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Home > Cat Newsletters > Cat Newsletter 12
Cat Newsletter 12
Cat’s Nutrition Proper nutrition is essential for good health and long life for every creature. The young cat is particularly susceptible to nutritional imbalances and feeding errors, and dietary habits established after weaning in many ways determine the future health status of a cat. Therefore the pet owners must be aware of the unique nutritional requirements found in the cat. Cats, despite thousands of years of domestication, remain strictly carnivorous. They are incapable of digesting and receiving nutrition from the majority of vegetable proteins. There are no and can be no vegetarian cats. Cats in the wild devour the whole of their prey: muscles, organs, viscera, bones, offal, skin, etc. In this manner, cats ingest not only the flesh and organs of their prey but also the partially and wholly digested vegetable foods the prey had eaten. The cat then is able to derive nutrition from various vegetable sources thanks to the prey's digestive processes. Particularly significant are the differences in nutritional requirements between dogs and cats, such as the higher requirement for protein and the greater tolerance for fat in cats when compared to dogs. There is no particular food that all cats like. This is why cat foods are available in a variety of flavors and textures. Once you find nutritionally complete and balanced cat food your cat enjoys, stay with it. Frequent diet changes may create a finicky eater and cause digestive upsets. What does your cat need from As your cat caretaker, you have to choose the right kind of food that promotes good health and helps prevent disease due to nutritional deficiencies. There are foods specially formulated for kittens, mature or pregnant cats, but all of them must include some important nutrients. Pick food that provides all nutrients for your cat, including: water, proteins (essential amino acids and nitrogen), essential fatty acids, minerals and vitamins. Cats have evolved to get their energy from proteins - they contain the building blocks called amino acids, which help the body rebuild tissue and perform important functions. The fats provide a good source of concentrated energy for your pet as well as unsaturated fatty acids, which are essential. The minerals are important for regulating functions of the body of the cats. Those are the macrominerals - calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and the microminerals – copper, manganese, iron, iodine. The vitamins are two groups: fat-soluble – vitamins A, D, E and K, and water-soluble - thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, folic acid, vitamin B6 and B12. Both groups regulate and promote several physiological processes in the body.
There are many different brands of cat foods on the market today, but all of them are available in three types: Dry Food Dry food contains about 6-10% moisture. It is the least expensive and being dry, have the advantage of an abrasive action, which helps to keep the teeth and gums clean and healthy. These foods have a long shelf and bowl life and the food may be left out at all times. Usually, cat food containing 34 to 38 percent protein and 19 to 22 percent fat provides a healthy balance. Soft - Moist Food Soft - moist food contains about 23 - 40% moisture. Some cat owners are attracted to its convenience and long shelf life, but it is more expensive than dry food. Be aware that most soft-moist foods contain an abundance of preservatives so labels should be read carefully. Canned Food Canned food contains about 68 - 70% moisture. Most cats find this type the tastiest, because it has about 70% water content. The disadvantages of this kind of foods are the high cost and the odor. Veterinarians don't recommend giving your pet only canned food because this type tends to stick more to your cats teeth making it more susceptible to dental problems later on. Feed your cat a small, measured amount of canned food twice a day, and leave her small amounts of dry food, because the most cats are snackers or nibblers and like to eat dry food throughout the day.
Cats don't need to have food available all day. Do not feed your cat more than the daily amount your vet has recommended -- no matter how much she asks. Break the daily ration down into two or three small meals, and that's it. Never feed a cat dog food. It simply doesn't have enough protein and essential amino acids to meet a cat's nutritional needs. Avoid feeding your cat a vegetarian diet for the same reason. Make sure not to overfeed your cat. Obesity contributes to disease and can lead to pre-mature aging and early death. Ask your veterinarian to help you determine the ideal body weight for your cat, and adjust your cat's diet to attain and maintain that weight according to your veterinarian's suggestions. You can try to make homemade food for your cat, but you must know that some foods must be avoided – do not feed your cat chocolate, alcohol, onions, pork (including bacon), raw fish, raw eggs or bones. Each of these has its own ill effects on cats. Feline fasting can be dangerous, and can even lead to serious liver problems. If your cat refuses to eat for more than two days, consult your veterinarian. Never put your cat's food near her litter box. In the wild, a cat eliminates far from where she eats. In your home, she will likely choose to eat her food from her dish and eliminate elsewhere, far from the litter box. Do not give your cat her hairball remedy around mealtimes. Many hairball remedies and treats contain mineral oil or petroleum jelly -- both of which will leach out the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K from the intestines. Reject foods that are made up solely of "by-product meal" or meat- and bonemeal. Meal is what is left after a product is cooked at extremely high temperatures, a procedure called rendering. Rendered products are cheap and highly processed. Limit the use of tuna because of the risks associated with the mercury levels in it. Advices about feeding your cat Feral cats, (i.e. cats that roam free in the wild), eat grass almost daily and most domesticated cats, if given the opportunity, will eat grass and certain plants. That’s why the cat owners can safely encourage this habit by providing sources of green vegetation. Milk is a food, not a drink (the only cat drink is water). This food will provide an excellent source of calcium and phosphorus needed for strong bones and teeth as well as many other vitamins and minerals. Unfortunately, a large percentage of cats lose the ability to digest milk, as they grow older. It is not uncommon for cats to tire of the same food every day. Provide variety in the form of different flavors and textures. Make changes to a pet's food gradually by mixing a bit of the new food in with the old over the course of three to five days. Feed your cat in a quiet area of the house, where she is unlikely to be disturbed. Cats feel vulnerable while they're eating and appreciate the peace and quiet. Cats naturally compete for food, and are uncomfortable eating in very close proximity to one another. Give each of your cats their own separate food bowl, and space them well apart at meal times. Get your cat some ceramic or stainless steel bowls. Plastic food and water dishes harbor bacteria, even after they have been washed. In addition, some cats develop allergies to plastic and can end up with pimples on their chin. An older cat will really appreciate it if you raise her food and water dishes off the floor a few inches. Many pet supply stores sell low racks for pet dishes. They make things much easier on your cat's neck and back. Observe your pet after you introduce new
foods. A change in coat, scratching, appetite, weight, mood, stools or
other areas could suggest a problem. Consult your veterinarian for dietary
recommendations. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
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