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To keep your cat happy and healthy, you must do
your part and provide the nourishing, well-balanced diet required
for its growth and maintenance.
Fluids
We've all heard that cow's milk can be
harmful to cats. However, that is only partly correct as around
80 per cent of cats are lactose intolerant, but you can
compensate for this by feeding your cat lactose-free milk,
available from most supermarkets. Feed kittens specially marked
kitten milk, as this will have a high nutrition content similar
to that found in their mother's milk.
Cats must always have access to clean fresh
water, and usually a ceramic bowl is better for this as it keeps
the water cool for longer. Plentiful water is particularly
important if your cat is mostly fed dry food.
Bones
Fish bones can be dangerous to cats if they
get caught in the throat or teeth. Pressure cook or boil fish in
order to soften the bones or simply remove them before serving.
Bones are high in calcium, protein and other
minerals, however, they are deficient in essential fatty acids.
Ask your vet about how many bones to feed your cat as too many
can cause constipation.
Be careful feeding chicken bones to your cat as
they may splinter and also get caught in the throat. Pressure
cook or boil the bones in order to soften them before serving.
 Nutritional
tips
Fats and oils in your cat's diet will make
for shiny, smooth fur and healthy skin. If you suspect your cat
is suffering from fat deficiency, in consultation with your vet,
you can feed it a quarter of a teaspoon of cod liver oil, three
times a week.
If your cat is lactose intolerant, you can
supplement lactose-free milk with small chunks of cheese, which
is rich in animal protein and also lactose-free.
Never feed dog food to your cat as it doesn't
contain essential feline nutrients such as taurine, and may
hinder its digestion.
Foods
Whether to feed your cat home-cooked or
commercial cat food is really up to you. If you decide to
prepare your cat's food yourself, you must ensure it contains
the essential vitamins and minerals necessary for feline health.
On the other hand, commercial cat foods are already formulated
to satisfy your cat's nutritional requirements.
There are many types of commercial cat foods on
the market. The most common of these is the dry food range,
which has a very low water content and is great for scraping
plaque and tartar from teeth. Dry food has a long shelf life,
will stay fresh in your cat's bowl and is suitable for all ages.
Semi-moist foods have a higher water content than
dry foods and contain preservatives. However, like dry foods,
they do not require refrigeration and are commonly fed as
treats.
Canned foods have a high water content, about the
same as fresh meat, and do not contain any preservatives. They
require refrigeration after opening. Many owners add canned food
to dry food to increase palatability. Canned pet foods, which
can contain beef, lamb, chicken, fish and animal by-products,
vary in quality. Select canned pet foods where the main
ingredient is named rather than meats of unknown origin.
Meat is most nutritious when raw. However, never
feed your cat raw fish as it contains enzymes that deplete
important vitamins necessary for your cat's development. So
remember to cook fish before you serve it, as heat inactivates
the enzymes and makes it safe for your cat.
It is generally recommended that kittens eat
commercial food specially formulated for kittens as it caters
for a high-energy diet essential for a kitten's development. A
kitten should eat about four meals a day. Never feed your adult
cat kitten food. Kitten food is often high in protein and, when
given to an adult cat, will overwork the kidneys and cause
obesity.
Treats
If your cat is fed on commercial cat food, a
home-cooked meal could be a welcome treat.
Cats also enjoy barbecue chicken, raw mince,
dehydrated liver and are even partial to a little vegemite! |
