What to feed the cat: cat food

Many owners of cats do not think that in order for their pet to live a long and full life, it needs to ensure proper nutrition. Most owners are accustomed to feeding cats by eating themselves. To do this is strictly prohibited, cats are contraindicated most of the products from the human diet, they are not genetically adapted to such food. Feeding cats with food from the human table leads to the fact that the animal has diseases of the stomach, intestines, liver and kidneys. In this article we will talk about what to feed the cat: cat food.

Genetic predisposition to food

Cats are predators, they contain the instinct of a hunter, therefore meat should predominate in their diet. In nature, a cat eats its prey whole - along with hair, feathers, bones and insides. In this case, the connective tissue and undigested food from the stomachs of rodents and birds-grains, berries, fruits, grass, enter the animal's body together with the meat. In this case, the protein, which is contained in meat, cat receives in a raw, natural form, and carbohydrates and vitamins, which are contained in cereals and plant foods - in semi-digested form. Therefore, genetically cats are predisposed to meat, cereals and fruits. In order for the pet to be full and healthy, it must be fed with natural food or special food.

Natural products

Natural food is the most optimal food for cats. The main advantage of natural food is the high life expectancy and strong health of the cat, the disadvantage is the difficulty in achieving a balance and observing the proportions.

The main component in the menu of the domestic cat should be meat - a bird or beef. Additional ingredients are cereals and vegetables. Meat should be given both in raw and cooked form. On the basis of meat, you can cook porridge - buckwheat, oatmeal, rice, barley. Raw meat must be scalded with boiling water, so that the cat does not become infected with helminths. Meat should be low-fat and without bones. Bones can not be given in any way - they can damage or clog the food tract.

Vegetables are needed for the cat for the stable work of the intestine and for the production of vitamins. Some cats love to pamper themselves with raw carrots, beets, cucumbers or cabbage, it's very good. But, as a rule, representatives of the feline refuse to eat raw vegetables, in such cases they need to be added to the porridge. It is also useful to feed the cat with herbs and sprouted cereals.

To receive an additional source of protein, cats need to be fed with sour-milk products and eggs. As a rule, cats adore low-fat cottage cheese, kefir and yoghurts without additives. Milk is necessary for kittens, but for adult animals it is often not suitable because of what causes digestive upset. However, if your pet's organism takes this product well and drinks milk with pleasure, then you do not need to deprive it of this joy.

Ready feed

Finished feed is inferior to natural food, but it saves time and is a source of balanced components. The choice of food for cats must be approached very seriously, since low-quality and cheap fodders can harm the cat and provoke serious illnesses. If you chose the ready-made feed, then there is no room for saving, you should not feed your pet with economy-class and middle-class fodder. It is better to stop the choice on premium foods. Their price is quite high, but they contain everything that is needed and useful for the cat, they have no flavoring additives and coloring agents. Such food is produced in the form of canned food, dry and soft fodder. There are also super premium foods, they need to feed only those animals that participate in competitions and exhibitions, they have a favorable effect on the appearance of cats. However, it is impossible to feed super-premium classes for a long time, as they exert a great load on the excretory systems of the body and can provoke diseases.

Prohibited products for feeding cats

In no event should you give fried, canned, pickled food from a human table to cats, and also salted and seasoned with spices.

Contraindicated beans, corn, pork, raw fish, smoked products, sweets.

Cats are very fond of eating and asking for food from the owner's table, but you should not go around and treat them with such goodies - salt, spices, seasonings and preservatives cause them digestive disorders, stomach, kidney, liver and other organs. Legumes - peas, beans and lentils, corn, bakery products, sugar cause in cats a congestion of intestinal gases (flatulence), intestinal colic, obesity of the heart.

Cats are very fond of fish, but it is not for them the best food. Raw fish is the source of infection by parasites. Veterinarians directly link urolithiasis with fish and seafood. In addition, the predominance of fish in the feline menu causes vitamin K deficiency, which results in poor blood coagulability and deterioration of the oxidation-reduction processes of the body. It is better to give fish better cooked or steamed. Sometimes you can pamper your four-legged friend with raw fish, but exclusively marine and lean, previously separating the bones and skin.

A cat should not be given a liver. Beef and chicken liver contains many vitamins A and D, their excess can cause damage to the health of the cat and cause hypervitaminosis.

It is not recommended to feed the animal at the same time with natural products and ready-made food, this leads to a strong imbalance of nutrients.

If you follow all the rules described, your pet will have excellent health and beautiful appearance, he will be energetic and cheerful, and his life will be long and full. However, it must be remembered that each cat has individual characteristics and eating habits. What is suitable for one animal can be contraindicated to another. Be responsible for the formation of the cat's diet and avoid obesity and overeating.