March 2, 2019
How many grams of dry food does a kitten need, how often to fill the bowl and how to tell if the baby is full - in this article we will try to answer the questions that worry many owners. And this is not surprising, because kittens grow quickly, and their food needs change just as quickly.
The owner needs to be well versed in the norms so that the baby receives the right amount of nutrition and does not lag behind in development. But first you need to understand whether it is developing correctly.
Incorrect dosage: problems associated with overfeeding
Sometimes owners, seeing the animal’s excellent appetite, cannot resist giving it an additional portion of food. Let's face it, it's very difficult to resist such a reaction. It’s even more difficult not to throw a piece of chicken (fish, minced meat) to your pet when he’s spinning under his feet and wondering: what is that they’re cooking there? Believe me, this kind of love kills. And if you want the best for your cat, don't overfeed it.
Obesity in cats is often associated with poor quality nutrition. We have already written a lot about this, so we’ll just remind you: economy-class food contains a lot of fat and carbohydrates, but little protein. This leads to an imbalance of the food supply, problems with metabolism and, at a minimum, excess weight of the pet. Possible problems are not limited to this: from poor nutrition, an animal can develop pancreatitis, urolithiasis, and diabetes.
Therefore, we assume that you have long since transferred your cat to a high-quality “holistic” cat, but still notice some rounding of the pet. What to do about it?
To get started, ask yourself a few simple questions: Is your cat overweight? Does your pet constantly ask for more and beg? Do you have problems with your fur or skin?
All this may indicate an incorrect dosage of food. By the way, the fact that the cat constantly asks for food does not mean that you are not feeding it. Perhaps she is simply accustomed to larger than normal portions, and her appetite, as we know, comes with eating. In the United States, studies are regularly conducted regarding excess weight in pets. This problem is so serious that the Association for the Prevention of Pet Obesity was created in 2005. And as of 2021, more than 58 percent of cats were overweight or varying degrees of obesity.
We think that there is no need to explain what the excess weight of a pet entails. These include problems with the gastrointestinal tract, increased stress on the joints, and in the long term – a reduction in life expectancy. But what to do if the food is given in strict accordance with the instructions on the package, and the cat keeps getting fatter and fatter?
Description of Royal Canin food
The company with the great name Royal Canin began its history in 1967 in France. At that time, the food was developed and formulated exclusively for German Shepherds. However, over time, after the launch of the first production line in the city of Emargues, manufacturers decided to expand the range for other breeds too. Today, the company is proud of its achievements in the market and has more than 10 production complexes around the world. Including in our country.
Feed produced in Russian factories operates according to French standards. However, it is worth saying that with the transition to production in Russia, complaints about the food began to come more often, although its composition remained unchanged. What caused the wave of disturbances is unknown. What is clear is that, according to reviews, consumers have a twofold attitude towards this company: some are quite happy with it, and some have a negative attitude towards it.
For a long time, Royal Canin was advertised on television, sponsored various dog competitions and was very popular. Therefore, the brand has firmly established itself in the animal feed market. Today you can purchase this product in any veterinary pharmacy or in online stores. Its price is considered average, and the choice is huge. Here you can find menus for puppies of large and small breeds, special therapeutic diets (hepatic food, diet for weight loss, etc.) and separate diets for certain breeds.
Daily food intake for a cat: step-by-step calculation
Modern high-quality food fully takes into account the structural features of cats. Diets are produced not only for pets of different sizes, but even for specific breeds. But each animal is individual. Therefore, the feeding rates indicated on the packaging are very approximate. The last word always remains with the owner, since no one knows the pet better than him.
If you have not yet developed this “sense” or the animal has recently appeared to you, here are some useful tips.
Weigh your pet
It is better to do this regularly (home scales are suitable). It’s simple: we take the cat in our arms and weigh ourselves together. Then again, but without the animal. Subtract the smaller value from the larger value, and you're done! A sudden weight gain or exceeding age and breed norms is a reason to consult a veterinarian. At a minimum, don’t forget to mention this at your next preventive examination. And “by eye”, the fatness of cats is determined as follows: the ribs are not visible, while there are no pronounced deposits of subcutaneous fat.
Determine how active your pet is
This greatly affects energy consumption and the amount of feed required. It sounds implausible, but the size of the required portions of two exactly identical cats can differ by 50-70%. Why? Yes, it’s just that one sleeps all day long, and the other runs around the apartment or has fun with toys.
“Count” the treats
Be sure to consider the caloric content of treats given in addition to the daily allowance of “regular” food. It’s also a good idea to purchase a kitchen scale: this will at least help you dose dry rations more accurately. And treats are better not - by the way, they are often higher in calories than regular food.
Composition analysis
According to the category, the diets of this brand are classified as premium feeds. Let's look at the composition of the complete product for large dogs Royal Canin Maxi.
The main and most important part of the food, protein, is listed in the composition as “dehydrated poultry meat” and “dehydrated pork meat”. The manufacturer does not indicate which poultry, but the dehydration process means that the meat product has been dried and removed from excess moisture. Another protein component of the feed is hydrolyzed animal proteins. Typically, protein is hydrolyzed to make it better digestible.
––– 5. Calculate “maintenance energy” (SE) - the required number of calories per day
So how do you calculate the correct amount of feed? You need to start by determining your cat's energy expenditure. Veterinarians use the concept of “sustained energy” (SE) - this is the number of calories that a moderately active adult animal spends per day in a familiar environment at room temperature. This indicator depends on the weight of the pet. Here are the calculation formulas and a reference table.
Calorie calculation for cats weighing up to 2 kilograms
PE (kcal/day) = 1.4 [70 x (weight (kg))* 0.75] - where 0.75 is the power to which you need to raise your current weight
Review of the line of food for different breeds
The manufacturer is trying to reach as wide an audience as possible by producing diets for all the needs of pets. The company's products are produced in the form of canned food in cans, wet portioned food in bags and dry ready-made diets. For very tiny babies left without a mother for some reason, the manufacturer offers a feeding formula. And the reviews about it are quite good. If you want to learn more about how to feed newborn puppies, watch the video from the Pethouse.ua channel.
The entire line of this brand is divided into:
- everyday food for puppies;
- everyday food for adult dogs;
- veterinary, therapeutic diets.
Everyday food for puppies
Puppies grow quickly, gain strength and need special diets, with an emphasis on vitamins, minerals and plenty of protein. According to veterinarians, it makes sense to separate food for puppies of small and large breeds, since during the growth period small dogs rapidly gain weight (fat), while large ones develop a skeleton.
In the following table we will look at what menus are available for different breeds and needs in this brand line.
| Royal Canin Junior | For certain breeds: puppies of poodles, Dalmatians, Labradors, small Yorkshire terriers and others. On the packaging there is a picture of a purebred puppy and the name of the breed in English. |
| Royal Canin Junior | If you don’t find a bag of dry food on the shelf with a picture of your pet, you can choose a diet based on the size of the dog. Accordingly, the brand produces diets for very small, small, medium, large and giant breeds, based on the name on the packaging. |
| Royal Canin Starter | Designed specifically for nursing dogs and their puppies up to 2 months. With the help of such food, you can begin to accustom puppies to the future diet, while simultaneously satisfying the mother's needs. The composition also varies for small, medium, large and giant dogs. The line includes wet canned food in jars. |
| Royal Canin Junior Active | Dry food for the most active large and giant breed puppies with high energy needs. |
| Royal Canin Urban Junior | The antioxidants included in the composition allow the puppy to develop well in city conditions, with its noise and pollution. Separately, for animals up to and over 10 kilograms. |
| Royal Canin Indoor Junior | For small lap dogs, with components that support the digestive system. |
Daily diets for adult dogs
Adult dogs, as a rule, choose suitable food that they will eat for the rest of their lives. Therefore, it is important to choose a product that is natural, fortified, and even suitable for the character of the animal. For example, an active animal requires a different diet composition from the diet of a couch potato.
In the table we look at the Royal Canin line for adult dogs.
| Royal Canin Adult | For dogs of various breeds. On the packaging there is a picture of a dog of a certain breed and the name in English. |
| Royal Canin Adult | For very small, mini, medium, large and giant dogs. This brand also produces canned food for teenagers. |
| Royal Canin 5- 8+ | For middle-aged pets. Since the average age of dogs is considered relative to their size, the packaging may indicate from 5+ to 8+. |
| Royal Canin Aging 1 0 -1 2+ | Special diets for aging dogs. Just like the previous ones, the aging period begins differently for different dogs, so different numbers may appear on the packaging. Canned food is also available for aging dogs. |
| Royal Canin Urban Adult | Feed to meet the needs of urban residents exposed to noise, pollution and stress in the city. For small and large animals. |
| Royal Canin Indoor Adult | For pets mainly kept at home. |
| Royal Canin Agility | For animals with short-term intense activity. Separately for dogs weighing up to 10 kilograms and over 10. |
| Royal Canin Endurance 4800 | Menu for very active dogs who love to run and play for a long time. |
Veterinary diets
Dogs, like people, can get sick: they can have congenital and acquired defects. Diseases of the heart, liver and genitourinary system can overtake an animal not only in old age. Special medicinal foods and diets can maintain the health of a pet by giving it all the necessary vitamins and excluding harmful foods that are excluded by a special diet for a dog. The most accessible example is hepatic food, which has good reviews and is used by veterinarians to support liver function during treatment. However, medicinal feeds should not be consumed for a long time; there are preventive feeds for long-term use.
What should you pay attention to before purchasing?
Before you decide to buy food, you should study the reviews and recommendations of breeders of your particular breed. If the majority of owners praise the diet, and even more so, it is recommended by the nursery from which the dog was taken, then you can safely offer it to your pet.
As already mentioned, for some dog breeds, Royal Canin has provided separate ready-made diets, but if there are none, then you can choose a product based on the size of the pet. The brand has a line for small, medium, large and giant animals.
According to consumer reviews, it is better to buy food in one trusted place, in sealed bags, avoiding loose goods. In some pharmacies, they may become stale, stored incorrectly and, as a result, lose their smell and appetizing to the dog.
Don’t be afraid of the prices for animal food, because experienced breeders never tire of repeating that the price of good nutritious food is equal to the price of its main component - protein. This means it varies within the price per kilogram of a piece of meat or fresh poultry.
