Question

Which animal must eat a larger proportion of its weight in food each day: a house cat or an African lion caged in a zoo? Explain.

Short answer

A house cat eats a more significant proportion of food each day as per its body weight because the metabolic rate of the small animals would be higher, and so its demand for food.

Step-by-step solution

Metabolism

The process that involves interaction between body chemicals such as breathing, digestion, and functioning of the body organ system is called metabolism. The method of metabolism requires energy, and it is provided by glucose and oxygen.

Basal metabolic rate 

The rate of energy expenditure per unit by any animal at its rest stage is called the basal metabolic rate. An individual at rest processes functions such as breathing, circulation, regulation of body temperature, and cell growth.

These body processes require energy. Metabolic rate influences the rate of burning of calories, the gaining and losing of weight.

Relationship between metabolic rate and body mass

The basal metabolic rate is higher per unit body mass in animals with less body mass than larger ones. The higher metabolic rate of small animals requires more oxygen supply to tissues around the body.

Therefore, the house cat would consume a larger proportion of food each day in terms of its body weight when compared with an African lion.