Mary Allen
Not all cats are created equal. Animals that are mainly indoors have different requirements than fur-noses who spend a lot of time outdoors. Add to that the age and breed of the cat, and things can get complicated. The food for outdoor cats, for example, should be tailored entirely to their needs.
Life Outdoors
Regardless of whether your cat only explores the garden for a few hours a day or spends most of the time outside: Cats that roam free are exposed to a variety of influences.
Wind and weather, cold, and heat can affect a fur nose. Outdoor cats also have contact with other animals, so they have to have strong defenses in order to be able to fight off infectious diseases. The body usually repairs any injuries itself. Nevertheless, he needs the right building blocks for this.
And last but not least, cats cover several kilometers a day. You, therefore, have a correspondingly high energy requirement! Because free-range cats are active all day long and need food with a high energy density that keeps up with them.
What Ingredients Should Food for Outdoor Cats Contain?
The ideal food for outdoor cats must meet all of these requirements. Fortunately, the trade now offers many special foods that are precisely tailored to the needs of active free-range cats.
These contain a lot of protein to maintain muscle mass. Protein is the main source of energy for cats as carnivores. A lot of healthy meat should therefore be at the top of the list of feed ingredients!
A balanced content of vitamins and minerals is important for the health of every cat – but especially for dogs who are exposed to a high risk of infection. Vitamins and antioxidants can support your cat’s defenses as well as prebiotic additives.
Many outdoor cat foods also contain vitamin B for a healthy coat. Additives that support the tooth and joint health are also popular. Taurine should also always be added to the feed. As an essential amino acid, the cat cannot produce it itself from food components.
Recognize Good Food for Outdoor Cats
The mouse, the cat’s natural prey animal, consists primarily of meat and only around five percent of plant-based components that are (already digested) in the prey’s gastrointestinal tract.
Analytically it consists of 50 to 60 percent protein, 20 to 30 percent fat, and three to eight percent carbohydrates. As a result, it has a high protein content, moderate fat content, and few carbohydrates. The mouse should be the model of a species-appropriate food for outdoor cats.
How Do I Recognize High-Quality Food for Outdoor Cats?
The ingredients of the feed must always be listed on the feed packaging in descending order. Protein should therefore come first. This should be a source of protein of animal origin. Because cats can only utilize vegetable proteins to a limited extent. This is followed by ever smaller amounts of fat, carbohydrates, and minerals.
It has not yet been fully clarified whether flavor enhancers and preservatives are really harmful. If you still want to do without it as much as possible, it is best to use wet food. Due to the preservation in cans, there are usually few or no preservatives.
But sugar definitely does not belong in cat food! Even if cats aren’t prone to tooth decay, they put stress on the kidneys and can lead to diabetes in the long term. In addition, since cats cannot taste “sweet” at all, adding sugar to cat food is pointless anyway.
Raw Feeding and Home-cooked Food for Outdoor Cats
Perhaps you are one of those people who prefer to prepare the food for your outdoor cat yourself? The “barf” of cats (biologically appropriate raw feeding) is becoming more and more fashionable.
The cat receives muscle meat and offal from selected animal species. Depending on the philosophy, these are mixed with artificial supplements or specifically supplemented with natural additives. Even with a home-cooked meal, the cat owner knows exactly which ingredients are contained in the food and which are not.
This is particularly useful for allergic and sensitive animals. Nonetheless, home-cooked and raw meals should be prepared with attention to detail and knowledge of the cat’s nutritional requirements. Thorough reading and coordination with the vet are a must here!
What Water Requirements Do Outdoor Cats Have?
And not only the selection of the right food for your outdoor cat is important for a species-appropriate diet. According to their ancestry, house cats are “desert animals”. They absorb a large part of the moisture they need through their food and therefore have little need to go to the water bowl.
When feeding dry food in particular, however, the problem arises that the cat does not take in enough water. Because dry food only consists of a maximum of eight percent water, moist food has a moisture content of up to 80 percent.
Encourage Cats to Drink
The cat should drink an average of 45 milliliters of water per kilogram of body weight. A cat weighing 5 kilograms, therefore, has a water requirement of around 225 milliliters. So make sure that your cat drinks enough and motivate your furry friend to take up water!
Many cats prefer running water. Therefore, drinking fountains are an easy way to encourage your cat’s water intake.
Provide your cat with several drinking bowls. Ideally, you can distribute these over the whole apartment. Outdoor cats also have the option of providing fresh water outside.
As you can see: it is not that difficult to feed your outdoor cat appropriately! Enjoy your meal!