What to feed a spayed cat at home

Holistic foods contain an increased amount (40 to 75%) of protein. These are Now Natural, Go!, Orijen, Acana.

How to properly feed spayed and neutered cats and cats

Spaying and neutering helps prevent unwanted behavior in cats and cats, but entails irreversible changes in the body of animals. Not all of them are as harmless as they may seem at first glance. In neglected cases, the pet may die due to urolithiasis. For this reason, it is important to adjust the pet's diet to protect it from disease.

The need for a new menu arises due to a decrease in the concentration of hormones and related changes in the animal's body. During surgery, specific glands are removed. For cats, these are the ovaries, for cats – the testes. These organs produce hormones that provoke the sex drive. As it is suspended in neutered animals, the accompanying desire to seek a mate, fight with rivals, mark territory, etc. disappears.

Neutered and neutered pets do not lose interest in life, but they become less active. Most cats and cats are happy to continue playing, but overall physical activity inevitably decreases.

The main risk factor for neutered animals is sedentary activity. In addition it can be exacerbated by improved appetite and obesity. Often cats gain weight after surgery. This is due to hormonal restructuring and a change in priorities. If before spaying the animal's breeding instinct was the main thing, then after it the basic needs come to the fore. A change in hormonal background can provoke an increase in appetite.

Because of obesity, all internal organs receive fewer nutrients, metabolic disorders occur, and the cat becomes even less mobile

I have two cats at home, both of whom have had their ovaries removed. Before the surgery, they had free access to food, so they regulated their appetite on their own. One's physique was closer to fragile, the other's was normal. After the operation they had gained some weight but overall their weight remained in the normal range. I left them free to eat as there was no appetite issues. However, my friend had the opposite situation: the cat drastically began to eat more. At first it seemed to go away soon. My friend felt sorry for the cat and let her eat as much as she wanted. As a result the cat gained 1 kg in 2 months and did not stop. She had to start restricting her portions. This helped.

Can I give my spayed cat regular food

Let's make it clear right away that regular food is food that is intended for adult animals with no special needs. Its acceptability depends on the condition of the pet and the quality of the diet itself. In general, if there are no health problems, the pet can be given regular food, but it is recommended to get regular tests and monitor the weight. If the cat has previously exhibited uncharacteristic symptoms, it is better to consult a veterinarian.

After surgery, pets should not be given economy and premium foods. They pose a threat even to perfectly healthy animals, and for spayed and neutered animals they are doubly dangerous. Such diets contain a lot of low-quality plant raw materials. Predators hardly absorb useful substances from it, which is fraught with deficiency. In addition, an excess of cereals can cause the development of diabetes, obesity and other diseases.

Plant foods increase the pH of the urine, creating optimal conditions for the development of IBC. For this reason it is highly recommended to avoid foods with cereals or legumes in the first positions.

Table: Which foods are dangerous for spayed and neutered animals

Helpful foods

The diet is half made up of proteins and the rest is made up of carbohydrates with fiber, fats.

Poultry, rabbit meat, beef. This is the basis of nutrition, give daily in boiled form, raw pre-freeze for 5 – 6 days. Before feeding cut into pieces. Stuffing is allowed, if prepared with their own hands, store-bought overly fatty. Steamed meat is not fed to avoid helminth infestation.

By-products: Lung, kidney, liver. Contains nutrients not found in muscle fibers, they are also frozen or boiled, include in the diet twice a week.

Meat broths. Sterilized pets are useful to accustom them to this dish: they need increased fluids, but they drink water reluctantly.

Vegetables: Zucchini, carrots, pumpkin, cabbage. Mashed potato boiled products, grate raw ones on a grater. If a pet refuses vegetables in pure form, they are mixed with minced meat or broth.

Dairy products Up to 10% fat content. Ryezhenka, sour cream, kefir, yogurt without fillers, cheese will do.

Porridge: rice, barley, wheat, buckwheat. A teaspoonful is added to meat or by-products. If the animal refuses, replace with bran.

Vegetable oil, butter. Add 2 – 5 drops to food to maintain a normal coat and improve stomach function.

It is useful to sprout herbs from wheat grains, oats or buy ready-made herbs at the pet store. Vitamin and mineral supplements are given only on the recommendation of the veterinarian.

Feeding regimen and norms

After sterilization, the cat eats more and moves less, the amount eaten has to be controlled. It is better to know the exact weight before surgery, and thereafter periodically weigh the pet and ensure that the numbers do not increase.

Daily rate is calculated based on the size of the animal: 30-50 grams of food per 1 kg of body weight, or up to 5% of the total weight. The main indicator of a correctly calculated norm is a steady weight. If it increases – the animal overeats, decreases – food is not enough.

According to the observations of doctors, the average cat needs 140 – 250 g of food per day, of which:

The pet is fed at certain hours twice a day, food on demand should not be given. If signs of obesity appear, when the ribs are not felt, switch to a split meal. The number of food intake increases to 4 – 5 times, portions are reduced and the daily rate is divided into parts.

Pluses and minuses of neutering cats

Spaying cats has both positive and negative aspects, as outlined in the table below.

1. You don't have to get rid of the kittens.
2. The animal's behavior will not cause discomfort.
3. Timely sterilization helps to increase the life expectancy of the pet.
4. You can prevent the development of many of the cat's reproductive diseases associated with unkitten heat, childbirth and hormonal fluctuations.
5. The risk of a pet being lost or contracting an infectious disease if it escapes is reduced to a minimum.

1. Surgery under anesthesia is stressful for the animal's body.
2. Probability of developing complications in the postoperative period.
3. Risk of obesity, diabetes and other diseases associated with changes in the hormonal background.
4. Recovery takes a long time (about two weeks), requires the constant wearing of special devices.
5. If the owner "changes his mind", it will be impossible to restore the ability to give birth to kittens.

At what age can a cat be spayed

To the question of when it is better to spay a cat, veterinary specialists answer: at 7-8 months. It is believed that it is in this period of development of the animal all organ systems are fully formed, the cat is ready to conceive, but there has been no pregnancy yet.

Sexual maturation of a pet may occur earlier or later than the specified period. To determine the optimal interval, you will need to periodically show her to the veterinarian, make examinations. Having surgery on an adult cat or a very young cat is fraught with serious complications and health problems later in life.

What and when to feed a cat in the first days after spaying: the correct daily ration

Spaying a cat is one of the most important moments in the life of an animal. And the essence of the procedure is not only the disappearance of the possibility to conceive and bear offspring. Impregnated pets undergo a serious restructuring of the entire biochemistry of the body. Their need for nutrients decreases considerably, but their appetite increases. And owners worry about the question, "What and when to feed the cat after spaying?"

Of course, there are no major metabolic changes in the first few days after surgery, as it takes much longer.

• Spaying removes the uterus and ovaries, and the body needs a lot of energy to quickly heal post-operative wounds.

• Despite the need for nutrients, the animal's digestive system should not be overloaded with heavy food. The cat uses too many resources to digest it, which in these conditions is an unacceptable luxury.

• In addition, operated pets need much more micro- and macro nutrients. The reasons are the same – the need for speedy recovery of the body.

Finally we should not forget that many cats even 8 to 12 hours after the operation do not need food at all. Animals can take the consequences of anesthesia extremely seriously, and therefore their appetite at this time is completely absent.

Caution! It is not uncommon that animals (especially older animals) that have had a "full" abdominal operation for two or three days will refuse to eat, but not drink.

What not to feed

There are products that are harmful to recently operated cats. They cannot be fed to a pet for at least the first three weeks after sterilization:

• Raw fish.. Firstly, it can contain parasite larvae. Secondly, it has too much phosphorus as well as thiaminase (which is an enzyme that destroys vitamin B1). If this recommendation is neglected, the animal may develop neurological seizures and the regeneration process is severely delayed.

Recommendations for proper feeding by day

As we've said before, right after surgery, an animal usually doesn't need to eat. It is too exhausted and depleted to pay any attention to food (even if it's the nicest).

The first day

As soon as the cat has recovered from anesthesia it will start to move and show interest in its surroundings:

• Try to give her something to drink with a syringe. You should not be too zealous: The cat's larynx may not be in shape, and therefore you can easily drown the cat. For the same reason, you should make sure that the cat swallows, and you can gently massage its throat to stimulate this process.

• If the animal shows interest in food on the first day (which is likely after laparoscopic sterilization), we recommend giving her rich chicken broth (from lean chicken). It contains a lot of light nutrients that the animal's digestive system does not need much energy to digest. No other food is needed at this time yet.

Day Two

On the second day the condition of the animal improves somewhat, but it is still far from complete stabilization. The following recommendations should be followed:

Although solid food is acceptable, we would still recommend following a "broth" diet on the second day after surgery. A small amount of mashed meat (from baby food) can be added to the broth, as well as pumpkin on the tip of a knife (cans of canned baby food are still ideal).

Day Three

By this time, the animals, even after the abdominal surgery, have recovered from its effects to such an extent that they have a good appetite.

Quality canned food, boiled chicken and by-products can be given, but so that the total weight of the daily portion does not exceed 150 grams.

If owners use commercial balanced feed, the portion weight can be reduced to 130 g.

Natural feeding

Feeding a spayed cat natural food is the best choice, because this type of food is more natural. It is worth understanding that natural food for cats is separately prepared food, not leftovers from your table.

Please note! It is not recommended to mix natural and industrial type of food.

If you want to feed your cat natural food, but you do not have enough time to cook it daily, there is an alternative. You can set aside one day a month and prepare tasty canned cat food or frozen convenience foods at home. Agree, if the food just needs to be reheated and served, the time savings are obvious. By the way, warm food is absorbed by the cat's body much better than cold food.

Industrial food

Sterilized cats can be fed with dry foodIf its quality is not in doubt. For everyday feeding of healthy animals are suitable food of premium class and above. If you decide to alternate between dry and wet food, buy products of the same brand and series.

Important: Regardless of whether your cat is spayed or not, whether it eats straight or dry, a drinker with fresh and clean water should always be available for your pet.

There are many opinions about feeding special food to sterilized cats. If you carefully read the destination on the package of such food, you can make the right conclusion. The fact is that special, therapeutic foods are designed to regulate the acidity of the urine, and this measure is valid if the cat has already developed urolithiasis. If you use this kind of food for "prevention", you will disturb the natural acidity of the urine, which can lead to the formation of sand and stones.

What you can give from natural foods and feeds

A natural diet should consist mainly of protein, represented by lean meat – chicken, turkey, rabbit – and by-products. Carbohydrates – buckwheat, rice, quinoa – and animal fats – chicken, beef, and fish – should also be present.

It's difficult to calculate the calorie and nutrient intake on your own, so we advise you to feed your cat ready-made cat food. This way you can be sure that the food is suitable for your cat and meets his needs. If you do decide on a natural diet, talk to your vet, who will be able to provide professional advice based on observations and testing.

As an industrial food, a castrated cat should eat food marked "sterilised", such as Purina ONE®, a specialized food for castrated cats. Purina ONE® contains natural ingredients, such as chicken, beef, salmon, corn, beet and animal fat. The optimal ratio of proteins and fats helps maintain muscle mass and healthy metabolism, and reduces the risk of obesity.

It ensures long-lasting satiety and helps to care for the urinary system, as well as having a positive effect on the digestive system thanks to its high fiber content.

A balanced diet – A balanced diet is essential for the health of a neutered pet, and the making of this diet is on the owner's shoulders. It is up to you to choose a natural diet or an industrial food. The main thing is that the pet gets all the necessary nutrients and vitamins and does not exceed the daily caloric intake. Then he will stay in great shape and enjoy good health for many years.

Foods that should be excluded from the diet

As you can see, sterilized cats need to follow a stricter diet. Consequently, there are more restrictions on the foods they can eat:

• Like any cats and cats, sterilized pets should not be fed food from the human table: salty and cooked with spices and seasonings, canned foods, fried, smoked, dried foods, milk, baked goods, sweets, etc.
• Fatty meats;
• Legumes and potatoes, because of their high content of simple carbohydrates.

By choosing to sterilize a cat, owners not only protect themselves from the inconvenience of unwanted offspring and the sexual behavior of the animal. It is also a reliable prevention of diseases such as pyometra, mammary gland tumors, etc. And specialized nutrition for sterilized cats will help avoid negative changes in metabolism and become the key to a quality and long life for your pet.

Conclusion

A properly balanced diet is the key to a cat's health. It is indicated by a clean, shiny coat and no plaque on the teeth. See your veterinarian to find out if your cat is overweight.

To make it easier for your pet to survive the surgery, you should remove her more attention for the first few days. Staying in shape will help the cat with the right diet, physical activities such as games and walks, communication with the owner.

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Veterinarian and expert of our site Don State Agrarian Institute, (1978) a graduate of DSKhI, at the moment it is already a university. Could not find an answer to your question? Feel free to ask on the topic of the article HERE in the comments answer allYou can write your suggestions and wishes here: our authors, contacts

Industrial feed

There are many fears and legends about the high cost of food for neutered cats. To begin with, quality everyday and therapeutic foods are different in price, the second, of course, is more expensive. There is absolutely no reason to feed a healthy, neutered cat a special food (this is completely unreasonable).

You may encounter the following situation: having come to the store and asked for food for a neutered cat, you will receive an offer to buy medical food intended for animals suffering from urolithiasis. What's the difference? This type of therapeutic food contains substances that actively oxidize or alkalize the urine (to dissolve stones or sand). Have you already guessed what happens if you feed a healthy cat a food for the prevention of IBC? That's right, the cat will develop urolithiasis.

So, if your cat is young, healthy and neutered, you can feed him any good dry food. Immediately after surgery and for 3 days, the pet should be fed wet food of the same brand. It is unacceptable to keep your pet on economy food all the time (not even neutered). There are several nuances about the choice of food:

• Read the composition and the entire back of the package, they never write the essence on the front – the composition should clearly spell out all the ingredients (beef meat, not meat mixture). There should be no salt (sodium, Na, NaCl) in the composition. Each package should show the recommended daily food allowance and expiration date of the product.
• There is no difference between the everyday food and the food for neutered cats – usually you see written on the package "suitable for feeding neutered cats", it's an advertising trick, nothing more.
• Canned foods, pates and dry food of one brand can be alternated and mixed.
• When choosing a brand and manufacturer, pay attention to details – often the famous food is produced (officially, by patent) in other countries and are inferior in quality to the original.

Summary – How to keep your pet healthy

Below is a list of products that should not be fed to a neutered cat. By the way, even if your cat is not neutered or you are just contemplating the procedure, these foods should be avoided:

• Fresh meat – A source of helminth eggs. Deep-frozen or boiled meat is fine.
• Fatty meat – Pork (except lean), duck, goose, lamb. Especially not recommended for castrated cats.
• Raw fish – A source of very dangerous helminths and trace elements. A neutered cat can, but very rarely, be fed lean, boiled fish without bones.
• Any Treats from the table.
• Bones, especially chicken – If the cat likes it, it can sometimes be given large, soft gristle (tartar prevention).
• Smokedя.
• Sweets Foods that contain sugar.
• SaltSalt, pickles, spices – provoke edema.
• Beans, corn, semolina, soybeans.
• Potatoes – Potatoes can be raw and a little bit of asparagus is also allowed.

The black list of foodstuffs often includes MilkThe cat cannot get it in its natural environment. Approximately 40% of adult cats are lactose intolerant, resulting in diarrhea and digestive disorders. However, for the remaining 60% of cats, there is no reasonable prohibition of milk. If your cat likes milk, don't limit it, because it is a source of calcium and other nutrients.

Age and breed specifics

Some cat breeds are known to be prone to hereditary diseases, including IBC, food allergies and intolerances. Despite strict guidelines regarding micronutrients, cats with long coats should be given mineral supplements. In any case, it is best to consult an expert or breeder about feeding a purebred, pedigree animal. Below are a few examples: