12 types of cat food
The appearance of a cat in the house is accompanied by a number of questions regarding care and upbringing. Each owner takes care of the health of his animal, surrounding him with care: he monitors hygiene, arranges a comfortable place to sleep and rest, and makes up a diet of healthy products.
A complete and balanced diet is the key to a cat’s health. Includes:
- Protein or protein
- Vegetable and animal fats
- Carbohydrates
- Vitamins and minerals
Homemade cat food
Making dry pet food at home is a labor-intensive process. It is important to understand that it is inferior in quality to products of popular brands. Homemade food is an indispensable way to organize the nutrition of an animal with natural products for two to three months.
This method of feeding is indispensable if the owners leave for a week, and the cat is left to friends or neighbors. So they guarantee good nutrition for the pet even while the owners are absent.
Homemade dry food will keep for up to three months. You can cook food ahead of time.
Dry cat food
Ready-made types are practical to use: saving time on cooking natural food, they are stored for up to six months, and cats are not indifferent to them. Present on the market: economy class, premium class and holistic.
Industrial nutrition contains a complex of nutrients necessary for the growth and normal functioning of the body. This product is designed for daily use.
To make the right decision about which type of food to prefer, you should familiarize yourself with the characteristics and types of ready-made treats.
Economy class cat food
Ingredients for inexpensive pet food:
- soy protein
- Waste from meat enterprises
- Starch
- Cellulose
- Vitamins and minerals do not exceed 5%
- Dyes
- Flavors
- Flavoring additives
- preservatives
Meat content – 6%. The purpose of the use is one – to satisfy the feeling of hunger. If you have to feed with such a product, supplement the diet with natural healthy foods: meat, porridge, dairy products.
The only plus of economy class products is low cost. An animal that regularly receives a similar composition in food can acquire a number of serious diseases of the stomach, liver and kidneys with age.
Premium cat food
It is divided into premium and super premium class. In the premium class, the content of animal protein is higher than in the economy class. Less second-class raw materials: soy, cereals, flavorings. The amount of vitamins and minerals is higher.
Such food meets the needs of the animal, but the meat content in such products does not exceed 20%, which is less than the physiological norm. The price of products is higher than that of the economy class, but it is spent more economically due to the high assimilation by the body.
Manufacturers of premium products develop types of nutrition for their intended purpose:
- For pregnant and lactating.
- Kittens and seniors.
- Those suffering from diseases of the digestive system or the genitourinary system, prone to allergic reactions.
There is no vegetable protein in the super premium products, and the meat content is close to 50%. The amount of cereals and soybeans is less than a third of the number of components.
Enriched with vitamins and microelements in full, so when feeding this species there is no need for supplements. The composition contains not only meat and cereals, but also vegetables and fruits.
Absorbed by the body, a much smaller amount of food is needed to saturate. Super premium class food is divided by purpose, breed and physical data.
The use of high-quality raw materials increases the cost of production, which is not affordable for all pet owners.
Cat food holistic class
Environmentally friendly products, the ingredients of which are thoroughly tested for the presence of hormones, antibiotics, preservatives, dyes.
The raw materials of the highest quality are used, which directly affects the price and prevalence on sale, making it inaccessible to the average consumer.
In addition to the listed classes, cat food is divided into types and subspecies according to its purpose, the ability to influence the prevention and recovery process from diseases, for cats with additional needs due to a special physiological state.
In pet stores and veterinary pharmacies you can buy food for animals:
- allergy sufferers,
- diseases of the stomach and gastrointestinal tract,
- constipation
- problems with hair, teeth,
- pregnant and lactating,
- prone to obesity
- as well as cats that lead an exclusively domestic lifestyle, underwent surgery and castrated.
If your pet suffers from any of the above, you will need to pay more attention and time, involve specialists in the process of selecting a suitable diet and products in it.
Hypoallergenic cat food
Animals, like people, are prone to allergies. There are reactions of the body allergic to foods with a high content of foreign protein – milk, chicken meat and eggs, cereals, vegetables and fruits.
If you suspect a food allergy in your pet, the first thing to do is eliminate the allergen from the diet. Your pet is at risk of not receiving essential nutrients. The best solution is to switch the cat to hypoallergenic products.
In such formulations, the protein is replaced by its hydrolyzate. The hydrolyzed protein will not be perceived by the body as an allergen, because it is broken down into small particles, which improves absorption.
The composition of such food includes non-allergenic meat (lamb, pork, horse meat, rabbit meat, turkey), gluten-free cereals (rice, buckwheat), corn starch, vegetable oils, fish oil, minerals, vitamins, soy protein.
Hypoallergenic is presented in the premium and super premium nutrition segment, so harmful dyes and flavors are excluded. The price for this type is high, but the effect is observed in two to three days.
The low cost of products for the production of cheap feed speaks for itself – there simply cannot be meat and nutrients.
If the selected hypoallergenic composition is suitable: the manifestations of allergies have disappeared, and the animal eats it with pleasure, you should not experiment and change the diet.
Cat food for stomach problems
The lining of the stomach wall in cats is sensitive and prone to injury. Often, animals suffer from gastritis (inflammation of the upper layers of the stomach) and stomach ulcers (changes in the tissues of the deeper layers).
The reason lies in malnutrition: food from the master’s table, fried, fatty foods, sausages, sausages.
It is not recommended to give bread, fatty or raw meat, bones and skin, raw vegetables, dry food. In the market and in pet stores, special food is available for pets with ulcers and gastritis.
They are present in the medical line of premium and super-premium pet food manufacturers. It is advisable to soak dry food in warm boiled water or milk.
The composition contains highly digestible ingredients that have a positive effect on the gastric mucosa.
They contain a minimum of protein, because it helps to release the secretion of the stomach. The percentage of fat is minimal. High rates slow down the process of digestion of food in the stomach and its entry into the intestines.
Soluble fiber is an essential ingredient. It helps to normalize the acid balance.
You can transfer the cat to a canned composition in the form of a stew with a semi-liquid consistency. The diet should be followed until the symptoms disappear completely, then with caution it can be transferred to high-quality dry food.
Food for cats with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract
Cats are curious creatures. This quality makes them often suffer from diseases of the digestive system. The food eaten may be spoiled, indigestible, inedible or poisoned.
Once in the stomach and intestines, it causes vomiting, diarrhea, constipation. These conditions require immediate human intervention.
It will require the use of special nutrition that does not irritate the diseased organ, contributing to the normalization of microflora and the restoration of the functions of the gastrointestinal tract.
In therapeutic cat nutrition, with diseases of the digestive system, depending on the diagnosis, the phosphorus content can be reduced, the amount of calories, fat, and carbohydrates can be reduced. Suitable composition of different consistency, both wet and dry.
If the animal suffers from diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, special nutrition is required, fatty and heavy food fades into the background.
Depending on which option is familiar to the cat (natural or dry), you should consult a veterinarian about what to give your pet.
If the representative of the cat family is used to taking only natural food, you should not transfer it to dry food, so as not to make the animal worse.
Light chicken broth, with a small amount of potatoes and carrots, will benefit the pet. Oatmeal envelops the walls of the stomach, is easily overetched and passes through the gastrointestinal tract without difficulty.
It is allowed to add a piece of boiled chicken egg as a side dish, the food should not be salty, a pinch of salt will be enough. Fresh boiled milk neutralizes acidity and strengthens bones.
If the cat is accustomed to dry food, then you should pay attention to what components are included in its composition. Chicken, rabbit, turkey meat, rice, buckwheat are a good option for a pet.
And most importantly – you can not change the food manufacturer, this can have negative consequences. Products from different manufacturers in the composition have a different amount of vitamins and minerals.
No matter what food the animal eats, it should always have fresh water in its plate, this is necessary to facilitate the digestion of food.
Cat food for constipation
Cats are more prone to constipation than other pets. This is facilitated by a sedentary lifestyle, an unbalanced diet, the habit of licking wool (which is why constipation is more common in long-haired breeds).
You can talk about constipation if the cat has not had a stool for two or more days. Be sure to pay attention to whether your cat drinks enough water, how much it moves, plays, and eats vegetables.
Many manufacturers of premium products produce a composition designed to help cats suffering from frequent and prolonged constipation.
In the composition of such products do not include ingredients with fixing properties, and, on the contrary, increase the content of fiber and protein. Sometimes going from dry to wet helps a lot.
If constipation in a cat occurs too often, other diseases should be excluded, the symptoms of which may manifest as delayed defecation.
If a pet is accustomed to eating industrial dry food, it is recommended to switch to wet food. It is desirable that there is only one manufacturer, any light canned food is suitable as a new type of food, it is better to give preference to chicken.
If the animal is accustomed to simple food, the menu can be compiled independently. Buckwheat is rich in vitamins and microelements, it is easily absorbed by the body, does not create heaviness in the stomach and facilitates fecal patency.
After eating, the pet must drink water. Make sure your pet has constant access to fresh water. Cats like to drink water not from their plate, but from a vase, bucket or something else interesting.
If diet food does not help, then add a laxative to your food in the morning and evening, do not worry, nothing threatens your cat’s health.
If the cat cannot go to the toilet for several days, you need to help her. Do not give her food that is difficult for the stomach to digest, transfer the cat to diet food and you will see the result.
Food for indoor cats
Domestic cats lead a sedentary lifestyle, which leads to a decrease in the ability of the intestines to digest food, the appearance of an unpleasant smell of feces, obesity, and constant licking of wool.
These deficiencies are corrected by proper nutrition with reduced calorie content, a high content of a special combination of fiber and a processed protein in an individual way.
The special composition helps to eliminate unpleasant odors, prevents the appearance of excess weight, helps to remove hairballs from the body.
Proper diet and a healthy lifestyle prolongs the life of the animal, so think about what you give him as food.
Experienced breeders recommend purchasing dry food for their graceful pets, because it contains the necessary vitamins and minerals, which positively affects the normal functioning of the body.
But if the cat refused to eat such food or you do not want to transfer to this type of feeding, then you provide a balanced diet.
Meat, fish, cereals, dairy products, vegetables must be included in the diet of the animal. All products must be fresh so as not to poison the pet and cause diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
Breeders recommend purchasing vitamin supplements for this menu, due to the fact that, feeding with natural food, the owner cannot always provide a balanced diet.
Vitamin supplements not only make the coat beautiful, they contain the daily norm of nutrients that allow the cat to feel healthy and happy.
Some breeders believe that it is normal to mix chemical and natural products in the process of feeding an animal. This is wrong because it should be fed either dry food or regular food.
By eating the same type of food, the cat produces equal portions of gastric juice, which contributes to the full digestion of food.
And if you add something new to the usual food, then the digestive balance will be disturbed, thereby causing diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
Given that the cat is a predatory animal, it is very difficult to achieve a balanced diet with homemade food, so you should pay attention to the dry composition and canned food.
There is no need to worry about the fact that the animal will lack something, cat food manufacturers have studied in detail the complete need of the body and based on this they have created a completely balanced diet.
There are some animals that do not like dry food, this problem is easy to solve, soak his food in a little water. The animal will eat the resulting porridge with appetite.
For your pet to live long, provide him with a complete balanced diet. Spoil your cat with canned food from time to time.
Cat food after surgery
After the operation, the pet needs to be given special attention, all elements of care are important.
If your pet has recently had surgery or will have one in the near future, it’s time to take care of choosing food that is easy to eat and also promotes rapid recovery.
In addition, often the operation is preceded by a disturbed appetite, characteristic of the disease.
Criteria that distinguish the qualitative composition for cats that have undergone surgery:
- High nutritional value in a relatively small serving size
- Wet consistency
- small pieces
- Balanced composition
- Appetizing look and smell
Feed the pet after surgery should be every two hours and little by little. Warm up food to body temperature: this way the food is better digested.
The composition intended for feeding a pet after surgery contains easily digestible components with a high concentration of nutrients.
The increased content of high-quality proteins has a positive effect on the recovery of the body after injuries and maintaining body weight.
Long-chain fatty acids are an indispensable component that reduces inflammatory responses in the body. A high percentage of zinc favorably affects the rapid healing of wounds and postoperative sutures.
Food for cats after childbirth
During pregnancy and after childbirth, the pet needs an increased content of protein, vitamins, calcium, magnesium, and iron. The ideal option is feeding with natural products.
The diet must include meat, dairy products, eggs, cereals and vegetables, occasionally liver and fish. If the cat feeds kittens, make sure that the fluid intake is sufficient, due to clean water.
If there is a shortage of milk, make special milk formulas. In the postpartum period, it is worth doubling the number of feedings and the amount of food.
Do not be surprised if taste preferences change after childbirth. Sometimes cats who eat exclusively home-cooked food are happy to start eating dry and wet ready-made.
When choosing industrial, prefer special formulations during pregnancy and after childbirth. The composition of such food is developed by veterinarians, taking into account the increased needs of the cat after the appearance of offspring.
Monitor your cat’s condition. You can check whether she eats enough food, whether she has enough vitamins and microelements by her appearance and mood: there is no bad breath, her hair is shiny, her mood is playful, her ribs do not stick out.
If these signs are present, food and care are chosen correctly.
All the necessary minerals, vitamins and nutrients can be found in a dry formula designed to feed a cat after childbirth. It is useful to add a little food for kittens to the diet of a young mother.
It has a high content of essential nutrients that have a positive effect on the growth of a young organism.
Pet stores offer a wide range of wet food (canned food) made specifically for lactating cats.
They are balanced with all the vitamins and microelements that an animal needs for a quick recovery of the body and the production of fatty milk, for feeding kittens. It is desirable that wet food be the same brand as dry food.
Don’t skimp on pet food. Cheap food will cause irreparable harm to health. Premium segment food has a high energy value, is quickly and easily digested and does not contain unnecessary ingredients.
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