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[Red Diamond]

So in my fortress I have got some grazing animals, particularly cows.  If there was a siege, the animals would have to be brought in and would die of starvation.  I am also vaguely aware that if you put animals in cages, the dwarves will feed them and bring them water.  So can I put grazing animals in cages during a siege and keep them alive that way?

Also if I capture enemy mounts, can I sell them on to the caravan?

[PatrikLundell]

1. To some extent. Feeding caged animals is a somewhat low priority task though. It's possible that there might be a difference between built cages and stockpiled cages, though, although I haven't investigated it, but grazers bought from caravans tend to start to starve, while it was possible to raise elk birds by caging the female in a built cage once she reached the starving state in an earlier fortress.

2. No. You can't sell anything that's not tamed, and the mounts are still hostile.

[Red Diamond]

1. To some extent. Feeding caged animals is a somewhat low priority task though. It's possible that there might be a difference between built cages and stockpiled cages, though, although I haven't investigated it, but grazers bought from caravans tend to start to starve, while it was possible to raise elk birds by caging the female in a built cage once she reached the starving state in an earlier fortress.

That the job is low priority is not going to matter in a siege because folks are going to be sitting around doing nothing.  What job however controls the feeding of caged animals, is that Animal Care?

[PatrikLundell]

I think it's animal care, but can't swear on it.

[Bumber]

You could feed them cave moss if you dig them a large enough grazing area.

[Shonai_Dweller]

You could feed them cave moss if you dig them a large enough grazing area.

This. And it doesn't even have to be that large. The moment you hit the caves, edible moss starts spreading to your soil layers (even if you wall the caves up again). Then just build a room big enough for your cattle and they never have to see the cursed sun again.

[Jundavr]

Yes, Animal Care is the labor related to feeding caged grazers. Dwarves won't feed non-grazers (as they don't need feeding) nor animals in empty pastures, but they will feed animals in chains.

I enable the Animal Care on all my dwarves with the highest "Help somebody" need, so they feed the animals I deliberately keep caged and stay fulfilled.

[Red Diamond]

Pets need feeding and get fed by their owners even if they are not grazers.

[PatrikLundell]

Pets need feeding and get fed by their owners even if they are not grazers.

Can't be true. I castrate the male cats that adopt and use all adopting cats I have a need of for guard duty where they're locked into single tile dog boxes overlooking entrances. The excess females are atom smashed. I've yet to see any issue with the cats needing to be fed when locked up.

[Leonidas]

Pets need feeding and get fed by their owners even if they are not grazers.

Maybe you're thinking of wild animals getting fed during training. That's the only case I can think of where a non-grazer eats.