Caring for your pet correctly: how to feed a sterilized cat. How to feed a cat that has been sterilized

Specialists perform surgical interventions, but many of them do not think about the consequences. But it is very important for owners to know how to care for the animal in the future. For example, they are often interested in the question of whether it is possible to feed a sterilized cat with regular food? It's worth talking a little about this.

A few words about sterilization

Cats, like any other living beings, have the ability to reproduce. And they do this very often, from 2 to 4 times a year. It is unlikely that anyone would want to keep a family of 10 or more individuals at home. Accordingly, the number of stray animals, which pose both a social and environmental threat to the population, is increasing. There is only one way to prevent this process - sterilization. This is a simple surgical intervention that does not have any unpleasant consequences. To prevent future illnesses from appearing, you should take proper care of your pet, and you also need to remember what to feed a sterilized cat.

What changes does sterilization of cats entail?

After sterilization, the cat's body undergoes a number of changes. Namely:

Metabolic disease. Most likely, you have noticed that sterilized cats have quite a lot of weight. This small flaw can lead to the development of serious diseases. It is important to consult with a specialist after surgery about proper feeding.
The animal will eat 2 times more often than before this intervention. In the first days after this process, it will, conditionally, always stand next to the empty bowl. It is important to know how a cat is sterilized. It is necessary that it contains a minimum amount and a maximum of vitamins.
The energy level, on the contrary, decreases. An affectionate pet will almost always sleep or cuddle.
Hair may temporarily begin to fall out. This is normal, as the body will be under stress for some time. In this case, there is no point in resorting to any intervention. Recovery will happen on its own.
The most dangerous symptom appears only in rare breeds of cats - their frequency of urination decreases. If the individual is not switched to a low-salt diet in time, the likelihood of developing urolithiasis will increase.

Many loving owners begin to take care of their pet by buying delicious treats for them. They think the animal is under stress. In fact, cats are absolutely neutral about this process. For many breeds, sterilization is a way to prolong life by normalizing hormonal levels.

Caring for a sterilized cat

Here are some veterinarians' advice:

Experts recommend purchasing a special natural reaction for your pet - licking its own wound. The surgical suture must remain at rest for at least 10 days.
The animal should be provided with a calm rhythm of life. It should not run, jump, or even climb trees.

The cat's body must be saturated with oxygen. You should take her out for a walk in a carrier or arrange a sleeping bed on the balcony.
It is required to completely limit contact with other individuals.
You need to watch the chair. If your cat’s litter box has not been replenished within 72 hours, and she is experiencing discomfort, you should immediately take her to the veterinarian, or better yet, call a specialist to your home.
For 10 days after surgery, any bath procedures are strictly prohibited.

A more caring owner should pay attention to the main question: what to feed a sterilized cat?

Nutrition Basics

Is it possible to feed a sterilized cat regular food? About 80 percent of cat owners ask about this. The obvious answer is no! Doing this is strictly prohibited. This is primarily due to the high level of preservatives and copious amounts of salt. A weakened cat’s body is unable to cope with such a load. It is recommended to feed her only natural products for 3-4 days after surgery.

Such as:

Dairy products with a limited amount of fat: soft grated cottage cheese, milk, cream, curdled milk or yogurt. It is recommended to feed her low-sugar baby formula.
Lenten soup, without adding salt or meat.
Boiled, grated egg.
Special canned food intended for operated cats.

It is very important to follow this diet early in your recovery. At the next stage of rehabilitation, you can supplement the diet with meat, fish and special food for sterilized cats.

Royal Canin

Royal Canin is the best food for sterilized cats. It is available in both dry and liquid form. There is an opportunity to choose the most suitable product for your pet. This is the only food product that has a special line for kittens.

The best food for sterilized cats consists of vegetable proteins, fiber, rice, minerals, fish oil and soybean oil. This entire composition is perfectly absorbed in the weakened body of the animal.

Many dry and liquid supplements contain vitamin E; it promotes rapid saturation and strengthens the immune system. It has been proven that a cat whose diet constantly contains this substance gets sick several times less than other individuals.

"Hills"

In total, there are five main reasons why you should give preference to this product:

It contains carnitine. It has a positive effect on kidney function and is an excellent preventive measure for diseases of the genitourinary system.
There are antioxidants that allow the animal to be in good shape until old age.
In the composition you can see the inscriptions “macroelements” and “microelements”. They are responsible for good feed absorption.
Vitamin E is a constant support for the immune system.
Vitamins A and B are responsible for the external qualities of the pet. His coat, nails and teeth will always be in good condition.

Hills food for sterilized cats is not just a food product, but a universal formula for beauty and health.

"Proplan"

Another special food for sterilized cats is Proplan. It is based on salmon. This means that the product is not only healthy, but also tasty. It has been repeatedly tested by the best experts from all over the world. The verdict was given: it is completely adapted for cats who have undergone surgery. The formula for its creation includes vitamin supplements, minerals and trace elements. The composition of the food for sterilized cats is safe and does not contain harmful chemicals. Rice and cereals are perfectly absorbed in the pet's body. With regular use of just such a product, good stool, proper functioning of the kidneys and gastrointestinal tract will be ensured. This diet prevents the accumulation of sand and kidney stones.

"Akana"

Acana takes fourth place in the ranking of food for sterilized cats. This food product from a Canadian manufacturer is famous for its high quality ingredients. It contains no complex carbohydrates, by-products or chemical additives. All this suggests that it will be well absorbed in the animal’s body, even if it recently underwent a complex operation.

Liquid food consists of more than 75 percent natural meat. Therefore, it has a predominant high protein content. The pet's body will quickly recover and gain strength. Owners of four-legged furry dogs also praise it for its taste. According to them, the animal eats it with good appetite.

Price characteristics

What food should I feed a sterilized cat? The first thing that owners pay attention to is its degree of usefulness. The second indicator is taste. What's the point of buying a product that an animal won't want to eat? An important factor is the price category.

Instructions

A gentle, balanced diet is important for a pet that is recovering from surgery. After surgery, cats are characterized by weakness and drowsiness, and the pet becomes inactive. This condition is normal during the recovery period. In order for the cat to return to its normal state as quickly as possible, to become active and cheerful, it is necessary to carefully monitor its diet. A proper diet speeds up the healing process and prevents the development of complications.

The cat may refuse to eat for 1-2 days after surgery. Poor appetite after surgery is normal, but if you regularly refuse food, it is recommended to consult a veterinarian. The cat should not receive solid food for 24 hours after surgery. 5-6 hours after the procedure, you can offer your pet clean water. On the second day, soft food and food with a puree-like consistency should be given in small portions 3-4 times a day.

The purpose of postoperative nutrition is to compensate for the lack of nutrients that the cat has lost during the period of illness and treatment. Food should be rich in minerals, proteins, fats and carbohydrates. The cat's body is extremely sensitive, so it is recommended to buy specialized veterinary food with a suitable consistency, high nutritional value and a balanced composition. These foods contain all the necessary vitamins, minerals and trace elements.

High-quality veterinary food is produced by Royal Canine (Recovery canned food for post-operative animals). Additionally, baby food is an excellent food for convalescent cats. Salt- and sugar-free meat and vegetable purees are made from high-quality natural ingredients, so they can be safely given to your cat after surgery. Spices and foods with strong odors (such as sardines) should be avoided. A weak digestive system after illness may not be able to cope with such food. If the cat ate dry food before the illness, it is not recommended to give it after surgery. Many veterinarians offer dry food, but canned or pureed meats will be more beneficial during the recovery period.

Food for cats should not be hot, and you should also avoid feeding cold foods. Before feeding your cat, make sure that the food is at a comfortable body temperature.

“Defabergerization” is the name given to this delicate procedure in veterinarian slang. One of the simplest from a professional point of view, but at the same time very serious from the point of view of the impact on the health of the animal.

You will need

- stimulant or anti-stress drug
- warm and soft bedding
- spacious carrying basket where the cat can lie horizontally

Instructions

Not 14 hours before the procedure. Animals are usually given general anesthesia, which induces vomiting, and undigested pieces of food can enter the respiratory tract. Therefore, the optimal time for this is before 11 am. The cat can be fed in the evening, he will spend a good night with a full stomach, and in the morning he will empty his intestines. And there will be no embarrassment on the veterinarian’s examination table.

Give an injection of a biostimulant the day before (for example, Gamavit; in case of stress associated with transportation or castration, it is indicated in the instructions) or give an anti-stress drug. You should not “distract” the animal with valerian, it stimulates the nervous system. Support the day before is especially important if the animal is aged or has recently been ill.

Be close to the cat when he comes out. Animals in this state behave inappropriately: they climb up, cannot land correctly, this results in fractures, bruises, and even death. After the operation, the cat should be placed in a warm place, with access to fresh air (but not placed in a draft). It is best to close it in a portable basket. When the cat comes to his senses and wants to drink, you need to bring him warm and clean water (milk is not needed, its usefulness is questionable, and it can provoke a vomiting reaction). You can feed the animal after at least ten hours. Veterinarians advise communicating with your cat kindly, calmly and patiently.

Diet and supportive care. After castration, hormonal levels change and substances slow down. This means that the problem of obesity and liver and kidney diseases is increasing. Therefore, it is worth taking care of the diet in advance: ready-made food for neutered cats, or building a balanced diet from natural products.

note

The optimal age for castration of a male cat is 7-9 months. It is advisable to have the operation before the sexual instinct awakens.

Helpful advice

If the owner thinks that after castration the cat will stop tearing up furniture and marking the owner’s boots, then this is not so. The number of “hormonal” outrages may decrease. But deviations in behavior, psychological problems and banal revenge on the owner are not solved by castration. In order for the animal to learn to go to the toilet where it needs to be, there are special sprays with pheromones.

Sources:

Castration and urolithiasis, the opinion of veterinarians.

If you are the owner of a cat and your animal does not participate in the breeding of a certain breed, then it is better to castrate it. This is done to suppress the cat’s reproductive instinct and a quiet life for its owner.

Some owners hope that their pet will not start screaming in the corners. They buy a variety of hormonal pills and drops, which help, but not for long, and at the same time cause harm to the body. Later they come to the conclusion that it is time for castration.

When to have surgery?

There is a rule that castration can be prescribed for a cat at the age of 7 months. From this moment on, castration will not harm the body.

It is recommended to castrate a cat before the first mating, so he will not have the desire to reproduce, because the production of hormones occurs in the pituitary gland.

If you have never taken an animal outside before or know that the cat may be afraid of going to the clinic, then you can have castration done at your home. The advantages of this option are that the animal is in a normal home environment and is less stressed. Saving the owner's time also has positive aspects. During the operation, he can carry out his household chores.

Before surgery, the cat must be given an anthelmintic drug. 6 hours before the operation the cat is prescribed fasting. All this is done in order to avoid postoperative complications in the animal.

How is castration done?

This operation is performed under general anesthesia. The operation takes 20-30 minutes; for this, the cat is given an injection of short-term anesthesia.

The veterinarian makes a dissection of the scrotum and ties the spermatic cord, then removes the appendage itself. The surgical wound is treated with an antiseptic solution. After castration, the animal is given an antibiotic injection.

In cats under anesthesia, the eyes remain open, this refers to the characteristics of the feline species.

After the operation, the owner of the animal must constantly be with him until the cat wakes up from anesthesia. Treatment of the postoperative wound is carried out once a day. This is done using hydrogen peroxide and iodine.

After castration, the animal can return to normal within a few hours. The cat begins to eat and walk. Neutered dogs are recommended to have specialized food, which can be purchased at any feed store.

After the operation, the cats remain the same; they lose the desire to reproduce and mark in corners. They play as before and love you.

Video on the topic

Castration inevitably becomes a difficult ordeal for a cat. If the owners decide to do this, their direct responsibility is to ensure that the operation is as painless as possible for the animal.

The cat must be properly prepared. During the operation, the animal’s bladder and digestive tract must be empty, so the cat cannot be given water 12 hours before, or even given an hour an hour before.

Treatment of the wound

If after surgery the doctor treats the wound with Terramycin or Alumazol spray, they will remain on the skin for some time, in this case there is no need to treat the wound. If there was no such treatment, the wound must be washed with 3% peroxide or furatsilin solution, dissolving one tablet in a glass of water. It is not recommended to treat the wound with brilliant green or an alcohol solution of iodine; they can dry out the skin.

To prevent the cat from disturbing the wound by licking it, he needs to wear a special collar on his neck, which will prevent him from reaching the back of the body. The collar is removed only when eating. It is necessary to ensure that the cat does not rub the back of its body on the floor.

The filler used at this time should be soft so as not to disturb the wound. It is better if it is white or at least a light shade, in this case the owners will be able to immediately notice the bleeding that has begun.

Possible complications

Owners should be alert to an increase in the animal's body temperature. The normal temperature for a cat is 38-39°C. In the first three days it will inevitably be elevated, but if the temperature has not dropped on the fourth day, this is a reason for an urgent visit to the veterinarian. Moreover, you need to show the animal to a doctor if the wound begins to fester. In this case, the veterinarian will prescribe an antibiotic.

On the first day after surgery, a decrease in temperature (less than 37 degrees) may be observed, while the animal sleeps. The cat needs to be warmed up by applying a heating pad and rubbing its paws. If this does not help, the cat still does not move or wake up, you need to urgently call a veterinarian or take the cat to the clinic.

You should also take your cat to the clinic if the stitch starts to bleed.

After castration, a cat may suffer from constipation. Stool retention is inevitable during the first two to three days, but if the cat does not have stool for more than four days, it is necessary to start giving him a laxative. Of course, this cannot be done without first consulting a veterinarian; only he can make the most appropriate decision, taking into account the health status and characteristics of the body of a particular animal.

Sources:

Caring for a cat after castration

Typically, cats tolerate castration easily and do not require special care if the operation is not accompanied by complications. The veterinarian can give general recommendations immediately after the operation when handing over the animal to the owner, making sure that the heart of the operated patient is functioning normally.

Instructions

If you have the opportunity, after surgery, leave your cat at the veterinary clinic for a while under the supervision of a specialist in case unexpected complications arise. This is especially true if the operation was performed on an animal of advanced age or suffering from a serious illness. Provide the cat with rest until it completely recovers from anesthesia - depending on the type of anesthesia, this time can range from several hours to a day. Lethargy, weakness and loss of coordination usually persist throughout the first postoperative day.

After delivering the cat home, place him on a flat and not too hard surface in a warm place, protected from drafts. Place the bedding on the floor, and not on a chair or sofa - when trying to get up, the animal may fall and be seriously injured. Sometimes after surgery, animals experience vomiting and involuntary urination, so it will be better if you place a disposable diaper on top of the soft bedding. If your cat starts to feel chills, place a heating pad filled with warm water under the bedding or cover your pet with a thick, soft cloth.

You can give the animal water three hours after the operation; it is better to feed it no earlier than six hours later, if the anesthesia has worn off by this time. Start with a small portion of the usual food; you can switch to specialized food for neutered animals in a few days. If the cat lies for a long time and cannot drink on its own, try giving it something to drink from a syringe without a needle, but do not feed it. While the anesthesia continues, the cat can lie with its eyes open. To prevent the mucous membrane from drying out, carefully drip saline or special drops into each eye.

So, the operation was left behind, the cat returned from the country of Morpheus and completely recovered from anesthesia. At this time he is still very weak, so you need to keep a close eye on him. In such a situation, the main thing is for the owner to remain calm and show sympathy for the animal, because he urgently needs this now, and he cannot cope alone.

This is naturally a huge stress for a cat. While he is recovering from anesthesia, his muscles are weakened, he has difficulty moving or is almost unable to do so. He is also very thirsty, so you should give him something to drink. Dizziness resulting from “withdrawal” can provoke nausea - this is normal and there is no need to worry, because this is how his own body cleanses itself after the invasion.

During an operation under anesthesia, people's eyes close by themselves, so they have no difficulties with this, but in animals (cats and dogs in particular), they are open, and their surface dries out. Veterinarians periodically moisten his eyes while the cat is under the influence of the drug, but when the “patient” arrives home, the owner will need to do this with the help of special eye drops for animals.

It can also be noted that during the operation the animal’s overall body temperature decreases by about 1.5-2 degrees. He may tremble slightly. To make him comfortable, you should cover him with a warm towel or heating pad.

Another aspect is gait after surgery. Due to anesthesia, the muscles temporarily lose their elasticity and become weak, so the cat can walk staggering, but this will not last longer than two to three hours. While he is in this state, you need to keep an eye on him so that he does not try to jump on high-standing things, otherwise he may fall and get hurt.

It is important to clarify that during the postoperative period animals require special nutrition. After so much stress, a cat may eat poorly or not eat at all because his appetite decreases. But when he finally wants to eat, you need to give him only half of his usual portion, because now he can’t overeat. It is better to give your pet water to drink once again.

Basic rules for feeding neutered cats

To understand what to feed castrated cats, you should know how they differ from their uncastrated counterparts.

After removal of the testes, the cat’s hormonal levels change, and they cease to show interest in the opposite sex. As a result, in addition to the fact that cats stop screaming and marking their territory, they become calmer, and interest in cats is replaced by an increased interest in food.

These behavioral features determine the tendency towards obesity in neutered cats (and male cats). Therefore, the first rule when feeding castrated animals is DO NOT OVERFEED.

If you see that your animal is gaining weight, then you should either reduce the amount of food or switch to low-calorie food.

It is widely believed that neutered cats are prone to urolithiasis. Although there are few reliable scientific studies on this topic and their results are contradictory, it is known that the incidence of urolithiasis in fat animals is higher than in animals with normal weight.

It is believed that the accumulation of stones in the urinary system is also facilitated by the fact that castrated animals urinate less often. In addition, there is an opinion that with early castration, the urethra in cats remains underdeveloped, that is, narrower.

As a result, any problems in the urinary system, be it stones or simply an inflammatory process in castrated men, more often lead to urethral obstruction.

From the tendency of castrated cats to urolithiasis, two other rules for their feeding follow:

MONITOR THE CONTENT OF MINERAL SUBSTANCES IN THE FEED (increased content of magnesium and phosphorus leads to the formation of tripelphosphates - the most common stones),

WATER SHOULD BE CONSUMED BY ANIMALS IN SUFFICIENT QUANTITY. This rule is most relevant when feeding dry food.

In this case, the cat should drink 3 times more water than he eats dry food. If the animal drinks little, then you should either soak dry food or refuse this type of feeding.

And now directly about feeding.

First of all, you should decide on the type of food: either feed industrial (dry and canned) food, or homemade food (can be combined with canned food). Mixing these two types of nutrition is not recommended.

When eating at home, the main components of the diet should be the following: meat (beef, poultry) and offal (heart, lung, chicken gizzards, liver, etc.), cereals, vegetables (carrots, cabbage, etc.), fermented milk products (kefir , cottage cheese).

Feeding fish should be avoided (due to the increased content of phosphorus and magnesium).

Carefully monitor your cat's weight.

If you decide to use dry food, you should choose one brand of food suitable for your cat and feed it only. There are a large number of foods that say on the packaging that they are suitable for neutered animals. But it should be remembered that there are no fundamental differences in the composition of food for castrates and for non-castrates, therefore, when choosing food, you should pay attention to its composition, and not to the general description. Naturally, for a person far from dietetics, the composition of the food says little, so the simplest rule when choosing food is: choose premium or super-premium class food and trust “serious companies,” that is, those whose food is developed in specialized research centers. Such companies include, for example, Purina, Royal Canin, Iams, Hill's.

You can consult the seller about the class of food (of course, not in the market, but in a specialized store). Good quality food is naturally more expensive, but it should be remembered that the money saved on feeding has to be spent on treatment.

If you want to supplement your cat’s feeding with canned food, then it is advisable that the canned food and dry food be from the same brand. When eating at home, the brand of canned food is not of fundamental importance.

Quite often, when you ask the store for food for a neutered cat, they may offer you dietary food for the treatment of urolithiasis (for example, Whiskas low pH control or Royal Canin Felistar S10). The use of such food for a healthy (and not previously ill) animal is absolutely not justified.

Veterinarian Svetlana MINAEVA
http://veterinar.ru/

Recommendations for natural nutrition of castrated and sterilized cats

The diet of these pets should be planned immediately after the operation. For the health of these creatures, it is undesirable to mix homemade natural food and industrial feed.

In order not to harm our pet, veterinarians advise the following:

Cat food should be warm.
Meals should be daily and on a schedule. Even the most freedom-loving cats get used to the routine and come home from their walk on time.
Choose a place for your cat where no one will disturb her and she can eat in peace.
If you have more than one pet, then make sure that each of them can safely eat their portion.
We remove any leftover food, since protein foods spoil quickly.
The number of meals per day depends on the age of the cat:

A kitten aged ten weeks (two months) needs to eat four times a day and the daily ration is from 120 to 150 grams. natural food.

At the age of three months, we eat THREE times a day, and increase the amount of food to the norm for an adult animal, 150-250 grams.

The daily diet can also be calculated based on the cat’s weight: for each kilogram of it there are 30-40 grams. stern. Those. if a cat weighs 2 kg, then she needs 60-80 grams. per day of natural food.

At the age of six months, we divide the daily food intake into TWO meals.

An adult cat eats TWO times a day.

An elderly pet over 7 years old eats three to four times a day in small portions.

In the case of transferring an animal to natural food, the pet’s diet should include meat (beef and poultry), by-products (chicken stomachs, liver, tongue), cereals with milk, vegetables (cabbage and carrots), as well as acidic foods (cottage cheese and kefir).

A variety of meat must be given. The maximum types of lean meat that you can afford are beef, chicken, rabbit, turkey, lean lamb, and if possible, some game. It is better to alternate meat by day.

Cut the meat into pieces. We don’t make or buy minced meat; it’s too fatty for cats. Finely chop the greens into portions, and grate hard vegetables on a fine grater. If we use bran, then it should only be added to wet dairy or meat foods. Meat and dairy products should NOT be given at the same time in one meal.

You can serve it raw (kept in the freezer for several days) or lightly boiled.

You also need to give offal. Cats are usually given chicken gizzards, liver and hearts. Sometimes necks, beaten off with a hammer. Boil or serve raw - you need to decide. Some cats experience vomiting or diarrhea from raw foods. Give offal several times a week.

In addition to cottage cheese, you can give any other fermented milk products (acidophilus, kefir, matsoni, fermented baked milk, Varenets, yogurt, etc.), you just need to make sure that there is no diarrhea. Some people get diarrhea from fermented baked milk (for example) or other types of fermented milk.

It is necessary to give vegetables, but without fanaticism. 10-15% of the total diet per day is enough. For vegetables, it is better to give pumpkin, zucchini, lettuce, spinach, parsley, dill, cucumbers, carrots, beets, cauliflower, broccoli, green beans. Again, you need to watch the body’s reaction; foods that cause gas formation and bowel problems should be excluded.

In general, cereals should be given with caution; they can cause digestive problems (cats cannot digest cereals, but they can begin to ferment in the intestines). It is better to limit yourself to brown rice and bran, no more than 1 teaspoon per day.
Give eggs 2-3 times a day, usually 1 raw quail egg whole with a broken shell. It is better to boil chicken and give it in half.

Vegetable oil added to the meat and vegetable mixture will help with digestion and have a good effect on the skin and coat.

You should not suddenly introduce foods that are unfamiliar to your cat into the diet. This should be done a little at a time and, if possible, so that the cat does not notice the appearance of grated vegetables or other types of meat in the minced meat. Gradually increase their number. The cat will gradually get used to the new taste.

How to switch a pet from one type of food to another?

Gradually. Over the course of a month or a month and a half, we add the food we want to switch the cat to to the usual food. We reduce the amount of the old food with each meal, and gradually increase the amount of the new food. This rule applies to all types of food, even within the line of one manufacturer. It is not advisable to suddenly switch to a new food; digestion may be upset. And it won’t be a matter of the quality of the food, but rather a sudden change in the usual diet. You can suggest the following translation scheme for “whims”:

If he doesn’t eat within 5 minutes, put it in the refrigerator, leaving only a bowl of water.
After half an hour, put out the bowl of food again. If I didn’t eat in 5 minutes, I put it in the refrigerator.
Don't leave the bowl out longer. I don’t know why, but this method works more effectively on cats than a long-standing bowl of tasteless food. If all the struggle and accustoming to new food fails miserably, you will have to consider the option of industrial food.

Is it possible to feed a cat both natural food and ready-made food?

It is forbidden. Only as an exception is possible. Due to various circumstances, such as: you forgot to buy food and it suddenly ran out, you are on the road, or you simply decided to pamper your pet with a treat in bags. A prerequisite is that at least 6 hours must pass after the last meal.

High-quality ready-made food, including wet food, is designed so that the cat eats only it and therefore the daily requirement contains all the necessary elements in a balanced proportion. By constantly replacing one meal with natural food, you upset the balance, which will lead to a lack of some elements and an excess of others. In addition, a sudden change of food is harmful to the cat’s body. This diet will eventually affect your health with metabolic disorders.

Do I need to give vitamin-mineral complexes?

When feeding ready-made super-premium food, no additional additives are needed. In all other cases, including when feeding with natural products, it is necessary to additionally feed with vitamins. Vitamin complexes can be daily or course. Recommended vitamin complexes:

CALCIDEE - “Calcium, phosphorus and vitamin D”, in the form of tablets with a pleasant taste and smell of milk, contain calcium, phosphorus and vitamin D in the optimal ratio for the proper development of bones and teeth in puppies and kittens. They are also simply necessary for pregnant and lactating females.
"8 in 1", USA. For more than 100 years, the products of this manufacturer have been distinguished by quality and professionalism. Properly selected vitamins and minerals are necessary to prevent diseases and stimulate the immune system.
Beaphar TOP-10 - complex of minerals and vitamins

Conclusions.

These amazing creatures should not be overfed to avoid obesity, which can result in urolithiasis. The pet's food portion should be smaller and the feeding schedule should not be disrupted. It is necessary to monitor food for the content of certain minerals. The pet requires more attention and physical activity. Pets should always be provided with clean water.

Many owners, when choosing a girl kitten as a pet, begin to think about how to prevent the appearance of offspring, as well as unwanted diseases. The best solution in this case is sterilization. But after it has been done, many people wonder what to feed a sterilized cat? How to choose the right diet for her to avoid obesity and much more. To begin with, it is worth remembering that there is nothing complicated in feeding a sterilized cat, the main thing is to follow the simplest tips.

Recovery period after surgery

A cat's recovery after anesthesia can take from 8 to 12 hours, during which time it may require special care. Compared to them, cats come to their senses after castration much faster, and immediately after recovering from anesthesia they return to their previous lives.

But as soon as the cat begins to hold its head up and move around on its own, it will need to be put on a special vest.

First of all, you need to monitor the condition of the seam, avoiding unnecessary tension, and of course, do not forget to feed the sterilized cat correctly. In the first three days, food should be very soft or semi-liquid to avoid constipation. Such a diet may include

Low-fat dairy products
Lenten broths
Canned food intended for cats after surgery or illness

If on the first day a sterilized cat refuses food, there is no need to worry, but rather provide your pet with full access to water. The next day, the pet's food should be liquid.

Organized nutrition for a sterilized cat

After sterilization, there is no need to radically change the diet; the cat needs to be fed everything that it is already accustomed to. Therefore, if your pet ate only natural products before the operation, you should not try to suddenly switch it to specialized food. It is worth paying special attention to the industrial type of food, and choosing only the one that is intended for sterilized cats.

Also, do not forget that sterilized cats lose their sense of satiety, and they will try to eat everything in the bowl without leaving a trace.

Specialized food for sterilized cats will help solve this problem. Since they are saturated with vitamins and proteins, which allow the cat to temporarily forget about the desire to eat.

To avoid obesity, a sterilized cat, like people, needs to follow its feeding regime. Try to teach her to eat only at certain times of the day. For example, pour food only in the morning and evening. The rest of the time, keep your cat's bowl empty. If your cat's routine consists of three feedings a day, simply divide the food into three equal portions.

How to choose the right ready-made food

Owners of sterilized cats who are faced with the choice of ready-made food for the first time should follow some tips to avoid making mistakes with nutrition. First of all Don’t pay attention to economy class food, because it is he who is not of high quality. Therefore, if you decide to sterilize your cat, then you should not save on it.

In order to make it clearer what the differences are between the various categories, it is worth paying attention to the composition. Sometimes the fine print makes it clear in an instant why this particular food should not be chosen, especially for a sterilized cat. After all, having saved on food, you can later spend quite a lot of money on a trip to the veterinarian. Very often, premium food from some manufacturers is similar in characteristics to super premium. That is why it is worth choosing it as carefully as possible. The diet of sterilized cats must include food with a special mark.

If you suddenly notice that a sterilized cat has begun to gain a lot of weight, you should pay attention to food labeled “Anti-obesity.”

This food is low in calories, and therefore you can add a small portion of your favorite treats to the diet of a sterilized cat, but the most important thing is that this does not harm her health.

Also, do not forget about the simplest rules when ready-made food is included in the diet of a sterilized cat:

Water must be constantly available and always fresh
When choosing food, be sure to look for the presence of such an inscription as “Prevention”
Medicinal food should not be purchased without a doctor’s recommendation.

Very often, sterilized cats are diagnosed with urolithiasis; in such cases, specialized food is also produced. They contain more essential vitamins, but the content of phosphorus and magnesium is reduced.

It is best to give your preference to canned food, since they have a great advantage over dry food. For example, with its dosed moisture content, which does not require additional fluid intake.

If you have any doubts when choosing food for a sterilized cat, you should consult with your veterinarian, because very often factors such as the age of your pet and its breed can play a role in making a decision.

Choosing a natural diet for a sterilized cat

A human food diet is the best choice for feeding your pet because you always know what's on his menu. After all, sometimes the composition of many foods is not always described truthfully. Also always adjust the salt dosage, which is very important for your pet.

Feeding a sterilized cat at home is very simple, but if you decide to include only natural food in its diet, you should not treat it with ready-made food. The only exception may be some types of canned food, which are used only as a treat or an attempt to add a little variety to the pet’s menu.

Try to ensure that the majority of your sterilized pet's diet consists of meat, because she is by nature a carnivore, albeit a very small one.

Despite the fact that you can choose absolutely any type of meat, it should not be very fatty. You should also remember that if you decide to feed raw meat, it must be frozen to avoid the appearance of worms. Homemade canned food will be an excellent treat that no sterilized pet will refuse, and preparing them will be as easy as shelling pears:

The most commonly used are chicken necks and wings, pork ears and cartilage; they do not require boiling, but should be kept in the freezer for about 3-4 days
Don’t forget about by-products, which contain many useful vitamins, such as chicken livers, hearts and stomachs
After which all meat products are passed through a meat grinder
You can add vitamin B12 to canned food
Place in bags or glass jars and then freeze

Any supplements must be calculated strictly based on the weight of your pet. Rice or buckwheat is also often added to canned food.

Don't forget to feed your pet a variety of vegetables, as they are rich in vitamins. They can be added to dishes either boiled or raw in a pureed state. And of course, don’t leave your pet without dairy products, such as cottage cheese, kefir and even cheese.

Try to ensure that the menu of a sterilized pet is always varied, and one product is not repeated too often.

Foods that need to be excluded from the diet

Sterilized pets need a special selection of their diet, as many changes occur in the body. First of all, a slow metabolism occurs. Energy requirements are reduced and appetite increases significantly, so it is necessary to carefully monitor her diet in order to avoid obesity. After sterilization, many pets experience a decrease in the frequency of urination, which exposes them to urolithiasis.

That is why, never feed your cat such foods as:

Fish, since phosphorus has a negative effect on the body
Oatmeal contains large amounts of unwanted magnesium
Semolina porridge is a source of carbohydrates
Any dairy products whose fat content is above 10%, this can be sour cream or cream
You should definitely forget about smoked, fried or pickled foods.
Legumes and potatoes are high in calories and can cause diarrhea.

Never feed fresh meat to your cat, as this can cause not only the appearance of worms, but also protein intoxication. Do not try to use medications from your medicine cabinet to treat your pet, even if indigestion or bloating occurs.

Place for eating

As with humans, feeding space for neutered cats is very important, as is the use of special utensils. It must be kept clean at all times, and winded or Dried food should be thrown away otherwise it can cause poisoning. A sterilized cat's fluid intake needs are especially high, so it is worth giving her a very deep bowl, or even a small basin. Try to change it as often as possible to avoid the accumulation of large amounts of salts in it.

The feeding place itself should be very comfortable so that the sterilized cat feels comfortable while eating, and no one should disturb her at this moment. Afterwards you need to give her some time to rest, avoiding various games.

Conclusion

Feeding a sterilized pet is quite simple, you just need to spend a little more time choosing her menu than before, adjust her portion and the number of meals to avoid overeating. And if you do everything correctly, your pet will be healthy, cheerful and very cheerful, will not be subject to any diseases, including obesity, and will always be grateful to you.

Sterilization is depriving an animal of the ability to give birth. If you decide to sterilize a cat, this almost certainly means that during the operation her internal reproductive organs - the ovaries and uterus - will be removed, that is, strictly speaking, she will be castrated.

What then? Since these organs (mainly the ovaries) produced female sex hormones, which are responsible for many processes in the body, their removal will lead to various consequences.

Estrogens tend to suppress appetite. In addition, sex hormones speed up metabolism. If they stop being produced, the animal’s appetite increases, and at the same time metabolism slows down. As a result, we get a tendency towards obesity.

If we talk about how to properly feed neutered cats, then we need to proceed from this conclusion. If previously the animal had a full bowl, from which the cat ate a little at a time and did not gain excess weight, now she will eat everything and ask for more, gradually turning into a bun.

Developers of pet food have long been concerned with this problem and have created lines of food for sterilized animals: as a rule, they have lower calorie content due to their reduced fat content.

Changing your approach to feeding your cat

After sterilizing a pet, owners need to change their views on feeding it. First, you need to limit the amount of food you eat. It is a myth that the bowl should always be filled to the brim, and the cat itself knows how much it needs to eat. Therefore, you need to strictly adhere to the daily norm, dividing it into one or more feedings during the day.

For example, wet food should not be left in a bowl, so it must be given often and little by little. And don’t feel sorry for the little glutton if she “cries” next to an empty bowl. Once given a food reward, your cat will use the same techniques over and over again if he realizes they work.

Secondly, you need to monitor the physical condition of the animal. If the cat receives what you think is a tiny portion, but does not lose weight, then it means she has enough. If a standard portion causes weight gain, it must be reduced.

Visually it is not always possible to adequately assess the degree of fatness of an animal, so weighing is optimal. Only constant monitoring by the owners and individual adjustment of the amount of food will allow the cat to stay in shape.

How to properly feed a cat after sterilization: changing the diet

It is necessary to reduce the calorie content of the feed. There are some rules for feeding castrated animals:

reducing the level of fat (it is desirable that their level should not exceed 10%);
maximum reduction in the amount of carbohydrates (the less the cat gets from grain and starchy foods, the better);
increasing the amount of dietary fiber (they give a feeling of fullness and at the same time stimulate the intestines).

It should be noted that a decrease in nutritional value does not mean a decrease in the quality of feed. After sterilization, you need to feed your cat no less, and perhaps even more carefully. It is extremely important for her to receive high-quality sources of fat and protein, so diets in which full-fledged animal fat is replaced with vegetable oil, and meat with sources of vegetable protein, are not suitable for her in any case.

You should not be afraid after sterilization and the development of urolithiasis; there is no direct connection between these phenomena. High-quality feed, balanced in magnesium and phosphorus content, reduces the risk of developing the disease.

How to properly feed a sterilized cat dry food

Only super premium food for sterilized animals and grain-free food with a high meat content are suitable for feeding.

The daily portion is selected based on the feeding standards recommended by the manufacturer. A table with data can always be found on the back of the package. Please understand that grain-free diets are highly digestible, so you may need to reduce the daily intake, especially if your cat has begun to gain weight.

Feeding dry food to sterilized cats with different activity levels

In apartment cats, energy expenditure can be very low, but it’s a different matter when the question arises of how to properly feed a sterilized outdoor cat. By this we mean an animal that has constant access to the street. Theoretically, the energy expenditure of such a cat will be much higher, which means the need for food will increase.

But here it is important to take into account such a moment as hunting. If a cat actively catches mice during walks, then it can almost completely satisfy its nutritional needs through its natural diet. Many domestic cats only play with their prey, losing interest in it after death or bringing it to their owners to “boast of their success.”

In this case, the owner needs to monitor the animal’s weight and independently select the optimal feeding option. If the cat gains weight on a standard portion of food, you need to give less food. If the animal runs around a lot, does not eat its prey and begins to lose weight, it may have to be given a little more food (the norm for active animals is the maximum values in the table indicated on the package).

Sterilization is not to blame

Sterilization is the right way to prolong the life of a pet and improve its quality. But health largely depends on proper feeding. No matter how “cute” a plump cat may look, we should not forget that this is an obese animal that is at risk of developing diabetes, problems with joints, heart, kidneys, liver, and is unable to lead an active lifestyle and play.

It is not the food or the operation itself that is to blame for obesity - the responsibility lies primarily with the owners, so it is better not to neglect the advice of veterinarians on how to properly feed a sterilized cat.

Feed your cat correctly after castration, and you will not notice any changes in her character and complexion. She will be as active, playful and healthy as before.