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Is it necessary to alternate dry and wet food when feeding a cat? And if so, how often?
Anonymous
Elena Gogua
Veterinarian, author of a blog with tips for pet owners.
Cats do not always drink enough water, so adding wet food to the diet can be useful for them. But for the digestive system to work well, stability is important from day to day. Therefore, such a diet should be constant. For example, during the day, give dry food, and in the evening — wet. And here's what else you need to remember about nutrition.
- Many wet feeds are not full-fledged. This means that they do not cover all the needs of the cat's body, and therefore should not be the basis of its diet.
- It's normal for cats to eat often and a little. Therefore, it is better that the feed is always available. And if the animal is prone to overeating or is overweight, the daily allowance should be divided into several portions.
- Fasting is contraindicated for cats. It can provoke severe liver disease — lipidosis (especially if you are overweight). If an animal does not eat for more than a day for any reason, it is necessary to contact a veterinarian so that he makes a decision about forced or probe feeding.
- Nutrition should include all the necessary nutrients and be balanced. This is especially important during growth, pregnancy and lactation, as well as in some diseases. Almost all dry feeds of popular brands meet this requirement.
- You will not be able to make a complete diet for a cat from home products without the involvement of a veterinarian‑nutritionist, who will make calculations according to a special program. In most cases, the body of an adult animal is able to compensate for some kind of deficiency. But the pet may have some predispositions or health features that can rarely be detected while the body is healthy. And together with improper nutrition, they can lead, for example, to obesity, taurine‑dependent cardiomyopathy, alimentary hyperparathyroidism, chronic constipation, enteritis and pancreatitis.
- Mixed diets (commercial feed and products) may also be defective. Therefore, in this matter it is better to consult with a nutritionist again.
- When feeding meat, keep in mind that raw pork is dangerous for cats and dogs — due to the likelihood of infection Aujesky's disease (pseudo-madness). Experts from foreign countries say that this is an extremely rare disease. Nevertheless, in Russia we have to deal with it. And raw meat and fish carry hygienic risks (parasites, infections), so animals on such a diet should be treated monthly from worms. And it is better to give up this type of food if children or people with a weakened immune system live in the house.
In general, there are many misconceptions about cat nutrition that have nothing to do with scientific data and research. Therefore, it is always better to consult with a veterinarian who has received additional training in dietetics on such issues.
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