Dog and cat food are often sold in the same supermarket aisle, but actually have little to do with each other. Although both animals need a lot of protein, canines are omnivores while felines are strict carnivores. What does it mean? That in a high percentage —nearly 85%— their diet is based on the intake of proteins of animal origin. Without this amount, they simply cannot perform their vital functions.
Cats “do not have salivary amylase, which is responsible for the assimilation of sugars, and in turn have a continuous loss of amino acids”, explained to us a few months ago David Rodríguez Gaete, veterinary nutritionist and gastroenterologist. They are also unable to maintain nitrogen levels in their blood and therefore must receive protein on a constant basis.
This is the reason why it is not convenient for them to eat anything that falls off the table, let alone give them treats that we enjoy, such as chocolates, yogurts or other sweets. And also why it is very important to look carefully at the ingredients and components of the food that we are going to buy.
Ideally, the product “has a high percentage of animal protein, a medium percentage of fat and only a very low percentage of carbohydrates”. The ideal, says Rodríguez, is for the food to contain more than 45% animal protein.
“More than the price of the product, especially in cat food, you have to look at the ingredients,” suggested Montserrat Villa, a veterinarian. “The best thing would be if the food had meat as the first ingredient, whether it’s chicken, duck, salmon or trout, which are the most common.”
This way, we can be sure that its minimum quota of animal protein – which includes essential amino acids such as taurine and arginine, essential in the cat’s diet – will be covered. For the same reason, vegan foods should also be avoided.
how much should they eat
Anyone who has a pet knows that there are several social classes in food. Down with the very, very cheap, which are only sold in bulk and whose composition is questionable. Then some of the best known brands but equally cheap prices. Top some more expensive and also more nutritious to end up, in the end, with those that only sell in specific places and that very few pockets can afford.
As Villa explained to us, “Based on their nutritional values, foods are divided into four categories: economy, maintenance, premium and super premium.” The first two are found in supermarkets and private businesses, while the premium and super-premium are found in veterinary clinics, distributors or pet specialty stores.
The logic would be to think that the more expensive the food, the better it will be for our cat. This is almost always true, but to verify this you should always read the label and check the ingredients. As we said, the more animal protein it contains, the more nutritious it will be.
In all cases, and regardless of the categories mentioned, all foods have a table specifying the quantity in grams that an animal must consume daily, according to its weight and age. This is very important to avoid overweight and obesity, very common health problems in cats.
By sticking to portions and not being tempted to give him food every time he asks for it, felines are much more likely to maintain a healthy weight. To this must be added mobility, so if you do not have a terrace, it is good to spend a few minutes a day playing with it.
How many times a day should you feed them? According to Rodríguez, it depends, although in general cats eat between 15 and 20 times a day in small doses. “It’s like that because they have continuous, obligatory losses of amino acids, so every now and then they have to replenish.”
This does not mean, of course, that you have to refill your plate every 45 minutes, but rather serve your daily portion indicated in two or three portions spaced throughout the day.
mixed feeding
In general, cats tend to be bad at drinking water. Some only drink it if it’s on the go, like straight from the tap or from electrical sources that circulate it, and others don’t care too much about it. But that doesn’t mean they need to hydrate less.
A good strategy for adding water to their diet is to mix traditional dry food – pellets – with wet products, which have a liquid percentage that will help compensate for their water deficit.
According to Manuela Fischer, veterinarian and doctor of nutrition for dogs and cats, wet foods – which usually come in the form of envelopes – are also a good source of taurine, an amino acid essential for the normal functioning of the heart muscle, vision and digestion, among others, other aspects. “It’s very important for the formation of bile salts,” he adds. Whiskas wet food pouches, for example, provide a third of the water they need per day and also contain fatty acids, vitamins, macro and micro minerals. By combining them with pellets, “we are already delivering a balanced, balanced and tasty diet”.
Hints
“The most expensive is not necessarily the best,” Rodríguez told us. But there are a few things to consider when choosing a feed.
—That it does not generate any problem or adverse reaction for your cat.
—You have to like food (even if it’s quality, if you don’t like it, it’s useless).
“You have to have financial solvency to be able to pay for it in the long term. Many premium or super-premium products aren’t for every budget, and it doesn’t do pets any good to constantly change their diets.
All three conditions must be met to decide if this food will be the last. If it’s not given — or your cat doesn’t like it, or it hurts, or you don’t have enough money to pay for it — it would be best to look for another alternative so your pet can eat. calmly and healthily.
Fischer gives other recommendations, such as:
—Build a diet plan by dividing the daily serving into 3 or 4 servings. Remember that cats are nocturnal, so the last ration should have more weight than the others, as they will eat more times at that time.
—Do not confuse wet envelopes with prizes or snacks. Always read what they contain, because to incorporate them into the diet, they must contain essential nutrients and vitamins.
Observe if you urinate well, the number of times and the color.
What about prices?
Whether it’s to reward good behavior, create habits, or simply treat yourself, edible treats have become increasingly common among cats. But how does it help their diet?
“Prizes can be offered twice a day without any problem,” Karen Valenzuela, coordinator of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the University of the Americas, told us. “This can be determined during the medical consultation, either because the cat has had a recent moment of stress, or simply when we give it to you,” he adds.
There is therefore no reason to feel guilty if from time to time we give him a snack. The important thing is that these “do not exceed 5% or 10% of the cat’s total daily kilocalories”, David Rodríguez told us. In order not to lose count, it would be reasonable to leave a maximum of them per day and hope that they are also rich in animal protein.
Another very relevant fact is that prizes or snacks offered to cats do not contain fructose or other types of sugar, since cats, as we have already said, “do not have the enzymatic and biochemical mechanisms to be able to synthesize it”.
Minerals you should also be careful with are magnesium, phosphorus, calcium, iodine and sodium. If there is an excess of these components, they can lead to liver or kidney complications in cats. So it’s always a good idea to read the ingredients and nutritional information of the product long before it enters your pet’s mouth.
Source: Latercera
I’m Todderic Kirkman, a journalist and author for athletistic. I specialize in covering all news related to sports, ranging from basketball to football and everything in between. With over 10 years of experience in the industry, I have become an invaluable asset to my team. My ambition is to bring the most up-to-date information on sports topics around the world.
