Mary Allen
Many consider cat nutrition complicated. But is she really? We reveal the 8 most common mistakes.
Raw is unhealthy
This rumor is disproved particularly quickly because after all, cats in the wild also eat raw meat. It is therefore perfectly fine if you also offer your mini tiger uncooked food. It goes without saying that this must always be absolutely fresh.
However, you should never give raw pork because it can transmit the Aujeszky virus, which is the trigger for the life-threatening Aujeszky’s disease.
Cats regulate the distribution of food among themselves
You should absolutely not rely on this. The hierarchy in a group of cats also plays an important role when it comes to eating. Therefore, make sure that the lowest-ranking animal gets enough food.
If there is no point in standing by to check on the feeding – for example, because the high-ranking animals are defending this area against the other animals – you should give the lowest-ranking animals their food separately.
All cats are picky about food
It is true that cats are usually more complicated when it comes to eating than e.g. B. Dogs. But nitpicking is often acquired. If you want to serve your pet different types of food, start as early as possible. If the animal is used to the fact that the menu changes from an early age, the cat will be less likely to cause you problems later.
The required amount of feed can be easily calculated
How much your velvet paw should end up in the bowl every day depends on many factors. Size is just one of them. Age, activity level and gender (neutered or not?) also determine how high your cat’s basic needs are.
You can read more about the advantages and disadvantages of neutering your cat here.
Basically, larger, young, more active, and unneutered cats need more food than neutered cats, old animals, or those that are only kept indoors. If you are unsure how much food your pet really needs, ask your veterinarian. He can also advise you on whether your pet should be fed special food (e.g. for seniors) and also how often the cat should be fed.
Cat food should be stored in the refrigerator
There is absolutely nothing wrong with keeping it in the fridge. However, before you serve your fur ball its food, you should warm it up to room temperature. If the food is too cold, the stomach lining can be irritated, which often leads to vomiting.
It doesn’t matter where the bowl is.
Nobody likes to eat in places that are noisy or where there is a lot of commotion. It’s no different with cats. Therefore, place your velvet paw’s bowl in a place where it can eat in peace.
However, keep in mind that this should not be in close proximity to the loo. In this respect, too, our velvet paws are very similar to us: They too can imagine nicer things than looking at your toilet while eating.
Dairy products are absolutely taboo
Cats generally do not tolerate lactose. Similar to humans, many animals suffer from severe flatulence and diarrhea after consuming milk.
When it comes to dairy products, some animals are less sensitive. So there is nothing wrong with a small spoonful of quark, yogurt, or cream cheese a day.
If you want to feed dairy products, try small portions and see how your little four-legged friend reacts. If everything is well tolerated, nothing stands in the way of feasting.
In a pinch, dog food will do, too
If you have a dog in the house in addition to your velvet paw, it can happen that the food supplies for the kitty are gone, while there is still plenty for the wagging tail. However, the dog food should not end up in the cat’s bowl.
For a healthy diet, cats absolutely need essential amino acids such as taurine, amino acids such as arginine as well as fatty acids, vitamin A and niacin.
There aren’t any or not enough of these substances in dog food, so your cat is missing vital ingredients. If you get too little taurine for a long time, it can even lead to blindness or serious heart disease. (Read more about the importance of taurine here: Why is taurine important for cats?)
Instead of going to the pantry, you should definitely go to the store and stock up on cat food supplies.