Does your cat a healthy diet?
They say we are what we eat. This applies to your pet as much as it applies to itself. A good diet means less health problems, fewer trips to the vet and reduce vet bills. But how long you've been thinking that your cat should eat to maintain optimal health? Ask yourself the following questions.
1) How many times a day gives your cat?
Since cats can not be exercised, as dogs can the only way they can influence your cats weight is controlling the amount and type of food you eat. If the cat is being fed individual meals several times a day, there is often a tendency by the owner to provide the daily supply of food on several occasions rather than dividing the daily diet in various foods. This can also occur with cats fed dry food ad lib. Cats usually regulate their food intake, but continued exposure to large quantities of food can lead to eating excess and subsequent obesity if consumed too many calories. In short, both individual more meals a day and ad lib feeding are fine, is the amount total offered by 24-hour period is an important figure.
Kittens should be fed small meals at regular intervals, because their stomachs small. Four or five meals are recommended at eight weeks of age, decreasing to two to six months.
2) Is the cats diet manufactured specifically to give you a cat or human food?
Some cat owners like to spoil your cat for the human food supply as the bulk of its diet. Others have tried to feed your cat regular Catfood, but are finicky cat do not touch it, preferring to wait for the inevitable human food supply, which soon becomes the main food.
Is it really healthy to feed cats human food, though? Of course, it depends what food. Remember that cats are carnivores and require a high proportion of meat in their diet. They simply can not adapt to a low protein diet and lose weight if they are deprived of it. In fact, as a species are relatively unique … a deficiency in amino acids, arginine, in a single meal can lead to symptoms of lethargy, excessive salivation and vocalization. Arginine is required for the cat to produce urea, a waste product from the decomposition of proteins.
Another nutrient essential for a cat is the amino acid taurine, which the cat can not make enough on its own to meet their needs. The cat's diet should indicate taurine in sufficient quantities. If a deficiency develops there is a high risk of serious and irreversible damage to major organs like the heart and eye. Taurine is found almost entirely in meat, confirming the fact that the cat is an obligatory carnivore.
Another disease of nutritional origin is that caused by cats eating raw liver regularly who may suffer from a condition called hypervitaminosis A. Cats suffering from this can present with symptoms of lethargy, unthriftiness, neck stiffness and other problems bone. To play it safe, do not feed your cat liver more than once a week.
Reputable cat foods are formulated after extensive testing by pet food companies to provide the mixture of proteins, carbohydrates and fats that suits feline physiology best. It is easier, cheaper and possibly more healthy for your cat to be fed a cat food diet of good reputation, special occasions, if desired (tuna, liver etc).
3) What is better than dry cat food or wet cat food?
Most vets recommend complete dry biscuit based cat food. This is because studies have shown that cats on dry food diets are less likely to suffer from dental disease that wet food or a can a bag. The physical movement of biting these biscuits helps prevent plaque to stick to the tooth surface. However, even without teeth can eat cat food based cookies with no problem, since only collect the cookies with his tongue and swallowed whole. Another advantage of dry food is not spoiling as quickly which is useful for cats that are fed ad lib.
There are reasons why occasionally moist food is preferred as a method increase consumption of water in a cat with a urinary problem such as cystitis.
4) What is the best cat food to choose?
There are so many food brands Cat in the market, is basically just a matter of opinion. Certainly palatability is a factor, there is no point in buying a particular food if your cat can not stand it, but sometimes this is a must in cats requiring prescription diets. Rather than recommend a specific brand, we recommend choose one that adheres to the following criteria.
Cat foods labeled as complete and balanced must meet standards established by the American Association Officers Food Control (AAFCO) either by meeting a nutrient profile or by passing a feeding trial. There are now two separate nutrient profiles for cats – One for growth (kittens) and one for maintenance (adults). Maximum levels of intake of some nutrients have been established for the first time due to concerns that overeating, rather than malnutrition, is a bigger problem with many pet foods today. The standards include recommendations on protein, fat soluble vitamins, water soluble vitamins, and mineral content of food. If you are ready to get technical, you should choose a food that comes closest to AAFCO recommendations.
In short, consider the following points:
Choose a food that suits their cats of age. Most major pet food companies have different food for adult cats vs. Cats with medical problems may recommend special diets limitation.
Choose a food that come closest to AAFCO recommendations.
The ingredients contains the truth about a particular food. Everything else is there only for marketing purposes.
There are legal and scientific definitions of the terms "premium", "super premium "," quality "or" natural. "
Use the dry matter numbers to evaluate and compare the food.
The source of ingredients (eg plant versus animal) is not important, except in the case of food allergies.
Avoid supplements. All meals commercial cats have more than enough protein, fats, vitamins and minerals. Feeding your cat a good food incorrectly can lead to significant problems.
5) My cat is overweight, but no matter how hard I try I can not make you lose weight. What I can do?
Your cat is almost certainly feed in excess. Below are listed some common mistakes. Have a good look at these and none of them sure could be applied to your cat.
Failure to follow the guidelines on the package when serving sizes. Most cat foods have a table on the packaging suggesting daily portions for cats of different weights. Weight food for 24 hours is suggested, not by! Use your kitchen scales to measure the portion until you are sure the correct amount.
Using a diet dry complete as a replacement for regular biscuits and mix with wet cat food. If it says complete, should not be mixed with anything or who overfeed.
Offering inappropriate food high in fat or cream / full fat milk to drink.
Several family members feed the cat at different times whenever the cat is meowing for food.
Give the cat is usually in addition to your main meal.
The cat is being fed by neighbors, who think they are being kind by feeding him and getting the attention given to them.
The cat is scavenging food from sources external, such as containers of other peoples.
The cat is part of a multi-cat household and is stealing the cat food (s), or even the dog.
Keep an open mind. If there is a possibility that any of the above scenarios might be the case with your cat, we will investigate. If you have a loss, consider starting a prescription diet (see below).
6) I heard that you can get a special diet to light, or prescription diets for big fish. Do they really work?
Yes they do, if used correctly. These types of cat food are available in full wet (canned or pouches) form or dry (biscuit) form, and are growing in popularity amongst conscientious pet owners. They are low in calories and high in fiber, and often contain high levels of L-carnitine. L-carnitine has been used to help with fat metabolism in other species and recent scientific studies indicate it helps reduce weight in dogs and cats are overweight. The real benefit of these low-calorie diets however, is that because of its low calories, cats can still eat reasonable portions for what you feel full. This means they are more content and less likely to beg and look for extra food.
These diets are perfectly healthy for normal sized cats to eat as well, so if you have a multiple cat household and is not feasible to separate the cats during lunchtime, which certainly can be fed Cats all prescription diet together.
7) Where I can buy this food low in calories?
Many food companies for pets are becoming the largest to the problem of pet obesity, and adding light versions of its offer. However, it is unlikely to be as effective as the prescription of traditional diets that are on the market.
They are known as prescription diets because they are a specialist food normally prescribed by a veterinarian. However, you do not need a prescription to buy food because it is a general sales product list. These foods are rarely available supermarkets such as supermarkets, many are keen to sell their own brand, or have agreements with food manufacturers to large domestic animals. Many owners but the diet prescribed by your veterinary clinic for your convenience, while others prefer to shop around for the best price. Many pharmacies and pet stores Online are now offering these prescription foods, but at the same time it may appear cheaper online, watch adds shipping charges in the top.
About the Author
Dr Matthew Homfray is one of the veterinary pet experts at www.WhyDoesMyPet.com. Our dedicated community of caring pet experts are waiting to offer you advice, second opinions and support.
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