Feeding adult cats

Why Adult Cats Shouldn’t Be Feeding Kitten Food

Your furry friend is no longer a kitten. He needs “adult” food.

How to determine which diet is more suitable for an adult cat: natural or ready-made

feed your cat in such a way that the food brings not only pleasure, but also health benefits Each owner himself determines how it is more convenient for him to feed his pet. The main thing is that the diet you choose fully meets the nutritional needs of your pet. It is best to discuss what type of food is best for your pet with your veterinarian. The diet should be balanced in accordance with the age of the animal and its physiological state, and all the nutrients included in its composition should be well absorbed. It is often not easy to balance a home diet so that it meets the needs of the animal and the balance of all components (proteins, fats, carbohydrates, trace elements, vitamins, amino acids, fatty acids) is taken into account. Feeding ready-made feeds makes life easier for the owner, since it does not take long to select and balance the diet, as well as spend precious time preparing it. The production of commercial diets is strictly controlled and complies with the requirements of the European (FEDIAF) and American (AAFCO) associations of pet food manufacturers, where the norms are drawn up based on data obtained in studies. 

How much food should a cat get per feeding and how many times a day it can be fed. Is it possible to just leave food in a bowl so that the cat eats when she wants to.

Uncontrolled feeding can be a problem, especially if your pet is prone to overeating. How many times a day should a cat be fed? To maintain a normal weight, feed your pet 2-3 times a day in small portions. Pay attention to the recommendations for feeding rates indicated on the packages, and accurately measure portions using a scale or a special measuring cup. At the same time, cats can approach the bowl much more often, consuming small portions. Vary portion sizes according to your cat’s needs. Remember that the feeding recommendations on the packaging should be adjusted according to the activity and physical condition of your cat. Learn to assess the physical condition of the animal. In a cat with a normal weight, when looking at it from above, the waist should clearly appear. If you notice that a “barrel” has appeared in the waist area, this is a sign of being overweight. This will allow you to understand whether she is overweight, underweight or in perfect physical shape, which will help to calculate her daily diet accordingly. Avoid chaotic feeding of a cat, observe the feeding regimen and norms, and you will help your cat to maintain health for many years. 

What characteristics you need to look for in order to choose a good cat food. What ingredients should be in good food, and which ones should be avoided.

Feed your pet predator the right way. Cats, unlike dogs, are true carnivores, that is, in nature, their nutritional requirements are mainly met by eating animal tissues. Therefore, you should not give them dog food or put them on a vegetarian diet. However, herbal ingredients can also be helpful. Good diets for cats must contain:

• increased, in comparison with dog food, the content of protein, split into separate components – amino acids, some of which are essential, that is, a cat can only get them with food. Such a component is taurine, the lack of which can lead to health problems. At the same time, proteins can be of both animal and vegetable origin;
• arachidonic acid, which cats are unable to synthesize from linoleic acid. A large amount of arachidonic acid is found in animal fats;
• vitamin A, since it is not produced in the body of a cat. In nature, a cat gets it by hunting other animals.

Also, the amount of minerals, such as calcium, phosphorus and magnesium, should be controlled in the feed, high doses and the wrong ratio of which can lead to a violation of mineral metabolism. Which, in turn, can lead to the formation of crystals in the urine, and then stones.

Is it worth it to choose food with some exotic taste – is it true that food with poultry or fish is healthier than chicken or beef?

The variety of tastes and types of feed is very large. Let your cat choose what she likes. Most cats can eat the same food all the time. A variety of tastes is not as important for them as for loving owners who are worried about their pet. However, you can let your furry friend decide on his own favorite taste. To do this, try to offer him two or three foods with different tastes, but it is better that they are from the same manufacturer and meet the needs of a particular animal. At the same time, regardless of taste, properly balanced feeds are equally useful. For example, in the Hill’s line there are dry foods: Science Plan for adult cats with a taste of tuna, chicken and lamb, and a novelty – with a duck taste. Wet Foods: Turkey, chicken, ocean fish and beef pouches, and chicken or salmon pâté. Hill’s Science Plan Optimal Care Adult Vitality & Immune Care with Duck

Is it possible to combine dry and wet food. If yes, how to do it right.

Dry food pellets like Hill’s Science Plan are delicious and healthy on their own. You can reward your cat by varying her diet, combining wet and dry food and changing the taste from time to time, while following the recommended daily allowance, which is indicated in the table on the package. It also shows in an accessible form in what quantities to combine dry and wet food. At the same time, we repeat once again that it is not recommended to mix diets from different manufacturers.

What life hacks will help increase the appetite of a cat if she does not eat very well.

In case your cat is a little picky, try increasing her appetite with a few of the hacks below.

Canned food can be offered to taste on a spoon or let the cat lick it off their paws, putting a small amount of food on them. 

Make canned food sauce: Make dry food sauce by adding a few tablespoons of warm (not hot) water to the same amount of canned food. Pour dry food with the resulting sauce, and then offer your pet. Add water and sauce to only one serving of food at a time to keep it from spoiling.

Reheat Food: Place a serving of canned food in a microwave safe dish and heat it for 5-7 seconds on high power to room temperature. Mix thoroughly and then offer to your pet.

Measure the required daily amount of food and put it in your pet’s bowl. If you feed the animal more than once a day, divide the amount of food by the number of feedings. It is better to feed pets during your meal.

If your cat suddenly becomes extremely picky about food, which has not been observed before, or you think that she is losing weight, you should consult with your veterinarian. Sometimes picky eating can be due to some pathological condition, such as dental disease, indigestion, or the formation of hairballs in the gastrointestinal tract.

You may need to change your diet on the advice of a veterinarian or for other objective reasons. It is recommended to do this gradually. Start mixing small amounts of the new food with the old food, gradually increasing the proportion of the first until you have completely switched the animal to the new diet. 

Conclusions

1. Adult cats should not be fed in the same way as kittens. They need high-quality feed, but with a different set of components.
2. Feeding a cat with natural or ready-made food is up to the owner. It is easier to use ready-made rations from trusted manufacturers, because. no need to waste time and effort on preparing a properly balanced feed. 
3. Feed your cat 2-3 times a day in small portions. Observe the feeding norms, adjust them depending on the activity and physical condition of the animal.
4. Good cat food should have more protein than dog food, taurine, arachidonic acid and vitamin A. Mineral levels such as calcium, phosphorus and magnesium should be controlled.
5. The taste of food worries the owner more than his pet. But you can let the cat choose his favorite flavor from a well-established manufacturer’s line.
6. You can diversify the cat’s diet with wet food from the same line. At the same time, observe the norms and proportions indicated on the pack.
7. To increase your cat’s appetite, you can heat wet food, add warm water to dry food, and use other life hacks. But, if this condition worsens, it is recommended to consult a veterinarian.