Cat nutrition list of food. Approximate cat diet, recipes. Chicken breasts with eggs

Only practicing veterinarians really know how many animals have suffered from the genuine care of their owners. Sometimes the owner wants to please the pet so much that he forgets that the cat is a predator, and the diet of a predator is very monotonous. Of course, the pet should receive a rich and balanced diet, but in everything you need to know in moderation. Let's figure out what you can't feed cats and why some prohibitions have been introduced.

Obviously, the basis of a cat's diet is meat. In the wild, four-legged animals do not receive feed, dairy products, fish, vitamin supplements or other unnatural products. A wild cat eats small prey, most often rodents. Domestic cats must adapt to food prepared for consumption.

In order to maintain the naturalness of the diet, the pet must be fed meat, observing several conditions. Raw meat can be a source of viruses and helminth eggs, but at the same time, this product is recognized as the richest source of protein. For the safety of the cat, raw meat should be kept in the freezer for 3-4 days, then defrosted, chopped and doused with boiling water.

Note! Cats swallow their food in chunks, so the meat does not need to be minced too much. Minced meat or very small pieces are only suitable for feeding kittens or older cats with dental problems.

When choosing from meat products, you can include in your cat’s diet:

• Beef, veal.
• Rabbit meat.
• homemade. Many chicken producers raise their birds using hormones, antibiotics and salty feed. When a bird consumes a lot of salt, it drinks a lot, which increases its weight at slaughter. Salt is harmful to cats...hormones and antibiotics too.
• Turkey - precautions are similar to chicken meat.

Meat is fed to a cat after cleaning, that is, without bones, skin and fat. If you cook broth, the meat should be lean. After cooking, the broth must be strained to prevent bone fragments from getting into your pet's bowl.

You can feed the cat (not often) lean, subject to a number of conditions. Pigs are carriers of the false rabies virus (resistant to low temperatures), so it is not enough to freeze pork; it must be boiled. Please note that the meat must be lean and not free of fat. The false rabies virus is not dangerous to humans, and laboratories do not test meat for its presence, so purchasing it in a supermarket (after veterinary control) does not provide any guarantees.

A cat's diet must include meat by-products. It is important to understand that offal should make up 10–15% of the mass fraction of meat, but not replace it completely. There are also some restrictions on the consumption of such products, which depend on the type of meat.

Beef:

• Liver up to 2 times a week, chopped, treated with boiling water. With frequent use, diarrhea may develop.
• Kidneys are undesirable, but if the cat loves them, no more than once a week.
• Lung - cleaned of fat and only boiled.
• The stomach is well washed, very finely chopped, treated with boiling water or after deep freezing. You can also cook the stomach, but keep in mind that the smell that will permeate the whole house is indescribable.
• Heart – it is better to give it raw after treatment with boiling water. You can do it 4-5 times a week.

Chicken:

• – raw no more than once a week and in very limited quantities, boiled more often. For some cats, if consumed regularly, raw liver can cause diarrhea, and boiled liver can cause constipation.
• Heart - if desired, cats can be given regularly and raw (after deep freezing), chopped before serving.
• Stomachs - crushed and boiled can be given 3-4 times a week.
• Necks - after deep freezing, you need to carefully beat or chop in an electric meat grinder. Chicken neck (if the bird is factory-produced) consists of fairly soft bones, serves as a source of calcium and prevents dental plaque.

Turkey:

• Heart - can be 1-2 times a week, frozen, chopped.
• Stomach - only for cats with an insensitive digestive system in boiled and crushed form.

We have already found out above that cats should not be given raw (fresh) meat, the remaining prohibitions concern:

• Store-bought minced meat - often contains salts, fat, skin (even if this is not indicated in the composition). Please note that it is strictly not recommended to feed sterilized cats foods containing salt.
• Lamb, fatty pork and lard contain too much fat.
• Turkey liver - raw is guaranteed to lead to diarrhea, and boiled - to constipation.
• Ducks and geese (meat, offal) are too fatty.
• Domestic chicken necks - if the bird was slaughtered at over a year old, the neck vertebrae are very strong.

Note! Goose and duck meat are often used as the basis for high-quality feed; here the ban on consumption is not relevant, since the products are low-fat.

Fish, shellfish, seafood

Many owners stubbornly feed their cats and do not pay attention to dozens of arguments that experts give. There is no categorical ban on eating seafood, but there are a lot of nuances and prohibitions. So, a cat can only eat noble varieties of ocean fish. Against the background of the first condition, the fish must be lean, of high quality, boneless and fresh. If all these conditions are met, you can pamper your cat with fish, but not more than once a week!

So, a cat can:

• Lean cod.
• Hake thoroughly cleaned.
• The sardine is lean and fresh.
• Trout only back, provided that the fish is not fatty.
• Boiled shrimp, peeled.
• Boiled chopped squids.

Note! Boiled fish can hardly be called healthy for cats, since at high temperatures almost all so-called enzymes are destroyed, and without them the degree of absorption of microelements is sharply reduced.

The next nuance is that the fish must be of high quality, which means grown in a clean environment. Almost the entire range of seafood presented on supermarket shelves has nothing to do with the ocean...except for its origin. Shrimp, squid and noble varieties of fish are grown on farms, in cramped “aquariums” generously sprinkled with pesticides, antibiotics and other (harmful) substances. Keep in mind that fish literally absorb the environment (water), and when a lot of fish are placed in one small tank... Simply put, one fish defecates, and the other eats it, and the water in which the future product is located is far from fresh .

Note! More and more experts do not recommend feeding cats pollock, even fillets. The ban is associated with widespread violations of the rules of factory farming of fish.

Let's return to the prohibitions. Cats All types of carp fish are not allowed, since its consumption leads to the destruction of vitamin B1 in the body. Then a chain reaction starts: the liver suffers, the process of blood purification is disrupted, and microelements are no longer absorbed. Visually, you will observe the pet’s depression, poor appetite and neurological disorders: tremors, seizures, convulsions, walking in circles, loss of coordination, etc.

Cats absolutely river fish and shellfish are not allowed. Cannot be eaten either raw or boiled. Even after heat treatment (boiling water), fish can become a source of infection with dangerous types of worms. All are dangerous, but some of them can settle in the liver, brain, and muscles. If river fish is boiled for a long time or canned, the product will be safe, but also useless.

Fish, even permitted and noble varieties, should not be given to a cat often. It just so happens that trimethylamine oxide, which is almost harmless to humans (found in fish), quickly leads to the destruction of iron in the cat’s body. As a result, the animal develops and rapidly progresses iron deficiency anemia.

It is recommended to completely exclude fish from the diet of cats prone to. Regularly feeding a neutered cat seafood will lead to the development of the disease within a few months. If the fish is given to a cat that is genetically prone to it, the disease may take longer to develop. It is not recommended to feed fish to cats of popular breeds, for example, Scottish Fold or British. The fact is that these breeds have quite a lot of diseases that are inherited, but the diseases may not develop until the metabolism is disrupted.

Industrial fish based food are manufactured in several stages and are safe for cats. Firstly, the fish undergoes long-term heat treatment, becomes safe and, as mentioned earlier, practically useless. Secondly, the fish is not cleaned, but ground to a homogeneous minced meat and then dried... a powder is obtained. Next, this powder is again subjected to high temperature treatment, fortified and mixed with additives.

After all the manipulations, the fish powder contains only protein and fatty acids... and here there is a nuance. Fatty acids shorten the shelf life of feed, and preservatives, such as ethoxyquin, are used to reduce the rate of their oxidation. The effect of this preservative on the body of cats has not yet been fully studied, but even preliminary findings are very alarming.

The conclusion is simple: read the composition of the food and refrain from purchasing products with an impressive shelf life.

Milk, dairy products, eggs

Dairy products are very important and must be present in your pet’s diet. A kitten, pregnant or lactating cat should be regularly treated to cottage cheese, yogurt, fermented baked milk, but there are nuances here too. Many experts recommend eliminating whole milk from your cat's diet because there is a risk that your pet may have lactose intolerance. If your cat drinks milk without consequences (constipation, diarrhea), then there is no need to exclude it from the diet.

Cats should be given:

• Homemade calcined cottage cheese.
• Homemade yogurt without additives.
• Ryazhenka.
• Yogurt.
• Serum.

Why homemade and not store-bought? The answer is obvious - most store-bought products are made from dry milk powder and starch. Conclusions about the balance of benefit and harm can be made even intuitively.

Note! It is very beneficial for cats to consume calcined cottage cheese with grated carrots; this treat maintains an almost ideal balance for the absorption of all nutrients.

Many cats love hard cheese, but it must be given with caution. Almost all hard cheeses contain salt, and as you remember, it leads to the development of diseases of the genitourinary system and urolithiasis.

The following are prohibited:

• Homemade and store-bought cream.
• Any sour cream, although some cats love it very much.
• Butter.

Eggs are considered an allergenic and very controversial product. According to expert recommendations, a cat can have no more than 1 egg at a time and no more than 1-2 times a week. It is recommended to exclude raw protein completely, but the yolk can be raw or boiled. It is recommended to give quail eggs rather than chicken eggs to cats with a sensitive digestive system.

Porridge, vegetables and fruits

Since fruits and vegetables are not the main diet of a cat, we will not consider them in detail. Vegetables serve as a supplement and source of coarse fiber. They need to be fed in crushed, raw or heat-treated form. Usually vegetables are mixed with meat or cottage cheese.

The following are considered harmful to cats:

• and juicy fruits (can be given rarely if the cat likes it).
• All citruses.
• Grapes and raisins.
• Apricot and dried apricots.
• Persimmon, kiwi and most berries.
• Beans, soybeans, corn, alfalfa, semolina.
• Potatoes, raw cabbage and broccoli.
• Tomatoes and other red vegetables.
• Onion garlic.
• Spinach.
• Mushrooms, especially wild ones.

Controversial and toxic products

Any food from your table is considered harmful, especially fatty, fried, and cooked with spices. Cats are not allowed sausages or any smoked products. Any canned food (fish, meat) prepared for people is prohibited. A categorical taboo is sweets.

Perhaps you didn't know that Cats are absolutely not allowed to:

• Alcohol, tobacco in any form, even vapors and smoke are dangerous.
• Fermentation products – kvass, beer.
• Flour and butter, including pasta.
• Anything that contains caffeine.
• Chocolate.

Note! Cats should not be given dry baby food unless prescribed by a veterinarian.

Feeding kittens must start from the 1st month. Moreover, it happens that some kittens immediately eat willingly, while others have difficulty adapting to a new diet. Therefore, an individual approach to each kitten is necessary. Start complementary feeding with low-fat milk, kefir, Activia, and sour cream. When the kittens “master” these foods, you can give them boiled meat and chicken. Cut all meat products into very small pieces, otherwise kittens simply will not be able to chew them.

Industrially prepared cat food does not require much time and effort from you; it is easy to purchase and give to your pet. This is especially important and convenient during a busy work schedule. However, one cannot ignore the fact that some of these processed foods may be harmful to your cat's health. That's why more and more pet owners are choosing to switch from commercially produced foods to a more natural diet for their pets.

Specially prepared homemade cat food, made from fresh and healthy ingredients, can be, if not the basis, then a pleasant and healthy addition to your pet’s diet. In addition, such food is much more natural, it is closer to the natural diet of cats than anything offered in pet stores.

However, before you go into the kitchen and prepare food for your pet, there are several factors to consider. There are certain foods that should not be given to cats, for example, onions, pork, chocolate, mushrooms, salt, they are harmful to health. You should also avoid feeding your cat raw eggs (boiled eggs can be given safely), raw fish and milk, or at least these foods should not be fed frequently.

Most people who own multiple types of pets often feed their pets the same foods. You can't do that. Owners should be aware that cats need a lot of protein (they need 5 times more protein than dogs), which inevitably means that a dog's food may not be a normal diet for a cat. For each type of animal (for example, cats, dogs, chinchillas), it is necessary to prepare separately. When it comes to feeding your cat, always choose a recipe that is rich in protein. There are many simple and affordable recipes that can be used to provide complete and balanced nutrition for your cat.

Of course, as we all know, cats are picky eaters, so there is no guarantee that they will like all the recipes, but there are sure to be some that they will like. The main thing is to start with what your cat likes and what smells good.

In your recipes, try to use a variety of meat sources, the more the better (chicken, turkey, beef, rabbit, duck, etc.). This provides a more complete balance of nutrients and also enriches the feeding with different tastes and textures. You can use different sources of meat at the same time.

There are different opinions regarding the use of bones in preparing cat food. Personally, I never use them due to the risk of choking, puncture or blocking the digestive tract.

The heart of various animals should be added to the diet, as it is one of the best sources of taurine, which is an essential amino acid for cats. If you do not give your cat enough hearts (about 10% of the diet), additional taurine must be given in the form of food supplements.

The menu should also include the liver or another secretory organ (for example, kidneys and spleen). Most animals do not like their taste, but it can be masked by chopping and mixing with meat and vegetables. Among the vegetables you can give pumpkin, spinach, carrots, etc. Onions and garlic are toxic to cats and should not be given to them.

To prepare food, you will also need a blender, food processor or meat grinder.

The basic formula for cat food is simple: half protein (meat) and one-quarter each carbohydrates (grains) and vegetables (fiber).

Protein is found in turkey, chicken, rabbit, fish and other meats. The best source of carbohydrates is brown rice. As for vegetables, whatever your cat eats is fine.

The meat can be either raw or boiled. Mix it with cooked vegetables and rice.

And now some homemade cat food recipes. They are collected from various sources on the Internet. Anything you prepare for your cat yourself (with a few exceptions, of course) will be better than what you can buy in the store, because not only do you have complete control over all the ingredients, but also because you are directly involved in the process. Cats, like people, appreciate home-cooked food prepared with love just for them.

Chicken with rice and vegetables

2 cups chopped or shredded chicken

1/4 cup grated boiled carrots

Cut the chicken into small pieces. Pass the carrots through a food processor. Mix chicken and carrots with rice. Serve at room temperature.

Diet for a picky cat

1 cup boiled chicken

1/4 cup steamed broccoli

1/4 carrots, steamed

Chicken broth, about half a cup

Mix ingredients and serve.

Salmon with rice

150 gr. steamed salmon

1/2 hard-boiled egg

1/3 cup boiled rice

1 tablet calcium carbonate (400 mg calcium)

1 tablet of vitamin-mineral complex

Mix and serve.

Liver holiday

2 cups chopped beef or chicken liver

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 cup cooked oatmeal

1/4 cup frozen peas, steamed

Boil the liver with vegetable oil, chop finely. Add cooked oatmeal and green peas. Cool and serve at room temperature.

From what is

1.5 cups meat - beef, chicken, turkey, lamb (finely chopped)

0.5 cups of vegetables - carrots, zucchini, sweet potatoes, pumpkin or wheat germ

0.5 cups mashed potatoes, rice or oatmeal

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

Pass vegetables through a food processor. Chop the meat finely. Mix meat and vegetables, potatoes, rice or oatmeal. Add vegetable oil and serve.

Tuna for lunch

0.5 kg. tuna, canned in oil

1/2 cup cooked brown rice

1/4 cup grated carrots

2 tablespoons sprouted wheat

Mix and serve at room temperature. Do not give more than once a week as it may lead to vitamin E deficiency.

Liver and kidneys for dinner

1 cup boiled chopped liver or kidneys

3/4 cup boiled oatmeal

3 tablespoons grated carrots or zucchini

1/3 cup yogurt

3 tablespoons butter

Mix minced liver or kidneys, oatmeal and vegetables. Melt the butter and pour in the mixture. Add yogurt and serve at room temperature.

Holiday

1 cup shredded beef

1/4 cup alfalfa or parsley

1/2 cup cottage cheese with cream

Mix the ingredients.

Diet for allergies

2 cups shredded lamb

1/2 cup grated carrots or zucchini

1 cup cooked brown rice

1/4 cup cottage cheese

1/4 tsp. garlic powder

Dinner time

100 gr. cooked white meat chicken

1/4 cup cooked mashed potatoes

1-1/2 teaspoons butter

Combine all ingredients in a blender and serve at room temperature.

For breakfast

1 egg

1 tablespoon green beans (cooked or pureed)

1 tablespoon finely chopped carrots

2 tablespoons chopped chicken breasts (skinless)

1/3 cup brown rice (cooked)

1 tablespoon olive oil

Mix all ingredients thoroughly. You can also puree the mixture in a blender if needed.

Stewed chicken for cats

1 whole chicken

2 cups brown rice

6 stalks of celery

6 carrots, grated but not peeled

2 small yellow pumpkins

2 zucchini

1 cup green peas

handful of green beans

Wash the chicken, then cover with water in a large saucepan and simmer. Cut the vegetables into pieces and add to the pan. Add rice. Cook until the chicken is almost falling off the bones and the vegetables are tender. Remove the chicken completely from the bones. This is very important because cooked chicken bones can cause serious intestinal damage. Pour everything into a blender and grind the mixture.

Chicken liver recipe

1/2 cup cooked broccoli or cooked carrots

1/2 cup cooked rice

1 1/2 cups boiled chicken liver

Chicken liver broth

Place rice, liver, broccoli or carrots in a blender and blend them, adding a little broth.

Chicken with broccoli

A piece of skinless, boneless chicken breast about the size of your palm or smaller, depending on how much you want to cook.

Two or three pieces of broccoli

Boil the chicken and broccoli, mix in a blender until smooth.

Shrimp with carrots

3-4 raw shrimp. You need to cut off the tail and remove the outer layer, boil it.

The carrots will need to be cooked over high heat for 10-15 minutes, then blend them in a blender until smooth.

Once the shrimp have cooled slightly, cut them into small pieces. Mix with carrots.

Meat with cottage cheese

100 gr. meat, beef or poultry

1 tablespoon carrots

1 tablespoon cottage cheese

1 tablespoon sunflower oil.

You can also add flavorings to your food (kelp powder, garlic powder, nutritional yeast), but only in small quantities.

You can store leftover cat food in the refrigerator, but the same rules apply as for leftover human food - use within a few days or freeze.

As you can see, it is quite easy to create your own healthy diet for your cat at home alone. This way, you don't have to worry about all the harmful additives used in commercial cat food. You can easily make your own homemade cat food that will be tasty, nutritious and healthy. Take these recipes as a basis and experiment.

Remember that homemade food should provide your cat with all the necessary vitamins and minerals. If you are not sure about this, give additional vitamin and mineral complexes.

Sometimes it is difficult for a cat to switch from dry food to this diet, so first you need to switch to wet food (canned food and preserves), since their texture is closer to natural food. And then gradually mix wet food with natural food until you completely switch to the latter.

Information taken from the site http://koshka.by

What food is right for your cat is a very important question, so you need to seriously study it. It is categorically not recommended to save on food by putting the leftovers of your own meal in a cat’s bowl - treating an animal that cannot withstand such a diet will cost much more than a balanced diet. A properly selected menu will prolong the life of your pet (cats can live up to 15 years or more, contrary to the common misconception that 8-9 years is old age for them), will help avoid problems with its health, and will also be useful in matters of cat education - accustomed to The cat will not reach for the delicious food on the owner’s plate. In this article we will look at what is best to feed your cat, and also provide tips and advice on cat nutrition.

What is the best thing to feed an adult cat?

There are two types of cat diet, each with its own advantages and disadvantages:

1. Ready-made professional food.
2. Natural food.

The choice in each case must be individual, since much depends on the preferences of the animal, the presence or absence of an allergy to any product and sensitivity to the quality of the food.

Professional feed

Advantages

The main advantages of this type of feeding:

• practicality,
• convenience,
• efficiency.

As a rule, ready-made food is cheaper than all the necessary products for a natural diet. In addition, the pet owner does not have to bother with preparing cat food; 2 minutes are enough to fill the pet’s bowl and continue to do their business.

An equally important advantage is the balance of such a diet - the finished food already includes all the necessary substances, vitamins and minerals in the required quantities. In addition, a very convenient feature of professional food is the presence of various variations:

• for sedentary or very active animals;
• for nursing cats and small kittens;
• for castrated and non-castrated cats.

An individual approach allows you to find the “key” to the heart of any furry gourmet.

Among other things, dry food helps clean your cat's teeth and prevents the formation of tartar.

Flaws

This diet also has disadvantages.

• The main one is that you need to understand the different types of feed so as not to buy a low-quality economy option. Before choosing any brand of food, be sure to consult with experienced felinologists.

• In addition, some cats are allergic to ready-made food - in such cases there is no choice, the animals have to be switched to natural food.
• Another serious drawback is that what is written on the package does not always coincide with what is inside. Serious mistrust has spread among cat owners about food that is produced or packaged in Russia, since high-quality food is often replaced with a cheap substitute. In addition, there are “tricks” that are used by manufacturers: for example, meat products in the feed can easily turn out to be ground bones, tendons and other waste, and not meat.

To choose food for your pet, carefully study the types of dry food.

If you want to be sure of what ends up on your pet’s table, the second option will be closer to you – a diet made from natural products.

Natural nutrition

Advantages

Pros of this type of diet:

• Firstly, you know exactly what your cat eats, you can choose the products yourself and monitor their quality.
• Secondly, natural food is healthier for your pet’s body; it can be adjusted so that the ratio of various elements - proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, fiber - is optimal. For each pet, you can create a completely individual menu, taking into account all its features.

Flaws

Preparing a full menu for a cat takes a lot of time; you have to buy additional products specifically for the animal, which can be expensive, considering that the cat’s diet must contain meat.

In addition, you need to take a very responsible approach to preparing the diet, since an excess or deficiency of any substances may not be noticeable until it affects the animal’s health with serious problems. It is important to understand that you cannot always vouch for the quality of purchased meat or vegetables.

In addition to regular meat, you should definitely add meat by-products to your cat’s menu - chicken heads and necks, tendons, internal “offal”.

In order for the animal to get the required amount of vitamins and fiber, a small amount of vegetables is required daily. It is better to give them boiled and pureed, mixing with meat, so that the cat does not disdain plant foods.

From time to time, your pet’s diet should include:

• eggs (once a week is enough);
• fermented milk products (not milk!);
• fish fat;
• A very useful addition would be sprouted oats or wheat.

What not to include in a natural diet

Products that should not end up in your cat's bowl:

1. Fish, seafood (leads to urolithiasis). Here the opinions of experts are divided, but everyone agrees on one thing: fish should not be the basis of a cat’s diet.
2. Cereal porridges, flour products (not digestible, cause intestinal diseases).
3. Milk (small kittens are fed with mother’s milk or special formulas; an adult animal does not need milk at all).
4. Any food from the human table (salt, spices, fried foods - poison for a cat!).
5. Vegetables: tomatoes and eggplants (contain substances harmful to cats), potatoes.

Food should not be constantly in the bowl, since not every cat will be able to stop in time, and obesity leads to serious illnesses. But there should always be access to clean, fresh water. In this regard, cats are very demanding - the water must be changed at least once a day, preferably more often. Choose a larger water bowl, then the cat will drink more willingly.

You should not overfeed an animal, especially when it comes to dry food.

Some videos about feeding cats:

KotoDigest

Thank you for subscribing, check your inbox: you should receive an email asking you to confirm your subscription

If a four-legged friend appears in the family, the owners must know how to take care of it so that the animal remains healthy and cheerful. Otherwise, it is better to hold off on replenishing. The appearance of a cat in the house entails great responsibility; it is important to properly adjust the pet’s diet and eliminate the risk of developing dangerous diseases.

What to feed your cat

It is common to believe that such a pet already traditionally loves fish, milk, and meat. In fact, a cat’s diet is somewhat more varied and eliminates vitamin deficiency and the appearance of its unpleasant symptoms. Individual nutritional characteristics depend on the breed of the animal. The question of what to feed your cat should be addressed correctly to a knowledgeable veterinarian, without violating his instructions. Nutrition can be natural, artificial or mixed, and in the latter case we are talking about a combination of healthy food from a person’s table with elite food from the best manufacturers.

How many times a day

There are certain rules that every breeder must follow to maintain the health and cheerfulness of his four-legged friend. For example, how many times a day to feed a cat correctly so that the animal does not remain hungry or overeat. The best option is in the morning and evening, while monitoring the volume of single servings. Cats that lead an active lifestyle may not eat enough, but for true couch potatoes this feeding schedule is ideal.

Which food is better

Feeding canned and dry food is very convenient, which is why in the modern world it is preferred among breeders. Such dishes do not require pre-cooking, and they contain valuable microelements and minerals necessary for a pet. The question immediately arises, which food is better for cats - dry or canned. Both options have their advantages and significant disadvantages.

Wet food contains 85% moisture, is a perishable product and, if opened and stored improperly, can become the main cause of poisoning for a pet. However, the presence of sealed packaging prevents damage to the sealed product, the formation of mold, and putrefactive processes. Taking into account all these nuances, breeders choose dry food, which is less troublesome in everyday use and storage.

Dry food

When choosing a healthy diet, the breeder will have to familiarize himself with a wide range of products and flavors. Dry cat food with the flavors of chicken, beef, fish, turkey, rabbit, pork, and liver is available for free sale. Even assorted vegetables are noticeably popular with cats. To improve the digestion of your four-legged friend, grains are often added to dry food. The idea is not bad, but before purchasing it would be wise to study the composition for the presence of harmful components, preservatives, and synthetic flavors.

Natural nutrition

Representatives of the British, Bengal breed, being the heirs of their elite parents, can be accustomed to natural food from the human table. This results in both health benefits for the animal and savings for some breeders. This also applies to representatives of other elite breeds that require special care. Natural food for cats includes the following mandatory components of the daily menu:

• meat, offal;
• seafood, fish of certain varieties;
• eggs, dairy products;
• cereals and vegetables.

How much feed is needed per day - table

The intake of protein, fats and carbohydrates into the animal body must be balanced, uniform and regulated. Therefore, it is correct to determine the daily portions of food in advance, stick to the chosen option, do not overfeed your beloved pet, but also do not leave him hungry until the evening. The determining factors are illness, age, pregnancy or previous castration. Below is a table that describes how much food a cat needs per day so that the animal eats properly, does not starve, or overeats.

Dry food intake per day

It is necessary to determine the permissible doses of cat food per day based on the age and weight of the pet. If 70-100 grams per day is enough for kittens to eat, then the norm of dry food for adult cats per day is 250-300 grams. This is not the limit: it all depends on age, the approximate daily menu, and its variety. Eat properly, healthy foods, so in addition to dry food, give preference to regular food from the table.

How much wet food do you need per day?

If your pet weighs 2-3 kg, you need to give 35 grams of dry food and one bag of canned food. When the cat weighs between 3-5 kg, the norms of dry and wet food increase to 50 grams and 1.5 bags. If you are interested in knowing how much wet food a cat needs per day weighing 5-7 kg, the answer is simple - 60 grams of dry food and 2 bags (pouches) of canned food. If you eat a varied menu, you can fatten up your four-legged friend to the “eat and sleep” category.

Feeding with natural food - menu

Many breeders give preference only to natural dogs and try to prepare their own food for their four-legged friend. This is an alternative to expensive premium food that professional breeders use in cat diets. Feeding a cat natural food is more tedious and troublesome, but beneficial for the health of the animal. Food should be protein, contain valuable microelements, minerals for the growth of hair and teeth, strengthening bone structures. Proper nutrition for a cat includes the following food ingredients in the daily menu:

1. Protein foods of animal origin: beef, poultry, offal.
2. Plant foods: porridge, bran, sprouted oats, vegetables.
3. Dairy products: cream, sour cream, milk, eggs, low-fat cheeses.

What cereals can you give?

If the animal is sick, it is better to seek an answer to the question of how to properly feed a cat at an appointment with a veterinarian. In such a clinical picture, nutrition should have medicinal properties and enrich the body with valuable vitamins, regardless of the breed. It is much easier to feed a healthy pet, but it is wise to find out in advance what cereals can be given to cats, and which it is better to immediately refuse.

Rice, oatmeal, buckwheat and corn grits are approved for use by Maine Coon, British, Scottish and other breed pets. But it’s better to immediately refuse pearl barley, peas and wheat porridge. It is advisable to cook these cereals in meat or chicken broth, otherwise the cat may simply not like the proposed dish. If possible, add 1-2 cm pieces of meat for greater appetite.

What vegetables can you give?

When figuring out whether it is possible to feed a cat only dry food, it is important not to forget that the diet should not only be balanced, but also varied. Therefore, the simultaneous combination of feed and natural food does not harm if you select the ingredients correctly and determine the permissible doses. Vegetables can be given to a cat in limited quantities and not all of them. For example, carrots, broccoli, zucchini, melon, cucumbers, and celery are allowed. It is not correct to completely switch living creatures to such a vegetarian menu, since the permissible dose of vegetables is no more than 10% of the daily diet.

What meat to feed a cat

This is an important component of the daily nutrition of your four-legged friend. When answering the question of how to properly feed a cat, meat products are the basis, since they enrich the animal’s body with vital protein, strengthen muscle mass, and provide a full supply of vitamins. The main thing is to correctly decide on the variety and prepare the dish.

So, it is prohibited to feed a cat fatty meat, so it is better to immediately stop buying pork and lamb. The best options are beef, chicken and turkey; the use of offal is not prohibited. The method of heat treatment is cooking to prevent excess fat from entering the animal body. If you feed your pet correctly and in a timely manner, health problems will not arise.

What to feed a kitten

The first weeks of life are very important for a small kitten, since during this period taste preferences are formed and the functioning of the digestive organs is normalized. Therefore, it is very important with the question of how to properly feed a young cat or cat, it is better to immediately contact a veterinarian. Vitaminized foods are especially useful according to your pet’s age category.

If you feed a kitten with such store-bought products, it is important to understand that over time it will hardly be possible to switch it to food from the common table. In order for the animal to quickly gain weight without “earning” chronic kidney disease, it is better to independently prepare natural, healthy food for the younger generation. It is important to periodically change your diet, thus strengthening the immune system and systemic digestion.

Pregnant cat

Proper nutrition for cats when bearing kittens is the key to impeccable health of the future offspring. Since during this period the animal becomes especially picky about food, it is better to switch it to elite dry food, specially designed for expectant mothers. Such nutrition of a pregnant cat will replenish the deficiency of vitamins, strengthen the body, prepare it for the upcoming labor, and will not allow the animal to gain much weight. You can cook food yourself, but give preference to lean varieties of meat and fish, steamed or boiled.

Sterilized

It doesn’t matter whether it is a Scottish Fold or a Scottish Straight, or even a Siberian, Scottish or Thai breed, it is important to take the daily nutrition of a sterilized cat with special responsibility, especially in the first days after the operation. Choose industrial feed with special labeling. However, veterinarians cannot rule out natural food, which should be properly composed of boiled fish and lean meats. The presence of grains and vegetables to feed the cat is appropriate only in minimal doses.

Neutered cat

After surgery, nutrition must be balanced in order to restore the animal’s resource. There are several options for how to feed a cat after castration, but it is recommended to focus on changing the volume of daily portions. Immediately after the operation, each meal should be halved, while fasting days should be arranged regularly. If the cat eats a full portion, do not give supplements; it is better to increase the daily number of meals. The basis of the diet is boiled young beef and fermented milk products.

Cat with urolithiasis

It would be right to switch to healthy foods and eliminate the presence of preservatives in your diet. The daily diet for cats with urolithiasis is lean meat and fish, seafood, offal, and dairy products. It is correct to give a sick animal more fluid so that the stones pass naturally, without additional surgery.

old cat

At this age, a pet already has its own taste preferences, which are not recommended to be violated. The only advice is to feed your old cat products from elite manufacturers or natural food rich in vitamins. The benefits for the animal body will be obvious. The daily feeding of elderly cats and the variety of their diet should be further discussed with a specialist.

Nursing

It is advisable to give preference to the Holistic brand, which offers high quality products at an affordable price. It is very important to feed a nursing cat healthy ingredients so that she can feed the next generation. You can cook it yourself, but preferably steam it and don’t forget about the benefits of dairy products during lactation.

After intestinal surgery

After such a surgical intervention, it is correct to put the four-legged patient on a therapeutic diet. The first day will be a fasting day, since the absence of bowel movements is desirable. In the future, it is recommended to feed the cat after intestinal surgery with stewed or boiled vegetables, meat or vegetable broth, and steamed marine fish. Be sure to provide water and temporarily avoid the presence of fermented milk products in the diet.

What not to feed

A fat animal is not always a healthy animal. It is very important to know what not to feed cats, so as not to inadvertently harm the health of your four-legged friend. Forbidden foods are semi-finished products and dubious preservatives, pickles and mushrooms, chocolate and alcoholic beverages, chicken bones and lard, potatoes and bread. It is important to study in detail how to properly feed a domestic cat so as not to risk the health of your pet.

Video

People are becoming more and more attached to their pets, seeing them as part of their family. Cats still remain at the forefront of people's choice of pets. In order for a cat to please its owners, they need to spare no effort or money to organize the life of a purring family member. An important point in caring for cats is a good and varied diet. Some people prefer dry food, but others are more accustomed to feeding cats dishes that all family members eat. Below we will find out what homemade food should be included in organizing your cat’s diet.

Rules for organizing homemade cat food

The cat's body has a great need for squirrels. Unlike dogs, cats need five times more. For this reason, foods high in protein are a must in your diet.

If you have both a cat and a dog, then remember that the dishes should be different, since each animal has its own needs for certain substances.

Notice the presence offal in the diet, for example, hearts. They are a source of taurine for the animal.

From vegetables cats can be offered pumpkin, spinach, carrots. You can mix vegetables with meat by first passing everything through a meat grinder or blender. There should be no garlic or onions in a dish for cats, as they can lead to intoxication of the body.

If you want the animal's body to be enriched carbohydrates, then introduce brown rice into your diet, which will perfectly cope with this task.

There are foods that should not be in the diet of cats or their the quantity should be minimal: milk, raisins, sweets, chocolate, baked goods

Concerning dairy products, then the most acceptable for a delicate cat’s stomach are low-fat cottage cheese, sour cream and a small amount of cheese.

Many cats enjoy eating eggs, so offer them to them periodically. The egg can be raw or boiled, it all depends on the cat’s preferences.