Is It Possible To Feed A Cat Only Dry Food: Basic Rules Of Feeding, How To Give The Product Correctly, Advice From Veterinarians

2024 Author: Bailey Albertson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 12:53

Is it possible to feed the cat only dry food

Good dry food is the key to a cat's health. Complete foods provide the animal's body with nutrients that are needed for the correct functioning of internal systems and organs. At the same time, dry food can harm your pet if there is not enough meat in their composition or nutritional rules are not followed.

Content

• 1 Advantages and disadvantages of dry food

  • 1.1 Depends on quality
  • 1.2 General
• 2 Is it possible to feed a cat with one dry food
• 3 Basic rules for feeding complete foods

Advantages and disadvantages of dry food

Dry food has a number of common advantages and disadvantages, as well as pros and cons that are characteristic only of high-quality or budget products. Let's consider them separately to highlight the main points.

Depending on the quality

High quality dry food contains meat, offal and 10-15% vegetable, fruit and herbal supplements. The latter are necessary to replenish the deficiency of vitamins and minerals. Some plants are used as preventive supplements. For example, berries help to naturally acidify urine and prevent the development of kidney stones. Manufacturers often include ingredients that improve digestion and restore microflora: sources of fiber, pro- and prebiotics, peas, aloe, flax seeds, etc. Glucosamine and chondroitin help maintain the normal condition of the musculoskeletal system.

Orijen dry food contains up to 80-85% meat and is considered one of the best quality, however, they can worsen the condition of the animal's gastrointestinal tract when suddenly switched from budget rations

The high percentage of meat content ensures that the body is provided with the necessary amino acids. These include taurine - a substance that the feline body is unable to synthesize on its own. He is responsible for the health of the heart, organs of vision, central nervous system and other systems. Amino acids are essential for proper cell division, tissue repair and other processes. With their deficiency, the overall health of the cat worsens.

High quality dry food has only one drawback - high cost. 1 kg of such a ready-made diet costs 800-1200 rubles. However, in terms of composition and quality, the products can be compared to a natural menu. If at first glance the price seems high, then with a detailed review it turns out that dry food is still more economical. For example, my cat used to eat natural foods. He needed about 1.5–2 kg of meat a week: veal, chicken and rabbit. This is already 500-800 rubles. depending on the variety. To this must be added by-products, fermented milk products, fruits and vegetables. In total, about 1000-1500 rubles came out per week. At the same time, only 350–400 g of dry food are required. This is several times more profitable, especially in terms of time.

Many food owners mistake premium food for quality rations, but in reality, such foods can only boast of smart marketing.

If high-quality dry food is a mixture that is as close as possible in chemical composition to the natural diet, then cheap products resemble compound feed enriched with vitamins and minerals. Its only advantage is its low cost, but this plus is questionable. First, cats need more of this food because of its low nutritional value. Secondly, budget products often cause the development of pathologies of internal organs, which increases the cost of veterinary consultations and medications. In some cases, incurable chronic diseases progress in animals, so maintenance therapy has to be carried out for life.

Low-cost feed consists almost entirely of cereals. They not only cause allergies in cats, but also cause nutritional deficiencies. Predators are less able to assimilate proteins from plant materials. Pets get even fewer substances from pure supplements, with the help of which manufacturers adjust the nutrient balance. Among the components of budget dry food, you can find such names as "protein hydrolyzate", "animal fat", "tocopherols", "ascorbic acid", etc. Manufacturers often add taurine, since meat, which contains an amino acid in its natural form, there are too few cheap products. As a result, it would seem that there is enough nutrients in the food, but in reality the cat assimilates only a part, due to which there is a deficiency and concomitant disturbances in the functioning of internal organs.

Are common

Dry food saves time. To draw up a balanced menu, the owner has to calculate the daily needs for nutrients, then adjust the list of products for them. You don't have to cook meals every day, but make a raw mixture of meat and offal and freeze it, but you still need to regularly heat it and add vegetables. The owner has to monitor the freshness of the food: the leftovers are removed so that the animal is not poisoned by perishable food. The bowls need to be washed more thoroughly, as particles left on the surface and in microscopic cracks provide an ideal breeding ground for bacteria. As a result, the risk of infection increases. In addition, it is necessary to find a reliable supplier of products, regularly visit the market and shops, and also strictly observe the regime. With dry food, everything is much easier: just buy a package and fill a bowl or serve food on schedule.

Bowls of irregular shape can solve the problem of fast swallowing of feed

The disadvantages of dry food include the likelihood of developing diseases. Even high-quality food can harm a cat's teeth, cause asphyxia and indigestion. The fangs of a predator are not adapted for thoroughly chewing food, so the pets eat the pellets whole. If the cat eats too quickly, it will swallow air in the process. This leads to belching and flatulence. Pets have too delicate enamel, so coarse hard fibers can damage it. Additionally, the granules do not completely clean the canines. Plaque remains near the roots, which is fraught with the formation of tartar and gum disease.

Is it possible to feed a cat with one dry food

Many cat owners doubt that pets can only be fed dry food. In fact, it is not only safe, but also beneficial, because the finished diet contains all the necessary nutrients. However, this is only true if the cat owner purchases super premium or holistic food. They contain high-quality meat ingredients without excess of herbal additives. A good ready-made diet prevents the development of chronic diseases due to a complex of preventive components and maintains the optimal condition of the internal organs.

The cat not only can, but also need to be fed with one dry food. Pets are conservative. They get used to a stable daily routine, feeding schedule, and food chemistry. Any deviation can provoke a disorder of the digestive tract. For example, my sister once fed my cat with chicken liver. She thought that the animal must be sad to constantly feed on granules alone. Despite the fact that the cat was once on the natural menu, after that he had diarrhea. The condition returned to normal immediately after returning to the usual regimen.

When choosing dry food, it is better to give preference to darker granules: they contain more meat

Cats should not be fed dry food only if they have special needs and individual characteristics. For example, for animals that do not follow the drinking regimen, it is better to give pouches, pates or natural products. Ideally, your pet should consume 3 times more water than food. The rate may differ, but the volume should be at least 20-30 ml per day. Some cats with sensitive digestion are strongly discouraged from dry foods due to their texture: they provoke internal bleeding and cause inflammation.

You can't feed cats with cheap dry food. Economy and premium products are banned. They contain insufficient nutrients, which, sooner or later, will inevitably provoke the development of pathologies. In most cases, the disease progresses quietly and slowly, therefore, until the first exacerbation, the owner does not even suspect that there is a problem. When the deviations make themselves felt, the moment for treatment may already be missed. The same applies to dry food, which is not a complete food: treats are not suitable for systematic nutrition, since they are not able to provide the feline body with all the nutrients required for correct work.

Basic rules for feeding complete foods

It is strictly forbidden to combine dry food with natural products. After adapting to a stable chemical composition, the cat's digestion can be upset when combining different types of food. Additionally, mixed nutrition contributes to the violation of the balance of trace elements selected by the manufacturer. A cat needs different enzymes to digest different types of food, so there is a high risk of developing pancreatic pathologies.

It is allowed to give the pet both wet and dry food, but separately. Do not mix them during the same meal. It is allowed to add spider sauce if the cat is weakened by illness, vaccination, intoxication or other similar factors. This will increase the attractiveness of the feed and improve the animal's appetite, which is especially important in this condition. It is advisable to purchase products from one manufacturer. This reduces the risk of digestive upset by using the same ingredients and maintaining nutrient balance. If this is not possible, wet food should be of the same grade as dry. Do not offer whiskas or Friskis spiders to a cat that eats Origen, Akana or Pronatur products.

It is strictly forbidden to give cats dry food with multi-colored granules: dyes can provoke irritation and inflammation of the mucous membranes

It is forbidden to give your pet additional vitamin and mineral complexes without a doctor's prescription. If water-soluble substances in most cases leave the body without hindrance when excess appears, then fat-soluble compounds accumulate, which can cause an excess of individual trace elements. This is fraught with deterioration in health and the occurrence of diseases from various internal organs and systems. The decision on the need to introduce additives into the diet is made by the veterinarian after examining the animal. Do not offer your pet vitamins as a treat.

The portion size is selected individually depending on the weight, activity and constitution of the animal, as well as the calorie content of the feed. Manufacturers leave recommendations on nutritional standards, but you should not be guided only by their advice. The same portion may be small for one cat and large for another. It is necessary to monitor the physique of the pet: normally, the ribs of the animal should be felt, but not stick out. A barrel or ball shape is a cause for concern. At the same time, the sternum and hips should not protrude much. Each feed has its own norm, so after switching to another brand, the optimal portion size will have to be calculated again. When using measuring cups, it is advisable to double-check the information indicated by the manufacturer, since the marks do not always correspond to reality.

Dry food is a real lifesaver for cat owners: ready-made rations save time and money, and also support the health of pets. However, this is only relevant if you choose quality products and follow the nutritional rules. It is important not to mix different types of food, follow the drinking regime and not give your pet additional supplements, as this can provoke the development of diseases.