Diet and Nutrition
Diet and Nutrition
When compared with dogs, cats are finicky eaters who develop a liking for a particular dish or food and will continue to eat it with great relish. This puts cat owners in great trouble as they find it difficult to introduce any new foods. Plus, your cat may even starve to death if he is not fed the food of his choice, so it is good that cat owners feed their pet with just one well balanced dish.
What to feed: You could feed your pet dry foods that do not need any supplements. Along with it, however, take care to give them a lot of drinking water and add a pinch of salt to their food. Feed your cat prepared foods only from a reputable manufacturer at room temperature. Do not feed your cat food intended for a dog or another animal.
Commercial cat food usually comprises a lot of proteins and fats, believing that they can do with fewer carbohydrates which they convert into energy. This is why when they are on exclusive milk diets or high carbohydrate diets they suffer from indigestion. Besides, cats find it difficult to digest these foods but can easily digest cooked carbohydrates.
Cats also need high quantities of taurine, an essential amino acid, found in meat while an entirely fish diet will give him skin disease. You will find that your cat needs a lot of Vitamin A and C supplementation because it cannot metabolize these vitamins on its own. For a proper balanced diet, therefore, it is good to supplement their diet appropriately. If you give him too much water, it will give him diarrhea.
Give him a treat of fresh food a couple of times a week. They love fish and chicken, but when serving him these foods, ensure that all small bones have been removed.
When to feed: As cats grow to be six or seven months old, they begin eating either one large meal or two smaller ones while your kitten will need an extra feeding. Feed your cat each day at the same time and place, if only to set a routine. Keep food and water bowls clean at all times.
Watch his weight: Don't allow your cat to put on too much weight through overeating or he may suffer health problems such as heart problems, arthritis and a shorter life expectancy. On an average, an adult cat should weigh about 9-11 1bs, depending on his breed. However, male cats are heavier than females. If your cat is overweight, your vet can suggest a good weight loss program.
Your cat may also lose weight for several reasons either he is under stress, or his surroundings are very noisy, have very bright lights, too many strangers or perhaps he has been introduced to a new food.
Feed your cat with a lot of foresight and caring, because only if he is well-fed can he be active and alert and sport a shiny coat and a pair of beautiful and bright eyes.