guelph, and Dr. Katie Barry, Global Quality and Nutrition Manager at International Ingredient Corporation.
The conversation opens with Dr. Kosmal's unconventional path into feline science, tracing back to her PhD research on eastern cottontail rabbits in wildlife rehabilitation. She explains how those early studies in rabbit behavior and welfare still shape the way she designs and interprets her current feline hydration research today (1:09 – 6:01).
From there, the discussion turns to why cat hydration remains such a persistently tricky problem for owners and researchers alike. Dr. Kosmal unpacks the science behind feline water intake, why optimal hydration levels for cats have remained poorly defined for years, and how biomarkers like urine specific gravity help assess hydration status and flag risk for conditions such as feline lower urinary tract disease (8:28 – 14:29).
A common assumption among cat owners is that water fountains are the secret to better hydration — but does the science actually support that? Dr. Kosmal separates myth from fact, walking through her research comparing static bowls to flowing fountains and revealing which factors, like diet format, protein content, and water viscosity, actually move the needle on total water intake (11:57 – 17:31).
Building on that, the conversation shifts to formulating a better drink for cats — covering the ingredients and best practices that reliably increase water intake and support hydration, from nutrient-enriched water to treats supplemented with amino acids, osmolytes, and sodium (17:31 – 22:28).
The discussion then broadens into a topic familiar to pet owners and veterinarians alike: should you rotate your pet's food? Dr. Kosmal discusses the current state of the science on how diet rotation affects the gut microbiome in dogs and cats, and whether variety helps or hurts digestive health (23:28 – 30:57).
Finally, the episode wraps with a look at intermittent fasting for pets — a wellness trend borrowed from human health circles. Dr. Kosmal weighs in on whether restricted feeding windows offer real, evidence-based benefits for companion animals, giving listeners a clear scientific perspective before trying it with their own pets (30:57 – 34:24).
To close things out, the conversation turns to Pauline's future research aspirations. Reflecting on where her career might head next, Dr. Kosmal describes herself as a true comparative animal nutritionist — someone who doesn't have to choose between her wildlife background and her work in companion animal science but can bring both together under one umbrella. She shares her continued interest in hydration research, her earlier work on dietary polyphenols (which first connected her with Dr. Anna Kate Shoveller), and her broader curiosity about the species differences that exist across wildlife and domestic animals, and why those differences occur in the first place (38:59 – 40:10).
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