What to feed a cat homemade food

Proplan or Royal Kanin: what food is better for cats, comparison, how to choose the best

How to feed a cat properly: natural or dry food and how many times?

The right diet is the key to the health of the pet. Preference can be given both natural food and purchased products. When choosing a menu, you should consider the needs of the pet and the possibilities of the breeder.

Breeders of pets are divided in opinion about the proper feeding of cats and cats.

Some argue that the animal should be given only natural products without "store food", others argue that the home ration does not contain those useful additives that are included in industrial food.

In fact, it does not matter what kind of food the breeder gives his pet – factory or "natural".

1. The owner wastes no time in preparing the food. Industrial feed is sold in packs or in small packages that are designed for one time.
2. Dry food can be left for several days. It does not spoil and is the "go-to" food when the breeder is away for a long time.
3. The nutrition of the luxurious and holistic class contains all componentsnecessary for good nutrition of the pet.
4. A wide range of products will allow the owner to pick up food for their animals, based on individual needs. There are nutritional lines for cats of different ages, sterilized pets, nursing cats, animals with various diseases, overweight, and so on.

The disadvantages include pricing policy. Quality premium food and above is more expensive than natural food. Buying food economy class is categorically not recommended. They have a negative impact on the health of the pet.

What is a natural diet?

A natural diet is a balanced dietThe cat's diet consists of meat and fish products, eggs, cooked vegetables, milk and dairy dishes.

This diet is necessary for the complete development of the cat. Thanks to these products, the body receives micro- and macronutrients, calcium, protein, vitamins and minerals.

The basis of the diet

The basis of the diet consists of natural meat, fish and dairy products.

1. Meat, by-products and fish. For meat dishes, choose lean varieties, such as beef, rabbit, chicken and veal. Of by-products, lungs are especially popular, but they should be given in small portions, pre-cooked for 2-3 minutes. Many breeders buy beef tripe, but it must be stored in the freezer for several days before use.
2. Boiled eggs. For an adult pet, 1-2 eggs per week is sufficient.
3. Dairy products. Necessary for the animal to improve the digestive system, as well as saturate the body with calcium. Fresh milk is hard to digest and should be given several times a week in small portions.
4. Boiled vegetables. They saturate the pet's body with fiber. If the pet refuses to eat them in their pure form, the product is mixed with fish or meat.
5. Root vegetables and fresh grass. Help improve the digestive system, saturate the body with fiber.
6. Cereals: rice, buckwheat porridge..

Read more ► Can you feed your cat with dry food and natural food at the same time: pros and cons, what is better

What shouldn't be in a natural food?

It is strictly forbidden to feed your pet with products from the table. What a person considers a "treat" is harmful to the cat and leads to the development of diseases.

Natural Foods

Many people think that natural feeding refers to food from the table. This is not true, we are talking about a balanced diet with enough micronutrients and low in cereals. A proper natural menu includes:

• Lean meat and fish without bones. Prefer boiled or scalded products, it is better not to give raw.
• Meat by-products: liver, heart.
• Cartilage.
• Dairy products: cottage cheese, kefir, and ryazhenka. Their fat content should not exceed 15%. Without additives and sugar.
• Vegetables. Add heat-processed or raw.
• Fruit with a low sugar content, however, not all cats eat them.
• Greens (such as lettuce).
• Complex supplements.

Cats don't usually need cereals in their diet, but in the fall, a small amount of them won't hurt. Experts recommend dividing meals by composition. For example, give out meat in the morning and cottage cheese in the evening. This way of feeding prevents diarrhea.

To the disadvantages of natural food can be attributed the cost of time for cooking and the high cost of products.

Dry food

This method is popular with owners because of its convenience. In some cases, dry food is a necessity. For example, in case of ICD or due to the peculiarities of a particular breed. For example, British, Scottish and Persian cats are prone to allergies, sphynxes and lop-eared cats to metabolic disorders, so it will be quite difficult to find a competent natural diet on their own.

• balanced composition;
• Instructions with the exact weight of the daily portion;
• long storage time;
• prevention of tartar, as the chewing of the pellets cleans naturally;
• Choice of range depending on activity, diseases, taste preferences.

• Cost. Veterinarians do not advise to buy economy class food, it is better to choose premium or super-premium, and the price of such brands is quite high.
• In the case of economy class composition may not match the label.
• The content of salts, can cause various pathologies.
• A large selection, a responsible approach is required.

Types of cat food

Dry and semi-dry food

It is most convenient for owners who feed their pets on a free schedule: if you fill the bowl with "dryness" in the morning, it will stay fresh and tasty until the evening. This is also suitable for when you need to go away for 1-2 days and leave the cat alone. The main disadvantage of dry food is that it has almost no moisture, so the pet should always have fresh water in a bowl, water dispenser or drinking fountain.

In July, Roskachestvo published a rating of 39 foods from well-known manufacturers. The top five brands included:

Dry and semi-dry foods should be stored in a tightly sealed bag, watch the expiration date, and don't buy them by the weight – there's no telling how long they've been open.

Food grades

Classification is based on quantity and quality. The class also affects the price.

Economy class

At first glance, this is the most budget-friendly option. But these foods can cause health problems for animals because of their low protein content, high amounts of soy, artificial colors and oxidants. Sometimes they may even consist of bran alone. Cheap foods are like fast food for humans and are about as healthy as instant soups.

"As a dermatologist, I very often encounter unwanted food reactions – itching, irritation and hair loss – to economy powders. These foods don't have enough protein and quality to keep the cat healthy, and the quality of the ingredients is questionable. In addition, a lot of flavor additives are added to make the food more appetizing for the pet.

It turns out that the low price of economy food is deceptive – because such food is very likely to require the owner to pay for veterinary care and medications. In addition, supposedly budget wet food is actually more expensive than premium dry food.

"Let's look at the example of a hypothetical three-kilogram spayed cat and premium food. The cost of a package weighing 2 kg – about 1000 rubles, the daily requirement of the cat – about 50 grams. It turns out that such a package is enough for 40 days, for 25 rubles per day. A bag of economy class food costs an average of 20 rubles. And it's just one feeding, and they are two or three per day – a total of 40-60 rubles. It turns out that the dry premium diet is almost 2 times cheaper than wet economy.

Premium class .

According to experts, this is the best option of ready-made food, which is suitable for most animals. The composition is worked on by nutritionists who monitor not only the quality of products, but also the way they are prepared. For example, cheap canned foods have few nutrients – they are partially destroyed during heat treatment. In expensive foods the possibility of such losses is taken into account in advance.

Nutrient requirements of domestic cats

In the diet of domestic cats in large quantities should be present complete protein, essential amino acids: tryptophan, threonine, methionine, histidine, lysine, isoleucine. Deficiency of protein leads to the fact that the liver with the help of enzymes will begin to break down the protein of its own cellular structures. Deficiency of methionine, taurine, cystine in tissue cells can lead to the development of degenerative processes in organs and systems, serious diseases (cardiomyopathy, central retinal degeneration, impaired reproductive function).

The nutritional value, nutritional value, caloric content of food for cats is influenced by animal and vegetable fats, which are the main source of energy. Fats are carriers of fat-soluble vitamins – A, E, D. For cats, vegetable oil tastes less appealing than animal fats. The normal fat content in the diet of adult animals is 15%, for small kittens 20%.

Pets should receive carbohydrates and fiber with their food. To prevent obesity and metabolism disorders, an adult cat needs 2.7 g of digestible carbohydrates and 0.31 g of fiber per 1 kg of body weight. The carbohydrate requirement increases by 25-50% during pregnancy and lactation.

In the diet of cats should also be present: beta-carotene, vitamins B, E, H, PP, C. Of minerals: calcium, magnesium, manganese, fluoride, iron, cobalt, zinc, sodium, molybdenum.

Natural diets

Planning to keep a cat on a natural diet, it should be noted – the concept of "natural diet" does not mean feeding animals with products from our table.

Cats should not be given legumes, salted, smoked, spicy or fried food. Spicy, spicy spices, onions and garlic, which are contained in our dishes, are dangerous in any quantity. Do not forget that salt is a slow, deadly poison for cats. Sweets, baked goods in large quantities contain starch, carbohydrates, causing fermentation in the intestines.

Eating forbidden "delicacies" from the host table can lead to obesity, metabolic disorders, malfunctions of the endocrine, urinary, cardiovascular system and cause physiological changes in the body. If you want to pamper your pet with something tasty, treat it with cat treats bought at a pet store or a drugstore.

• Chicken, turkey, chicken giblets (heart, stomachs, ground beef);
• Veal, beef, mutton, rabbit, meat by-products (liver, tongue, heart, lungs);
• Dairy products, eggs;
• Boiled sea fish (hake, cod, flounder, saffron cod, halibut, and pelengas)
• vegetable, animal fats;
• Greens, vegetables, cereals, grains.

The basis of pets' diet should be 60-70% meat products, which are the main source of protein, fatty acids, phosphorus, B vitamins. Pets are given meat daily fresh or boiled, cut into small portions. By-products, saltwater fish – only in boiled form. It is best to alternate between meat and by-products. Once a week, be sure to give the cat boiled liver, which contains vitamins B and A. In order not to provoke digestive disorders, it is not recommended to give raw liver to cats.

Tubular bones, raw river fish should not be given to cats categorically. River fish, uncooked meat products, can cause worm infestations.

Sources of fat

This element should be a must in the cat's diet at a natural diet, because it is not only, along with carbohydrates, a source of energy, but also supplies the body with many vitamins:

• A – improves eyesight, is responsible for the condition of the skin and coat;
• D – is important for the formation of the skeleton;
• E – strengthens muscles, regulates the normal functioning of the genitourinary system;
• K – is an important element for strengthening joints and bones, the cardiovascular system.

In addition, fats give food an attractive taste and smell, contribute to intensive growth and harmonious development of the animal. Their share in the diet of a pet on a natural diet should be at least 20%.

If there is no possibility to provide food with a sufficient amount of these components, fish oil can be added.

Carbohydrates and fiber in natural food

To replenish this important element of nutrition and quality digestion in a natural diet, raw, boiled, steamed vegetables, fruits and berries must be included in the cat's diet.

Not all animals are attracted to the taste of apples, greens, cranberries, blueberries, legumes and carrots. You can add a little sunflower or olive oil to this food, and mix it with pieces of meat or mashed potatoes.

Preference should be given to cauliflower, broccoli, lettuce, zucchini, pumpkin, and apples. But some vegetables are on the list of banned foods (about this below) and are not recommended for cats. Oatmeal, pearl porridge can be in pets' diets. It is not recommended to give semolina porridge, i.e. wheat.

Nutritional peculiarities of cats

Cats do not eat carrion and very rarely eat some grass to cleanse the gastrointestinal tract of hair and bone fragments. The main part of the diet of small members of the feline family is rodents. Cats also often eat small birds, insects, and frogs. They eat their prey beginning with the head and then eat the contents of the intestines. Wild felines derive all plant products from the stomach contents of their prey. Birds are plucked beforehand.

As is known, the greater the ratio of intestinal length to body length of the animal, the more it is adapted to digest and assimilate plant food. A domestic cat has a gut length about four times its body length. For comparison, in herbivorous mammals this ratio is 15-20 times. This is why a cat cannot become a vegetarian.

Household cats and kittens have the following interesting nutritional features:

• Cats cannot synthesize retinol (vitamin A) from the carotenoids found in fruits and vegetables;
• there should be 30 to 40% protein (protein) in the cat's diet;
• there is a substance on the cat's coat that contains B vitamins. When a purrfect cat licks itself, it calms itself down because of this;
• cats do not tolerate prolonged starvation very well;
• cats do not taste sweet.

How a cat feeds her kittens

The mother cat feeds her kittens with her milk until about two months of age. She also begins to bring her cubs first strangled and then live mice. Kittens weaned too early from their mother often do not know how to hunt mice. By the way, kittens are also taught to hunt birds by their mother. And cats don't eat rats; only a healthy and well-fed cat can kill a rat-passer. The offspring of a rat-eating cat is extremely highly prized in rural areas.

If you prefer to feed your cat natural foods, there are a few rules to consider.

• A quality vitamin and mineral complex should be given to balance the diet.
• Preferred types of porridge in small quantities: rice grits and buckwheat middlings. Or rice and buckwheat flakes.
• Of by-products, heart is preferred.
• Beef can be given raw or scalded with boiling water, while other raw meat products should be boiled.
• Raw egg white contains avidin, which destroys B vitamins. Therefore, it is better to give the egg boiled or give the cat just the egg yolk.

Can I give my cat fish, pork, milk, raw liver, bones and smoked meat?

Cats should not be given raw fish. River fish can contain pathogens for dangerous worm diseases. Raw saltwater fish contains the enzyme thiaminase, which destroys the vitamin thiamine, a deficiency of which can lead to nervous system disorders. In addition, fish has excess phosphorus, which often leads to urolithiasis.

Boiled fishespecially when mixed with herring can also lead to IBS. There is excess phosphorus in this mixture because of the fish, and the herring alkalizes the urine. Sharp small fish bones are very dangerous for cats. A little cooked fish does not hurt, but it should not be a staple food.

Do not give cats pork because of its high fat content. Besides that, pork and rabbit meat, especially entrails which have not been inspected by a veterinary doctor, may contain pathogens that may lead to dangerous diseases.

How to feed a cat with healthy, natural food

A healthy diet includes proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and healthy trace elements. In addition the new menu should please the cat, which is considered a capricious animal when it comes to food. If she refuses, you don't have to insist.

Remember that self-cooked food is only suitable if the following rules are followed:

• The pet's diet contains many ingredients of animal origin;
• the food is balanced;
• make sure that the cat eats the entire portion;
• It is necessary to add essential vitamins and minerals to the diet, including calcium and phosphorus in a 2/1 ratio.

How to accustom a cat to new foods

A smooth transition is necessary when changing the diet. This way digestive disorders can be avoided.

• Reduce gradually the portions of the old food;
• Increase the amount of natural food;
• Use one recipe of homemade food for inoculation, only after getting used to it should new food be added;
• During the first days you should observe the pet, if you have digestive problems – change the components of homemade food;
• If the cat has poor appetite you can feed it from your hands or warm it until it is slightly warm (a cat is a carnivore and its normal food temperature is that of a freshly killed carcass).

It is possible to transfer the animal to natural food within 1-2 weeks.

Feeding Rules

For the animal to be healthy, it is important to follow the basic rules of nutrition:

1. Feed your pet at the same time, 2-3 times a day. Kittens should be fed 5-6 times a day.
2. Ensure access to water around the clock.
3. If symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, fever – urgently contact the veterinarian.
4. After eating, the cat often requires rest and should not be disturbed.
5. Uneaten food should be discarded because it will spoil quickly and be dangerous for the cat, and cats may overeat if they have access to food all the time.

You should discuss pet food with your vet. He will advise on the most balanced types of food, taking into account the pets' peculiarities. Food for kittens, adult cats or spayed animals is different in composition. All ingredients must be fresh and of good quality.

How to boil cat food

All ingredients should be heat treated. Meat can be thoroughly frozen. Veterinarians do not recommend adding raw meat purchased at the market. It contains antibiotics and additives that are harmful to the cat. Also, experts do not advise the use of ready-made minced meat.

What not to feed cats

Cats with enviable pleasure eat products from the human table, and many owners watch with tenderness, as the animal with pleasure treats a candy or a piece of chocolate, licks ice cream or eats a slice of melon, peach, tomato, sausage, cheese.

Of course, single consumption of small amounts of exotic cat food is unlikely to cause serious illness, but you should not give these products to your cat all the time: it may cause a chronic illness and significantly reduce the cat's life span.

1. Fresh milk – This leads to an imbalance in intestinal peristalsis and stomach upsets.
2. Food from the table – Salt and condiments in human food can even cause poisoning. And sausage, for example, contains soy products and lots of fats, which are bad for the cat's health.
3. Sweets – Carbohydrates are harmful to cats, since sugar is not metabolized by the digestive system at all.
4. Coffee and alcohol – poison for animals.
5. Raw, unprocessed meat and freshwater fish – Meat should preferably be given boiled or at least put under boiling water, because of high possibility of helminth infestation. River fish may be present in the cat's food only when boiled, with the bones taken off.
6. Pork – Contains too much fat for the stomach of the cat to handle.
7. Tubular or sharp bones – Damage to the esophagus or stomach will definitely lead to death of the pet.

Consumption of such foods by the animal will inevitably lead to illness and poor health.

Veterinarian tips

There are some tips that experienced veterinarians give to cat owners who want to feed their pets natural foods:

Table: useful and prohibited foods in the cat's diet

It is enough for an adult animal to divide its daily ration into two meals, especially if it lives in a small apartment and has no opportunity to walk.

1. Breakfast – chopped beef mixed with grated vegetables, dinner – cottage cheese mixed with half an egg.
2. Breakfast – boiled chicken with rice, dinner – a piece of liver or heart.
3. Breakfast – cottage cheese with low calorie sour cream, dinner – chicken necks.
4. Breakfast – boneless boiled fish, dinner – grated vegetables and beef.
5. Breakfast – chicken with buckwheat and chopped greens, dinner – kefir and egg.
6. Breakfast – by-products and boiled rice, dinner – chicken necks.
7. Breakfast – ryazhenka and buckwheat, dinner – defrosted sea fish.

By alternating products, you can feed your pet tasty and inexpensive food while maintaining the balance of nutrients it needs.

Natural cat food

If you advocate natural food, you'll have to be careful to balance the essential nutrients and provide additional vitamins and trace elements. If you follow all the rules, natural food isn't much cheaper than a good ready-made cat food. But it will require more trouble.

Products for cats

• Meat, poultry, by-products Meat, poultry and offal (hearts and stomachs) should be cut into cubes about 1.5 x 1.5 cm and boiled or scalded to avoid germs;
• Do not give fatty meat, coarse bones and skin of poultry. Do not give poultry. They may provoke an eating disorder (cats do not digest them);
• Cereals (oats, buckwheat and rice) Cook well and mix with meat: 2/3 of the meat + 1/3 of the groats;
• Vegetables (carrots, zucchinis, cucumbers, cabbage) do not play as important a role in a cat's diet as they do in dogs. They are only given raw and very finely chopped;
• Absolutely No starchy food is suitable at all: potatoes, sweet vegetables and fruit;
• So that the cat gets all the vitamins, minerals and taurine it needs, Ask your vet for advice. and be sure to give her vitamin complexes.

One option for natural cat food:

Cat food from the pet store

Until you have consulted a specialist, the best option is ready-made food (dry or canned). Why?

The food contains all the ingredients necessary for the full development of the animal. Do not forget to tell the salesperson at the pet store before buying the cat, its age, activity, weight, and breed, as well as whether it lives at home, sometimes walks outside, or mostly leads an outdoor lifestyle. And you can't discount the cat's personal preferences: the cat will go hungry all day long, but won't eat anything that "tastes bad". And the owner will still have to surrender.

Premium and super-premium food (Royal Canin, Hill's, Pro Plan, Eukanuba and others) costs from 350 rubles per kilo. It does not contain flavorings and colorings (unlike cheap brands with the ending in -as). It is made from meat and cereals, suitable for permanent feeding, and for a long time to keep the animal can only be on quality products.

There is now a wide range of feed in stores:

Canned food (pieces in jelly) of good quality is more expensive than dry food. This is its significant disadvantage. But it comes in handy if the animal does not drink much, and it needs to be supported by special food, for example, during illness. Opened jars (bags) should not be kept in the refrigerator for more than a day.