Cats have been the most popular pets for a long time. However, often owners of felines do not follow basic rules of care, including proper nutrition. Compliance with the diet for cats is very important, because it is the main source of vitamins and microelements, which is necessary for the health and development of the pet.
Junk food is just as dangerous for cats as overeating. It is worth noting that the digestive system of cats and humans is significantly different, so food that is easily digested by the human body and has a beneficial effect on its systems can be dangerous to the health and life of a cat. When talking about harmful foods, we cannot fail to mention chips.
What are the chips made of?
Chip manufacturers claim in their commercials that they contain natural potatoes, prepared using modern technology with minimal frying time. However, the actual composition of the chips differs significantly from what is stated.
The main component of chips is not potatoes, but soy starch, occasionally with the addition of wheat flour. In addition, a large number of preservatives, flavor enhancers (the most common is monosodium glutamate), dyes, and flavors containing harmful chemical compounds are added to chips.
In order for the chips to be thin and crispy, they are fried for a long time, which is why the chips are saturated with dangerous carcinogens.
Reasons for doubts about the benefits of dry food
Questions about whether dry food can be given to a cat arise due to analogies between it and human products. It is believed that this food is comparable to snacks, chips, crackers and crackers. But such a comparison is not worth making. After all, dry foods for humans contain mainly only fast carbohydrates. Whereas in the composition of complete cat food you can find:
- particles of dehydrated meat that add animal protein to the pet’s diet;
- fats that provide enough energy, healthy coat and skin;
- natural dietary fiber to improve digestion, as well as remove ingested wool from the stomach;
- supplements that meet the animal’s needs for minerals and vitamins and enhance immunity.
You may notice that the composition of dry food is more reminiscent not of snacks or chips, but of infant formula. Therefore, for cats they are the best way to meet their nutritional needs. However, the owner should take into account the requirements for the composition and quantity of food, as well as the age of the pet.
The structure of the cat's digestive system
In order to determine whether you can give chips to your cat, it is worth considering its digestive system. The digestive systems of cats and humans are similar in many ways. Digestion begins in the mouth, which contains strong teeth that crush food and salivary glands that secrete saliva to break down food bolus.
The esophagus secretes mucus to move the bolus of food into the stomach, and in the stomach itself food is digested under the influence of acid. The stomach of cats has a simple structure - it consists of one chamber. The stomach is controlled by the thyroid gland, so changes in its activity greatly affect digestion.
Absorption of nutrients occurs in the small intestine - fats, proteins, carbohydrates. Cats digest carbohydrates less well than humans, which can cause cat obesity and metabolic disorders. Absorption of liquid substances occurs in the colon.
The pancreas produces the hormone insulin and regulates the amount of glucose in the body.
Can cats eat avocados?
4) Some vegetables and fruits are also harmful to cats: avocados, apricots, cherries, garlic, onions, mushrooms, grapes and raisins. They contain toxic substances: for example, onions contain thiosulfates, which have a harmful effect on red blood cells.
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Is it possible to give chips to cats?
Many cat owners have encountered the problem that their pets love to eat chips and other unhealthy foods. What could this be connected with?
Monosodium glutamate, a sodium salt with a specific taste, is added to chips. This additive is addictive and taste disorder. Monosodium glutamate does not pose a threat to humans in small quantities. However, it is worth noting that due to the properties of this additive and its taste, the products are of poor quality and contain a high content of harmful substances. Cats are strictly prohibited from eating food containing monosodium glutamate, as it causes blindness or even death.
Carcinogens that appear during long-frying of chips contain many toxic substances that, when entering the cat’s liver in large quantities, can cause malfunction and even death.
Despite the fact that soy is absorbed by the cat’s body quite well, soy starch with the addition of chemical compounds, which, when ingested by the body, breaks down into glucose and carbohydrates, immediately deals a double blow to the animal’s body. Glucose, entering the body in large quantities, creates a large load on the pancreas. That, in turn, having failed to cope with the task, ceases to produce the required amount of insulin, which causes diabetes. And carbohydrates and modified fat are not absorbed in the small intestine, as a result of which cats develop obesity, which causes complications in all organs, and most importantly in the heart. Physical inactivity (weakening of muscle function) due to obesity and a sedentary lifestyle causes atrophy of the cat's muscles.
Based on the above, we can summarize that it is strictly forbidden to give chips to cats. This has a detrimental effect on the health of pets and is life-threatening. Naturally, if the cat has eaten no more than a couple of chips, there is no danger to the body, but if the cat eats chips regularly and in large quantities, it is necessary to take measures to replace its diet and restore health.
It must be remembered that food that is not harmful to humans can be deadly for a cat.
Chips are popular not only among people; many cats also like this treat. Some owners, without thinking about the dangers of the product, feed their pets snacks without a second thought. However, such products are unsafe for the cat’s body, since they contain a large number of harmful components.
Ingredients of chips: what's included?
Some people are convinced that the product consists of natural potatoes, which are quickly cooked and minimally fried. However, this opinion is not true and the actual composition of the chips is not so safe. The product is based on soy starch; sometimes there are admixtures of wheat flour. In addition, chips contain dyes, preservatives and flavor enhancers, one of the most common being monosodium glutamate. These components include chemical compounds that are harmful to the cat’s body. To make the product look attractive and crunchy, chips are fried in oil for a long time, as a result of which they are saturated with harmful carcinogens.
What goes into a good dry food?
Beautiful packaging, a popular name, advertising slogans are not the criteria by which a product is selected. High-quality food should contain fish or meat components - specified precisely, not in the form of vague formulations such as “meat and its derivatives”. Fats are only of animal, not vegetable origin. Carbohydrates should not form the basis of the product, being in the first place in the list of ingredients. It is recommended to purchase food containing natural preservatives with flavors - such as tocopherols or liver extract. The source of fiber should be natural ingredients (fruits, vegetables, berries), but not cellulose. Mandatory components are vitamin and mineral supplements, as well as probiotics.
A pet owner may have questions about whether it is possible to mix dry cat food. This is not recommended. Mixing leads to an imbalance of substances, which is why the resulting mixture will not provide the desired result. And sometimes it can even negatively affect the health of the animal.
Harm to the body of cats
Since this product is rich in salt, it can cause the animal to develop heart and vascular diseases.
According to numerous studies, even a healthy person who eats chips daily will, after a short time, begin to suffer from heartburn and gastrointestinal diseases. What can we say about cats, whose body is much weaker than a human’s? The amount of carcinogens in chips is off the charts, so pets may develop malignant tumors. Excessive amounts of salt cause metabolic deterioration. Sodium chloride, also present in some foods, contributes to the development of cardiovascular diseases and impaired bone growth.
Monosodium glutamate, which is abused by some manufacturers, causes addiction to chips and disrupts taste buds. While this substance does not cause harm to humans in small quantities, in cats it can cause deterioration in visual function and even lead to death. To make chips look more attractive, dyes are often added to them. In some cats, these substances cause allergic reactions. The owner may notice the following signs in the cat:
- rashes;
- itching;
- discharge from the eyes and nose.
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brief information
Most people know that chips are considered junk food. They are very high in salt, which can cause a number of health problems, such as high blood pressure and kidney disease. Chips are also high in saturated fat, which can put you at risk for obesity or heart disease. And if you're concerned about your own health, you should also be concerned about your pet.
Unlike cats, humans can eat a bag of chips without immediate health consequences. In addition, we understand the consequences of regular consumption of chips, and cats rely entirely on us.
Can I give it to a cat?
This product puts a tremendous strain on your pet’s liver.
The cat's liver is small, so it has difficulty fighting the large volume of toxins that enter the body from unhealthy foods. Taking into account what is written above, we can conclude that giving chips to cats is strictly prohibited. The introduction of this product into the diet of pets can provoke not only various diseases, but can even lead to death. Veterinarians note that if an animal has consumed several snacks, this will not affect its health.
However, when a cat constantly eats this product, it is important for the owner to replace it with other treats that are safe for the cat’s body.
Various vitamins that can be purchased at pharmacies will come to the rescue. They are not only healthy, but also tasty. You can also pay attention to industrial complementary foods that are sold in stores. They contain microelements required for the cat's body. It is better to purchase premium and super-premium segment food. When choosing them, the owner needs to consider what exactly the cat likes. The choice of complementary foods is extensive; there are products with chicken, turkey, veal and beef. The owner will be able to find suitable cat food that will replace chips.
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Bros and TS, cats love a lot of things that they shouldn’t eat. I used to feed my cat shrimp, when I ate them myself with beer, then the cat developed urolithiasis, urethrostomy surgery, a lifelong diet, urinary food, chronic cystitis. Don't repeat my mistakes, keep your animals healthy.
The cat is alive and well, without any belongings (in fact, he doesn’t even have a penis). That's why the pussy pisses and the liver and kidneys don't fall off. It is our liver that can withstand a week-long binge, because it weighs too much, and small charges are not equipped with such protection. My long-suffering cat who survived.
Thanks for the advice. It's just a cat coming to visit, meat
