DIET
Much is said and written regarding nutrition. However, there are some guidelines.
When it comes to mammals, felines are the most specialized carnivores. Devouring plants has the function to induce vomiting so fur, swallowed during grooming, can be ejected. If this does not happen, severe health issues can arise. In no way do grains have a place on the menu of a cat and it is heavily undesired.
Kitekat, Whiskas, Sheba and so on, do not belong to the preferred fodder, but resemble what fast food is for humans. Tartar, kidney problems and allergies are some of the consequences that can arise with using the wrong food.
Many feed manufacturers offer different feed for different life phases and needs. Veterinarians can give a helping hand if the confusion gets too overwhelming. You can also contact us if you have questions regarding the issue. Simply use the contact form on our website to convey your inquiry.
Views differ when it comes to free feeders and feeding plans. Both are viable possibilities. If your cat tends to be overweight a feeding plan is required. The food does not have to be served at the same time every day but rather within the same time frame.
Basically, dry food is the same as wet food, it simply contains less water. Still, you need to consider that dry food is cheaper and the cat can not eat as much since it will swell up, on the other hand it should not be the only source of food, since this, again, could manifest in health issues with teeth and heart. One possibility would be to free-feed the cat with dry food but give the wet fool on a schedule. Another option would be to emphasize on dry food during the warmer months of the year and on wet food during the cooler part of the year to keep the development of unwanted odors at bay.
Raw meat is a definite possibility. You have to be very careful when choosing this method, especially when feeding poultry for the hollow bones can splinter and cause injuries. Please keep in mind, that even when you want to heat up the meat shortly before feeding it, to do so without adding any oil or fat.
Leftovers and scraps definitely should not be part of the food plan. A cat’s body, especially the kidneys, can easily be damaged by spices and sugar. Cold cuts, sausages, cookies and so on are unsuitable for cats. For additional information on sugar, read under senses.
Some manufacturers of high quality cat food are Animonda, Hills and Eukanuba. Cats do not need a vast variety of tastes. To them, even the slightest change can mean a total change of diet, whether you change the manufacturer for what reason soever, or if you simply want to change the taste even when it comes from the same manufacturer. In that case the whole digestion and body have to adapt to the change. Thus, it is quite complicated to simply change the taste of the food to give your cat a treat.
Cats should not drink milk. Other than promoted in movies and on TV, it is not good for your cat. instead, they should always have access to fresh water which should be changed at least once a day and if some is left from the day before it should be discarded.
Do not be too stingy when it comes to treats as long as your little angel did something to deserve it. GimCat and Dreamies are quite good choices. However, you should not hand out treats just for sleeping and breathing, either.
First signs of a cat having problems with the diet are a loss of their fur’s natural shine and when the fur starts to smell unpleasantly. When the stool starts to give off a sour smell, it is highly likely that your cat has problems with parasites or an imbalance of necessary bacteria in their colon. In that case you should see your vet. These problems are fast and easily dealt with but if not treated properly they can lead to serious health issues.
Most veterinarians like to help, some just halfhearted, but nutrition counseling is indeed not part of the veterinarians’ field of activity.
Viele Tierärzte helfen gerne, manche nur halbherzig, doch Ernährungsberatung für Tiere gehört tatsächlich nicht zum Tätigkeitsbereich von Tierärzten. Dr. med. vet. Stefanie Handl and her colleagues from and at the University of Veterinary Medicine of Vienna have committed themselves to this issue and can provide very specific assistance in that regard.