At present, pets have been considered an important pillar in the family nucleus, they are a good company for young people, adults, children, the elderly, and even people with special needs. The history of these kittens goes back to the time when they had not been domesticated yet, over time they have stopped being simple wild animals to become man’s best friends.
Commonly in history they fulfilled functions related to hunting, as they became involved with humans, their diet and behavior changed dramatically; so much so that their owners try to provide good care and food that satisfy their needs, as it would be the minimum to offer these beings that constantly make our souls happy and give us fidelity and good company; you always have to choose to keep them healthy, strong and with a decent quality of life.
The problem today is that the relatives or owners of cats are not aware of the correct nutrition and good food management for their pets, in most homes these animals are not fed in a correct way that adapts to the true nutritional needs that this naturally requires, because it is not only going to the market and buying the food that seems more economical or thinking “maybe this one you might like” but you have to find out, investigate or seek advice to find a nutrition recipe book balanced to completely eradicate poor nutrition and the myriad problems that it entails.
THE CAT IS CARNIVORE BY NATURE
Like all existing cats in nature, the domestic cat is also carnivorous and in fact, still retains the hunting instinct of its ancestors. In reality, cats are said to be strict carnivores, which means they are designed to get their protein from meat – not from the high level of grains/peas/potatoes found in the dry food.
Now you will wonder if you are doing him wrong by not giving him meat to eat, the answer is very simple; the cat does not necessarily have to have a meat-based diet, fortunately, today the large pet food industries have taken the fundamental needs and transformed them into what you find in the market, there are some better than others and this is where your vet takes action, he will recommend the most appropriate for your pet.
The high protein content in the food of our kittens plays a fundamental role, its requirement is even considerably higher and higher than other animals, studies carried out say that “for the kittens to have a satisfactory growth, they had to consume diets in which the protein exceeds 30% of the dry weight compared to the 20% necessary in the case of puppies.
ADEQUATE FOOD
A good feeding of the animal will help it to develop and grow until it reaches adulthood, without any problem or difficulty due to the lack or excess of some nutrients; nutrition is vital for a healthy and good quality of life. Although there is no standard diet for all animals, since the quantity and composition vary between species, ages, body weight, and physiological status, all should receive a complete and balanced diet.
According to ANFAAC (National Association of Animal Food Manufacturers), balanced cat food is a type of industrial diet and is presented in three formats:
- Dry foods: cookies or croquettes
- Moist: they contain 75% water, usually they come in cans and plastic or metal trays. If they are well processed and stored in low-temperature conditions and dry environments, they can be used for at least 18 months.
- Semi-humid: They offer a flavor similar to that of the humid ones, while they retain some characteristics of the dry ones. They have a lower percentage of water than the humid ones.
“An increasing number of veterinary experts in animal nutrition are widely recommending canned wet food instead of dry. Since cats do not have a strong urge to drink water when compared to other species, it is therefore imperative that they eat a diet rich in water. However, many vets still recommend and approve dry cat food, which is not all bad. ”
WHAT SHOULD HAVE A GOOD DIET?
The different families that have pets come to buy unbalanced foods such as filtered, chicken giblets among others, which affect the metabolism of pets that often cause losses throughout their lives.
The diet must be made up mostly of proteins of strictly animal origin, these are transcendental for the well-being of your body since they are necessary for the creation of muscles, skin, and fur. They also have arginine and taurine, essential amino acids that cat organisms cannot create on their own and are necessary for the regulation of salt and water within cells, the production of bile, and other functions.
It is very important to remember that not all proteins are the same. Proteins derived from animal tissues have a complete amino acid profile. (Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins. Plant-based proteins do not contain the full complement of essential amino acids that an obligate carnivore requires; the quality and composition of a protein are also known as its biological value.
ARE CARBOHYDRATES GOOD?
Cats in the wild would never consume a high level of carbohydrates; cats do not need to consume them and, most worryingly, is the fact that a diet high in carbohydrates can be detrimental to their health. This does not mean that we cannot supply it, in fact, it is very common for our felines’ usual diet to contain carbohydrates, but it is best to go further and provide them with a more optimal diet.
FAT MANAGEMENT IN THE FELINE DIET
Cats need fats of both types, saturated or solid fats and unsaturated liquid, all of these are responsible for the activation of various chemical processes in the cat’s body and the proportion within the diet is, as in the case of proteins, quite high. Fat has to be digestible and metabolizable, that is, it has to be absorbed and used. A quality food, on average, uses fats with 90% digestibility.
In addition to the various benefits, they are considered essential for the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins: A, D, E, and K. Natural animal fats are a key food for a cat.
MINERALS
Minerals can be divided into two groups, the larger group (macrominerals) that are really needed in high amounts, and the microminerals (trace minerals) that are needed but in much smaller amounts. Good quality commercial diets contain adequate levels of trace minerals and major minerals.
RAW FOOD IS NOT RECOMMENDED
Raw foods can have parasites or bacteria like salmonella, Listeria, or E. coli. If the cat ingests them, it could become ill. Raw meat can be infected with Toxoplasma (ingestion of raw meat is the only route of infection for the cat) and fish can carry Anisakis. If you still want to feed your pet raw food, we recommend that you consult with your trusted veterinarian before doing it yourself.
