Zoo database

Cheetah

Acinonyx jubatus

Natural diet Cheetah

Cheetahs are considered to be the fastest land-based mammals. They are carnivorous predators that mainly prey on small to medium sized vertebrates such as impalas, springboks and young calves. After catching a prey, cheetahs never return to a kill and only eat fresh meat.

Vertebrates
Vertebrates

Feeding advice Cheetah

Feed quantity per day

5-10%

Sample percentage calculation

If an animal weighs 40 kg and eats 8% of its body weight, it will get
 
40 x 0.08 = 3.2 kg feed in total per day

Feed composition

99% Meat and whole prey
1% Supplements

Proportions (fresh product)

0.99 x 3.2 kg = 3,168 g meat and whole prey
0.01 x 3.2 kg = 32 g supplements

Diet Suggestions

Recommended

Variety of prey
Whole prey
Supplements

Not recommended

Common diseases

An unbalanced diet may result in one of these more commonly occurring diseases/conditions:

  • Ulnar metaphyseal osteochondrosis
  • Copper deficiency
  • Carpal valgus deformity
  • Secondary alimentary hyperparathyroidism

Additional advice

  • Divide the “Feed quantity per day” over at least one feeding moment per day.
  • Include at least one fasting day per week and slightly increase the diet portion on the day before.
  • The supplements should be given according to the appropriate dosage that is mentioned on the labelling.
  • To promote the oral health, it is important to offer the soft food first and then the hard food such as bones and skin.
  • During the winter period, it is recommended to feed an additional 10-20% of BW.
  • Stimulate foraging behaviour by hanging, stacking or hiding the feed. For instance by feeding large bones, frozen food or placement in food puzzles (read more about feed enrichment and foraging behaviour).