Mary Allen
How can I feed my cat species-appropriate and healthy? We present the best tips for a species-appropriate and healthy diet for velvet paws.
When it comes to cat food, follow natural eating habits
A cat that would have to fend for itself would eat one thing above all else: meat. Surely every cat owner has caught the cat with a mouse in its mouth at some point. There is a reason for this: This “meal” provides the kitten with roughage, trace elements, and vitamins all in one.
Since domestic cats, on the other hand, cannot simply catch their mouse, they are dependent on species-appropriate supplementary feeding from humans. In concrete terms, this means that the four-legged friends prefer meaty food because they can use and digest it optimally. Nevertheless, one should not rely exclusively on a meat-based diet. Because a one-sided diet favors deficiency symptoms in the house tiger.
It’s all in the mixture – as long as the feed is of high quality
There are also a number of nutritional errors that circulate in cats, which many owners still believe to this day. This also means that the diet of the velvet paws should be as varied as possible. In principle, it is true that animals are just as happy about a balanced diet as we are. Nevertheless, the available feed should primarily be healthy and of high quality.
In principle, cat owners are free to choose between wet, dry, and fresh food. Canned wet food and dried pellets are ready-to-eat foods that are long-lasting and convenient to feed. Cat owners do not necessarily have to commit to a specific type of feed. It is also legitimate to offer a varied mixed feeding made from quality components. The most important thing here is the quality. The feed should be free of harmful fillers and additives that make the cat ill in the long term.
Tip: In the long run, preparing the cat food yourself is even better than ready-made food. However, it depends on balanced and wholesome ingredients. If you are unsure what your pet needs to live, you need to acquire the knowledge. If in doubt, your veterinarian will also know which ingredients are good for the house cat and which are not.
Raw feeding, BARF for cats, is now also a popular form of nutrition. Adapted to the natural diet, cats get fewer allergies and digestive problems thanks to BARF. In addition, raw food naturally cleans the teeth and is considered to be healthier compared to ready-made food. It is important when feeding BARF only suitable types of meat such as poultry, beef, sheep, or game. Pork, mussels and sea fish, and egg are not recommended for raw feeding.
Provide solid meals with sufficient liquid
One of the biggest mistakes when feeding furry friends is overfilling the bowl. Instead, focus on two to three solid meals a day.
Since your cat is a creature of habit and loves routine, it will thank you. It is not necessary to feed the cat “to the minute”. However, you should try to stick to fixed times. It is a good idea, for example, to feed the kitty after getting up, after work, and before going to bed.
In addition, care should be taken to ensure adequate fluid intake. The velvet paw already covers most of it with its food. Therefore, wet food should always consist of at least 70 percent water. Dry food, on the other hand, requires extra water, so a liquid bowl or drinking fountain should always be available.
Find the right food for young, pregnant, and sick animals
Certain cats should be given a customized diet. If you take care of sick, pregnant, or very young animals, a consultation with the veterinarian is necessary. He will advise you on the feed that is ideal at the given time. You can also refer to the following information:
Young cats need food up to six times a day. From the age of three to four weeks, you can slowly feed the young animals with some canned food. It is also important that the mother receives unrestricted energy-rich feed. As soon as the young cat is older than seven weeks, it should only be given solid food.
Pregnant cats need a lot of calories and protein. Therefore, they should be fed about 50 percent more food throughout the day than before. Complete food for kittens is best suited for this.
Sick cats often change their eating habits. Depending on the type and severity of the disease, kittens may stop eating altogether. Here it is helpful to warm up your favorite food. Warm mashed food exudes a more intense aroma, which helps many cats regain their appetite.
In particularly severe cases, force-feeding may be necessary. The house tiger is supplied with pureed food for as long as necessary. On the other hand, if a sick cat suffers from diarrhea or other digestive problems, a bland diet can be the remedy of choice. To do this, simply prepare some chicken with carrots for your furry friend.
Properly care for outdoor cats
Releasers are in a category of their own. But as predators, they also need the right nutrition. It is not uncommon for stray cats to go hunting again on their own right after feeding. Hunting and eating are independent of each other in cats. Therefore, if you have an outdoor cat in the house, you should always ensure a basic supply of feed.
Outdoor cats should also be given enough to drink to keep their kidneys healthy. So you shouldn’t be surprised if the outdoor cat prefers to drink from “unappetizing” water sources such as watering cans or puddles. It can also happen that outdoor cats refuse water from common household bowls because there are residues of cleaning agents in them. Then it helps to regularly clean the bowl with vinegar or other neutral cleaning agents.