Cat food: understand what is good and what to avoid

When it comes to feeding your kitten, some doubts may arise. For example, you may not know exactly what type of food is best for him or what you should (or shouldn’t) eat.

Of course, the best way to find out is to look for a vet, as he / she will know what your pet needs. So, we have separated some tips that can help you on a daily basis to follow a healthy feeding routine for your little animal:

Cat food: what can the pet eat?

A good diet is essential for your pet to have a healthy life, avoiding health problems and even simpler complications – such as excessive shedding or bad odor in the feces.

The ideal is to always feed your cat with food and food suitable for him – which includes an adequate natural diet. However, there are some other foods that he can eat in smaller quantities. See more:

Canned sardine

It has been heard for a long time about cats liking fish, leading to habits such as giving the pet canned sardines.

The truth is, yes, cats tend to like to eat fish and that’s okay.

However, experts indicate that this consumption should be sporadic, as the excessive consumption of canned sardines can cause problems such as urinary stones and food allergy .

If you want to give a snack more often to your companion, you can choose cooked ham, as it does not hurt the cat.

Fruit

Although fruits are rich in nutrients, not all of them can be part of your pet’s diet, as some can be harmful – for example, grapes and citrus fruits like orange and lemon.

It is also important to consider that they have a considerable amount of sugar – one more reason to be careful, as they can increase the animal’s weight gain.

In addition, they can still take away the hunger, impairing the absorption of really necessary nutrients, present in the feed.

Therefore, only give fruits to your kitten from time to time and choose the ones that will not hurt him, being able to choose:

• Strawberry – rich in vitamin C and fiber;
• Melon – a very refreshing fruit that can be offered, especially in the summer;
• Watermelon – due to the large amount of water, it can be a good way to keep the cat hydrated during the summer;
• Apple – rich in fiber;
• Pear – rich in fiber, vitamin A and C.

So, it is worth emphasizing that not necessarily the fruits will harm the cat, but they will not add anything good to the diet either. Thinking about it, just offer them from time to time, as a form of snack or reward – or inserted in a correct natural food, made based on your pet’s needs , with the veterinarian.

Ration

The feed, in general, is the basis of the animal’s diet, as it contains in correct quantities the necessary nutrients for the cat to be healthy – and can be substituted in cases of an adequate natural food, organized with a (a) professional.

There are dry or wet options. If you have doubts about which one is ideal for your little friend, look for a vet. Especially because this factor can vary according to the age and other individual conditions of each animal.

In addition, however, it is very important to mix dry and wet food, as cats do not drink much water and wet versions help to avoid dehydration.

We also separated some options that may be on your list and can be discussed with the professional:

• Food for Cats Sabor & Vida Sachê ;
• Cat Food Faro Puppy ;
• Adult Faro Cat Food ;
• Cat Food Pro Feline Patê ;
• Whiskas Jelly Adult Cat Food ;
• Adult Pate Whiskas Cat Food .

There are also many other brands, such as: Royal Canin, Golden, Premier, Purina, Farmina, Hills and several others. There is no lack of options for your kitten to be well fed and very healthy!

Natural food for cats: how to do it?

Some specific conditions may lead to the need to make the pet’s food, making it impossible to consume processed foods .

This can occur, for example, with puppies or kittens already elderly (or just for reasons of preference).

In addition to malnourished or sick animals, which can feed only on natural food or in addition to the feed – always according to the veterinary indication.

Among the options, there may be foods such as corn, polenta or oats – which are generally well accepted by cats, in addition to being rich in fiber. However, it is worth noting that homemade food made for animals should never have spices, such as salt, garlic, onions and the like.

Check out some tips to prepare this food for each pet age:

Puppies

In general, cats’ food is rich in protein , so when preparing their meal it is necessary to choose the right ingredients. When kittens are kittens, they may need natural food after weaning, before starting to eat feed.

Especially the puppies lack more calcium and vitamins , in addition to a more caloric diet, considering that they spend more energy due to the development phase.

So, one option is to make a baby food daily mixing 200mL of goat milk and an egg yolk.

You can and should consult a veterinarian for other options of homemade food and also to know exactly how much the pet should eat per day.

Seniors

It is common for elderly animals to have difficulty eating normal feed, which may be due to difficulty in chewing or even digestive problems.

Therefore, natural foods tend to be pasty, so that the cat has no problem swallowing or digesting. One of the possible recipes has the following ingredients:

• 500g of chicken liver;
• 500g of chicken breast;
• 5 baroa potatoes (mandioquinha);
• 1 carrot;
• 1 small beet;
• 1 packet of colorless dissolved gelatin.

In this case, boil the ingredients in the pressure cooker for approximately 5 minutes (minus the gelatin). Then, it is necessary to crush everything with a processor and, once this is done, just mix the colorless gelatin.

Then, just store the dough in small quantities (preferably in glass jars, always in the refrigerator).

As in the case of puppies, you should also seek help from a veterinarian for the indication of other recipes and correct daily amount.

Malnourished or sick

If the kitten is malnourished, you can choose a diet rich in protein and calories, which will help him regain weight in a healthy way.

To prepare one of the most common and quite complete recipes for the animal, you will need the following items:

• 500g of meat or chicken;
• 160g of tuna;
• 200g of chicken liver;
• 2 pieces of liver;
• 200g of cooked vegetables (potatoes, carrots and peas).

The only thing needed is to fry the liver for a few minutes (on average 3), then just mix all the ingredients with the cooked vegetables. It is necessary to store in small quantities, preferably in glass jars or plastic bags.

However, if the pet is sick , it is necessary to consult a veterinarian to indicate the appropriate recipe for each case – as it may vary according to the disease in question.

How much should a cat eat per day?

The amount of food a cat should eat each day varies according to its age, as puppies and adults do not eat the same way. In general, puppies usually eat several times a day, as they expend more energy. Adults, on the other hand, usually eat less often but in greater quantities.

What can help when it comes to knowing how much to feed your cat is to follow the guidelines on the label of the chosen food. This is because the daily amount also varies according to the amount of nutrients and fat present in the feed.

In addition, it is always necessary to rely on the help of veterinary guidelines.

To illustrate the difference in the recommended daily amount for each adult cat, we can present the following table:

Remembering that these values ​​are just a reference . Follow the directions on the food packaging you have at home and the instructions of the veterinarian who accompanies your cat.

What to avoid when feeding your cat?

As previously mentioned, cats (as well as other domestic animals) should have the food as the main basis of their diet, as it contains exactly what the animal needs – but it is necessary to choose the correct food, as the amount and nutrients in them vary.

In addition, in cases of totally natural food or if you want to give some food as a snack or reward for your pet, always avoid :

• Foods with condiments or seasonings (salt, onion, garlic, pepper, etc.);
• Chocolates or sweets;
• Rice and carbohydrates in general;
• Dog food;
• Some fruits – like grapes, bananas or citrus fruits like orange, lemon, tangerine.

In general, avoid giving your pet the foods that are part of the human diet, as they tend to be harmful to the pet. When choosing a snack, choose those that are made especially for animals – in this case, for cats.

Taking care of your pet’s food is a great way to keep him happy and healthy. If you like to know about this type of information, check the ” Pet ” tab of Hickey solution and see much more!