One of the most controversial topics is the diet and nutritional habits of your beloved pets. Because the well-being, appearance and even mood of the pet depend on it. Many owners believe that the best solution is to choose ready-made, dry food. But experts consistently argue that natural food for cats is better. The main thing is to accustom your pet to this, and this can be difficult. Let's talk further about how to accustom a cat to homemade food and why it is better.
Why is homemade food better than dry food?
Advertising brochures, with the help of which cat food manufacturers encourage people to buy their product, describing its benefits, hide a lot of important nuances. Low-quality dry food can be dangerous because it can lead to dysbiosis, as a result of which beneficial bacteria in the animal’s intestines that help break down and digest food are destroyed. The consequence of this can be indigestion, impaired metabolism and all sorts of problems with hair and skin. Not every food contains the vitamins declared by the manufacturer, which can result in vitamin deficiency.
Some brands of cheap food use excessive amounts of salt as a preservative, which has a detrimental effect on the animal, destroying its kidneys (urolithiasis). The dyes that many manufacturers use are not always natural and safe. High-quality varieties of food cannot be multi-colored. The liver and kidneys are affected first, then the cardiovascular system. In most cases, cheap industrial feed is made from legumes. This can lead to allergies in the animal, hair loss, mouth ulcers, and flatulence.
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In most cases, when a cat is switched from artificial food to homemade food, she refuses such food. This happens because she is addicted to him, like a drug.
Important aspects
- The marketing of dry food manufacturers is the same: they present it as a universal product that can replace natural food. At the same time, manufacturers claim that the finished food contains the required amount of proteins, fats, carbohydrates and fiber. They argue this by the percentage of vitamins and elements necessary for the full development of the cat and its future offspring (if the cat is pregnant). Of course, expensive food can boast of this, but not the economy segment.
- An important feature of feeding cats is that meat alone is not enough for them. The animal needs grains, dairy products and vegetables, which are responsible for vision, digestion and strengthening bone tissue. Therefore, when switching from dry food to natural food, you need to give your cat vitamins containing calcium, iron and magnesium. Cook food without adding seasonings, add salt rarely, and if possible, cook without it.
- Unlike cats, cats are prohibited from being given sausage and canned food in oil; onions, garlic, and herbs (dill, parsley) are also contraindicated for them. Experienced veterinarians unanimously say that cats should not be fed raw fish, even if they eat it with pleasure. As for chicken and quail eggs, you can sometimes pamper your pet with the latter option if there is no allergy. Raw meat, namely pork and beef, can cause stool and stomach upset, so they should be fed with caution.
It is easier to wean cats off dry food than cats. Act gradually, do not try to force feed the animal natural food, let him come to this on his own. In cases with cats, add vitamins and minerals to their food and take the course once every six months.
Homemade cat food
If you decide to switch your cat to normal homemade food, then you should not do it suddenly.
A change in diet can negatively affect the behavior of the animal itself, provoke problems with the gastrointestinal tract and other problems, ranging from teary eyes and dry mouth mucosa to hair loss. Feeding changes should be done in stages. Table of nutritional norms for an adult cat.
Monosodium glutamate is one of the causes of addiction
The food additive E621, which is a flavor enhancer, is included in most dry diets intended for feeding pets:
- This component not only gives the product an unnatural taste, but also irritates the taste buds.
- Cats get used to the rich taste and aroma of granules, so natural food does not arouse their interest.
- Refusing the “correct” food, the pet will use all its charms, begging for familiar food and treats. It is important for the owner not to give up at this moment.
The fact that monosodium glutamate is very harmful to the animal’s body and can cause the development of cancer pathologies will help strengthen the owner’s willpower.
Meat products
Most veterinarians recommend transitioning a cat to homemade food through bait.
You can start by adding a small piece of meat to the food. For cats, it is preferable to buy beef. Pork should not be given under any circumstances, as there is a high risk of the meat being damaged by helminth eggs. Lamb is considered a heavy meat for cats; it can be given, but not immediately and a little at a time. How to distill moonshine a second time and why is it important to do this?
Before you start giving your cat meat, you need to put it in the freezer for a day. This is done to prevent unwanted worm infestations. The method is not 100% effective, but it still significantly reduces the risk of infection. Beef should be frozen as a whole piece, without chopping. This will help preserve meat juices and help preserve flavor.
The most preferable option for meat bait would be the so-called “skoblyanka” from frozen meat. You need to take a frozen piece of beef and peel off layer by layer with a sharp knife. This fraction will be as convenient as possible for your cat.
Poultry meat
From poultry meat, all types of poultry, without a flat beak, are most suitable for cats. Goose and duck meat are very fatty and therefore should not be used in a cat's diet. When choosing a part of a carcass, there are no clear preferences. But for overweight cats, it is better to take meat from the breast of the bird. Red meat, in turn, contains a special mineral that has a beneficial effect on the animal’s cardiac system and the composition of its blood.
Fish meat
It is unlikely that you will find a cat that does not like fish. Fish meat can and should be included in the diet, but certain conditions must be observed. First of all, this is heat treatment. Seafood such as shrimp or squid can simply be blanched in boiling water, while river fish need to be thoroughly boiled. Phosphorus is practically not destroyed during heat treatment. If your cat eats raw fish, there is a risk of infection with various viruses.
Advice from felinologists
Is it possible to quickly switch a cat to natural food, cat lovers will tell you:
- the addition of catnip facilitates faster adaptation to new food; over time, the supply is stopped, the animal gradually gets used to the food;
- several pieces of dry food are placed on the meat to give it a familiar smell, deceiving the cat;
- probiotics are useful during transition - feeding with dry food worsens peristalsis, lactobacilli improve the digestion process, the microflora is renewed, adaptation is easier;
- during the transition to natural food, vitamins are recommended;
- the bowl of food is removed after 15-20 minutes, regardless of whether there is food left in it or not.
Cereals for cats
When choosing cereals to feed an animal, it is preferable to purchase oats or pearl barley. As practice shows, pets do not really like buckwheat, except as an exception. Rice can be included in the diet, but in very limited quantities, as problems with stool may occur. Semolina can cause intestinal problems, and in addition to this, it contains a large amount of carbohydrates, which contribute to the development of diabetes. If you choose oats, it is better to give preference to whole grain cereals. Oatmeal has no hull, which is the most nutritious element of the grain.
The most ideal option for your pet would be oat bran. They contain a huge amount of B vitamins. But the most nutritious and valuable are wheat and oat bran. It is not necessary to cook them; you can simply steam them with boiling water, then cool and mix with fish or meat.
Many people purchase sprouted grains to feed their animals. It has a positive effect on the activity of the gastrointestinal tract. You can also germinate any grains yourself: wheat, clover, alfalfa, oats. Legumes produce very good sprouts, they are rich in vitamins, but only the green part should be given to your pet. Peas, soy and beans are not suitable for cats because the cat's enzymes cannot break them down and therefore the cat will not get any of these foods.
15 clever ways to teach your family order
Ragdoll
The cat grew little by little, delighting the family with her calmness - she didn’t rush around the curtains, didn’t climb on the table, she quickly got used to the toilet, she only scratched her claws on the “claw picker” - an almost perfect domestic cat. Time passed and, as expected, the cat looked more and more like its owner - not an ounce of excess weight, half a day in front of the mirror, but the neighbor cats were simply going crazy. And they were a little afraid. I'm talking about Emma now.
The cat happily accompanied us on trips into nature, devouring local wildlife in the form of jerboas and guarding the camp.
But her breed puzzled all cat owners. We definitely knew my mother - an ordinary village lady, my father was unknown, but there was no need to talk about any kind of royal blood. Nevertheless, the cat’s appearance was incomprehensible until we accidentally stumbled upon a similar photograph in one of the catalogs. Almost our Emma was looking at us, and under her signature was a ragdoll.
Therefore, in order to once and for all solve the problem with Emkina’s identification, we began to tell everyone that this is a type of ragdoll, although most likely it is just a cross between a purebred Siamese and an ordinary cat.
Emka’s appearance still misleads everyone, and even such a large site as Zoovet (Encyclopedia of Pets) posted her photo (and without my consent) in the ragdoll section.
Emmanuelle misled professionals
Vegetables in a cat's diet
Almost everything is suitable for complete nutrition, excluding cruciferous vegetables, which can cause gas formation and intestinal colic. The most useful product is carrots, which are rich in carotene. It can be given fresh, grated, or fried in a dry frying pan and used as an additive to main food. Pumpkin also contains many vitamins. It may seem strange, but many cats love boiled or baked onions, which are very rich in potassium. Potatoes should be avoided as they have a high glycemic index. If a cat needs to gain weight, then in this case it can be used for feeding.
Common mistakes owners make when changing diet type
Pet owners often make similar mistakes when changing the type of diet:
- Rushing will not help . You need to wean your pet off dried food gradually. This process may take about ten days. If you act radically, you may stumble upon a boycott from the animal;
- Down with provocations . You should not be manipulated by your pet. He can go on a hunger strike and show his character. Give him this opportunity;
- If you definitely decide to get rid of your dry food addiction, you need to go all the way . Give your cat natural food to eat, replace it with fresh food, and monitor the reaction. A healthy cat may not eat for ten days. The main thing is that there is enough water. Although in practice there were cases when a cat hid in a shelter, sabotaging food, for 15 days. During this time he neither ate nor drank. Then he crawled out, naturally exhausted, but alive;
- It has already been said earlier that dry food contains special additives that turn a cat into a drug addict. They cause the cat’s physiological dependence on such food. In the future, boiled beef will seem tasteless and bland to the cat when compared with the rich taste of dry lumps.
If you do everything correctly and insist on your own, the animal’s taste buds will recover over time, and the pet will understand how tasty and aromatic natural food is.
Commercials claim that dry cat food is healthy and complete nutrition that allows the animal to be healthy and happy. But in reality everything is different.
Artificially created products are largely free of nutritional components and vitamins. They are addictive and can even cause pathologies in the animal’s body. The process of getting rid of dry food can take a long time. But in any case, it is worth carrying out if you want the best for your pet.
Diet change technique
In the process of switching to homemade food, you need to offer the cat food gradually. In this case, you need to monitor the animal’s reaction. You should always remember that a cat may have individual taste preferences. For some cats, a mandatory attribute when eating their main food is a treat in the form of a piece of raw beef liver. Take a closer look at the animal and try to figure out its favorite food.
The most important thing when switching a cat from dry food to natural food is the owner’s patience and morale. In any case, any animal obeys sooner or later. The beginning of translation lies in the preparatory stage. Buy 2 types of food, dry and canned. Mix in equal proportions. The purpose of this diet is to accustom your pet to wet food and treat it leniently. Then you need to gradually reduce the amount of dry food, replacing it with meat, cereals, boiled vegetables or fish. The most important thing at this stage is not to delay the entire process. Within 5 days you need to reduce the proportion of dry food by half. At the next stage, you need to reduce the portion of dry food, but leave only the gravy from the canned food. This is the most difficult stage and difficulties may arise here. The patient may persist and refuse food altogether. This is explained by the fact that when feeding exclusively dry food, the animal’s peristalsis (tone) of the stomach and intestines decreases. These functions are restored when switched to homemade food, but not immediately, but gradually. Therefore, the cat may eat less food and this is quite normal.
At this stage, it is desirable to use probiotics, which help renew the cat’s intestinal microflora. When replacing dry food with natural products, gradually reduce the amount of gravy to just a few drops for flavor. After some time, you need to give the cat regular food, the one you will feed your pet every day. If she ignores the offered food for 20 minutes, the bowl must be removed. By evening, repeat the experiment. Eventually, even if not immediately, your pet will switch to normal, high-quality homemade food.
But remember, homemade food should not contain spices, sugar and salt. The animal does not need these ingredients.
Results
A cat has been accustomed to certain foods since childhood, so it is extremely difficult to change its habits. Therefore, it is better to instill in her a love of homemade, ordinary food right away. If you decide to switch your pet to a natural diet in adulthood, you will have to be patient and persevering. During the training process, you cannot follow the cat’s lead, react to its refusal to eat and give out the usual dry canned food. A smooth transition with gradual replacement of products will not affect the cat’s health and will accustom him to the new menu within a week. The main thing is to create a menu of healthy foods, follow the cooking rules and calculate the serving size to avoid overeating.
