What can you cook for cats at home? How to prepare chicken heads. Fish in a cat's diet

Preface

Proper natural nutrition for a cat is mostly a monotonous, species-specific diet that does not require heat treatment, mainly consisting of fermented milk products medium fat, raw meat or raw offal (heart, tripe, kidneys, etc.) and plant foods (vegetables and some unsweetened fruits) in raw form, as well as in the form of bran cereal crops as an addition to the main diet.

Actually, cereals (porridge and other flour products) should not be present in the cat’s diet. Porridges and products made from or with the addition of flour contain easily digestible carbohydrates, which can cause disruption of the intestinal microflora, as well as a decrease in resistance, in all dogs and cats, which are known to be carnivores. The state of the animal’s health directly depends on the state of the intestine, which is a key organ not only in digestion, but also in providing the defense system (resistance and immunity of the body). Thus, the presence of dysbiosis in the intestines, which is facilitated by disturbances in the diet, can lead to the development of a host of pathological processes, including an increased tendency to allergies, disruption of the functioning of internal organs, and the emergence of a number of chronic diseases. inflammatory diseases and obesity, often associated with each other.

The health and resistance of animals depends very much on nutrition, and this is very important role has a fortune gastrointestinal tract and healthy intestinal microflora. If your cat's diet includes cereal or commercial dry food that contains from 40 to 55% grains, corn or sweet potatoes, then you cannot expect normal, healthy intestinal microflora. However, even with a natural diet, digestive disorders are possible, indicating painful condition cats. When transferring to natural diet stool passing becomes a little less frequent, and the consistency of the stool changes to darker and denser. This is typical, normal and does not indicate a problem. But in the event of a significant decrease in stool passage (less than once every 2 days), it is recommended to consult a doctor and decide on the possibility of transferring back to a dry diet or correction natural ingredients. Most often, the problem of constipation occurs with an exclusively meat diet, without the addition of fermented milk foods and a source of fiber.

Meat in a cat's diet

The main meat in a cat’s diet is lean beef, maybe not the first grade. It is not necessary or even advisable to feed your cats tenderloin and other high-quality meats. It is allowed to feed lamb, horse meat, and rabbit meat to cats of all ages, given the high calorie content of lamb and rabbit meat, which is more affordable. It is not recommended to give pork.

Chicken, turkey and their offal can also be given, but individually, paying attention to the reaction from the digestive system and skin. It is not advisable to feed chicken skin to cats.

Meat, both beef and chicken, is always given raw, pre-frozen; there is no need to pour boiling water over it and heat treat the meat. Meat should not be ground into mince.

It should be noted right away that feeding a cat up to a year only one meat guarantees development, since the kitten will not be satisfied with the amount of calcium. To prevent this from happening, carefully read the recommendations for mineral supplements at the link below.

Meat by-products

Meat feeding for a cat can include not only meat, but also by-products (kidneys, heart, by-products of chickens, turkeys, etc.), which can completely replace meat. By-products must also be raw. It should be taken into account that offal is a less nutritious component of the meat diet compared to meat, but at the same time, for example, the udder is significantly higher in calories than meat due to fat.

It is not recommended to give liver and lung to cats often, since not everyone tolerates raw liver equally well, and there is no point in treating it thermally. However, many people successfully use these components in the diet of dogs and cats. However, not all cats tolerate a particular meat component equally well, so if an ingredient is intolerant, which is manifested by diarrhea or vomiting, it should be removed from the diet, as well as if other components of the cat’s natural diet are not tolerated. And in order to be able to determine which component the reaction occurs to, they need to be introduced into the cat’s diet separately.

Of course, one can become infected with one or another disease from one or another product, but rare cases infections from raw, untested and unfrozen meat do not allow you to be afraid of feeding your cat raw product. It is unlikely that any veterinarian will be able to recall a case of infection from anything from meat. In addition, the concentration of hydrochloric acid in the stomach of carnivores is higher than in humans and is sufficient to perform its disinfecting functions in relation to raw meat and fish. We also do not recommend purchasing meat “from hand” or at the “Poultry Market”, where you can buy products obtained from a known sick animal, and even freezing it will not help, and heat treatment of meat reduces the risk for a cat. nutritional value product.

Fish in a cat's diet

Cats can be given raw fillets of frozen sea and ocean fish, not bony, low-fat varieties, replacing meat with seafood in meat feeding 2-3 times a week. However, it is not recommended to constantly feed fish. Small fish can be given whole raw, in which case the bone along with soft tissues it is chewed completely and does not pose a threat (it is even recommended), but when feeding boiled fish, which should not be done, the bone easily separates and can be swallowed whole, which is dangerous.

There are several questions that are often asked regarding feeding fish to cats:

The problem with thiaminase is relevant for animal farms, where there is mainly a mono-diet and, if you feed one raw fish, then there will be hypovitaminosis B1, and therefore this is not relevant for a homemade mixed diet.

Feeding fish has no effect on development urolithiasis. This assumption has existed for a long time among veterinarians, based on the fact that fish contains a lot of phosphorus, which, when released, creates conditions for the development of sand in bladder(struvite). But studies conducted with experience on adding additional amounts of phosphorus to the diet of cats did not lead to the development of this pathology.

Dairy products

Cats can be given fermented milk products with a fat content of up to 9%, but not everyone tolerates such fat content well. But low-fat dairy products should not be given either. In some cases, full-fat dairy products loosen stools. Also, loose stool may be associated with the brand of kefir, which must be selected individually for sensitive cats. Fermented baked milk, cream, sour cream should not be given to cats, as well as yoghurt with fruit or sugar, but milk is not forbidden, if tolerated normally.

The most optimal fermented milk products are cottage cheese with a fat content of up to 5-9%, kefir with a fat content of 3.5%, yogurt, short term storage, up to 7 days.

Using Evitalia and Narine starter cultures based on pasteurized milk, you can make a healthy fermented milk product that is useful not only for cats, but also for humans, and feed it either separately or together with cottage cheese.

Dividing cat nutrition into fermented milk and meat

The main components of the diet are fermented milk products in one feeding and raw vegetables, and raw meat with a little butter in another. As mentioned above, vegetables can, if possible, be fed to the cat separately.

This means that fermented milk feeding can include either kefir alone, cottage cheese alone, or kefir with cottage cheese, curdled milk, yogurt, etc. It is advisable to give fermented milk products with a short shelf life, up to 7 days. Only bran and part of a raw egg can be added to dairy products no more than 2-3 times a week.

Meat feeding may include raw meat, offal or fish. You cannot mix the components of meat and fermented milk feeding with each other.

Vegetables and fiber in a cat's diet

Most vegetables can be fed to cats: carrots, White cabbage, bell pepper, pumpkin, zucchini, beets, cucumbers. It is useful to give greens: parsley, dill, lettuce. The choice is up to the cat. Some cats happily eat grass sprouted at home, this option is also suitable.

Vegetables may be present in the diet as a single option, or there may be several types of vegetables, but one type of vegetable is quite sufficient.

Greens and vegetables should always be given raw, finely chopped or grated on a fine grater.

Vegetables and greens should always be given only with meat feeding or separately. There is no need to mix raw plant foods with components of a fermented milk diet, with the exception of bran, which goes well with meat and dairy foods.

Bran (about bran, see below) in a cat’s diet can complement or even replace raw vegetables, especially in cases where the addition of vegetables leads to various types of indigestion (flatulence, vomiting, diarrhea) or if the cat refuses all types of vegetables completely , which happens more often.

Consistency of cat food

Cats should not be given food in the form of mince. The meat should be cut into pieces, hard vegetables grated on a fine grater, greens and lettuce finely chopped. Bran can be added to wet foods, both dairy and meat. Cats and dogs do not chew food, but swallow it if the piece corresponds to the size of the animal or bites off a piece accessible for swallowing - this is physiological for them and does not cause harm. In addition, ready-bought chopped meat contains too much fat. Even if the cat has few or no teeth, food can be given in chunks.

Eggs in a cat's diet

Eggs can be given raw, both chicken and quail, by adding 14 whole eggs to milk feeding 2-3 times a week. Both kittens and adult cats can and should be given both the yolk and the white, without separating.

Bran

Bran in a cat's diet, like vegetables, is a source of fiber and therefore it is recommended to add them to the cat's diet along with vegetables or, replacing them, as already mentioned, when refusing vegetables. Bran, unlike vegetables, easily sticks to meat and mixes with dairy foods, which deprives the animal of the opportunity to choose what it wants from a bowl.

The main advantage of bran is its high content dietary fiber(fiber), which enhance peristalsis, regulate and improve the condition of intestinal microflora.

Bran can be purchased in bulk at health stores, pharmacies or grocery stores and added in this form to both fermented milk and meat feeding.

But fermented milk is preferable, since bran shows its maximum effect when it absorbs liquid and swells. Then, once in the stomach, the bran does not undergo any changes and, retaining water, enters the intestines, accelerating intestinal motility, which is especially recommended for cats with a tendency to constipation.

Oil in a cat's diet

Can be added to cats' vegetable diet different types olive oils, unrefined sunflower oils, pumpkin oils, flaxseed oils, etc., but exotic ones should be avoided. The main oils are unrefined sunflower and olive. Vegetable oils are added to the bowl where there are plant components of food (vegetables), regardless of the presence of meat, in a dose of 2-5 drops.

Bones in a cat's diet

Since in the diet of cats, which are classified as small felines, bones are present exclusively in the form of small rodents and birds, at home it is possible to feed cats whole small fish, chicken neck, but always raw and together with soft tissues, in this case the animal bites off the bone and meat in sections, but if you chop the bone, the cat can swallow them whole. If in doubt, you can not give the bone at all. It is not recommended to give boiled bones to cats; they are poorly digested and can cause intestinal obstruction.

Prebiotic and probiotic environment in the intestines. Carbohydrates in a cat's diet

Probiotics are preparations based on living “good” microorganisms: lactobacilli and bifidobacteria, which remain viable when passing through the gastrointestinal tract, multiply in it and suppress the development of pathogenic bacteria.

Prebiotics are completely indigestible food ingredients that act as a substrate nutrient medium for the growth and life of beneficial microorganisms in the intestines, and also stimulates its work.

In the absence of a prebiotic environment (indigestible fiber), the number of beneficial bacteria sharply decreases, since they lack the prebiotic environment they need for nutrition and their share in the intestinal microenvironment will be occupied by pathogenic strains of E. coli, yeast, etc., which, in essence, is a dysbacteriosis.

Cereals, bread, pasta are easily digestible carbohydrates (starch); cats need complex carbohydrates of another type, which are found in raw vegetables or bran and which cats cannot digest. From complex carbohydrates, raw fiber cannot be extracted by carnivores for energy; ruminants and herbivores “specialize” in this. It is raw vegetables and bran, or rather the indigestible fiber they contain, that create a prebiotic environment in the cat’s intestines, which is the basis and substrate for creating a probiotic environment and the formation of healthy intestinal microflora.

Moreover, if the cat has proper natural nutrition, then the cat, even without the use of probiotics, will develop over time correct microflora intestines, but only if the animal is healthy and free from congenital and acquired diseases of the gastrointestinal tract that require treatment and do not depend on the correct diet. It is for this reason that introducing probiotics (lactobifadol, Vetom 1.1) into the diet of a cat that receives porridge or dry food does not bring the desired long-term result.

The role of the prebiotic environment in a cat’s diet is played by raw vegetables, which are best (but not necessarily) given to animals as a separate feeding, and also, when adding bran to a dairy or meat diet, these components are compatible.

It is better to give cats veterinary probiotics, only if they are not available, then try using human ones. It is possible to take probiotics prophylactically every 3-4 months. But prebiotics (vegetables and bran) must be constantly supplied to the digestive system, especially since this is not a medicine, but a regular component of the diet.

At the same time, you need to understand that if the cat has proper nutrition and the cat is healthy, then without the use of probiotics in the intestines, over time, a healthy intestinal microflora will form on its own.

Is it possible to mix dry food and wet natural or canned food?

Mixing different types feeding does not have any advantages over the strict principles of feeding a cat, moreover, dry food is designed for feeding it exclusively. If you add other components throughout the day, then an imbalance is guaranteed. In addition, combining diets does not make any sense: either convenience or a natural diet.

Vitamins and mineral supplements

An adult cat that receives proper natural nutrition with a certain, even small dose raw bone, it is not necessary to add any vitamin and mineral preparations throughout the entire period. IN spring period and in early summer, you can add dry yeast to your food, which is a natural complex of vitamins. However, if under some circumstances there are doubts about the possibility of using raw bone in the diet of adult cats due to various circumstances, you can use and even recommend the same mineral and vitamin supplement regimens as listed in the link below.

At the same time, kittens and adult cats receive vitamins and minerals absolutely necessary. You can read more details in further publications on the site.

The problem of obesity in cats

Obesity occurs when an animal consumes more energy than it expends. This leads to positive energy balance and obesity. However, the factors that cause positive energy balance are very complex and include physiological and genetic predisposition, environmental influence. In other words, obesity is not simply the result of overeating. If this were so, then all individuals consuming high-calorie foods would develop obesity. The main factors causing obesity are:

1. Overeating;
2. Social environment (food competition);
3. Dietary factors;
4. Sterilization;
5. Reduced energy consumption.

The feeling of hunger is reduced by stimuli such as stomach distension, the presence of nutrients in the blood and liver, and the sight, taste and smell of food. All this creates a negative feedback with the hypothalamus, which controls energy consumption. To stop eating, one factor is not enough; all are needed at the same time.

Social environment, i.e. competition between animals can increase the amount of food eaten. Additional "snacks" and begging are other important external factors. Some owners encourage their pets to do this, and the “snack” can be high in calories and often doubles overall energy intake.

Neutered individuals are more susceptible to obesity than their normal counterparts. This is partly due to lower energy expenditure due to their condition, as well as impaired estrogen and testosterone production, which influence the satiety effect of food.

60-70% of energy is spent on maintaining body functions (homeostasis), 10% on heat production (specific dynamic effect), and the remaining 20-30% on physical activity. As physical activity increases, appetite increases. If physical activity decreases, then appetite worsens. Thus, in the latter situation, the animal can easily develop a positive energy balance.

The total volume of food from all feedings per day is calculated using the formula: up to 9 months. 10% and older than 9 months. 5% of body weight (body weight is calculated without taking into account body fat, of course, approximately).

The resulting daily volume of food is divided in half between 50% fermented milk products, 50% raw meat and everything related to meat (beef offal, poultry, fish), raw plant food given in abundance, but approximately 5-10% of the volume of the meat portion. For example, for an average cat weighing 4 kg, you can give 1-2 teaspoons of grated carrots or other vegetables and 12 teaspoons of bran per day. Please note that vegetables and bran are supplements to the protein diet and are not included in the calculated percentages (10% and 5%).

An example of calculating the volume of food for a cat weighing 4 kg, age 9 months. and older:

4kg x 0.05 * =0.2 kg. or 200 gr. Of these, 100 gr. This is cottage cheese and kefir, which will make up fermented milk feeding and meat feeding will consist of 100 grams. raw meat, to which about 10 grams are added. raw grated vegetables and 2-5 drops. unrefined vegetable oil.

An example of calculating the amount of food for a cat weighing 2.2 kg, less than 9 months old:

2.2kg x 0.10 * =0.22 kg. or 220 gr. Of these, 110 gr. this is cottage cheese and kefir, which will make up fermented milk feeding and meat feeding will consist of 110 grams. raw meat, to which about 10-15 grams are added. raw grated vegetables and 2-5 drops. unrefined vegetable oil.

* — Coefficient obtained by dividing 5 and 10% by 100

This formula is not absolute and mandatory, the cat’s feeding regimen, and the amount of food may vary depending on physiological state(pregnancy, breed tendency to excess weight, presence of hormonal disorders, sterilization, etc.); age: for old and aging animals the amount of food is reduced, as well as for other individual characteristics. Fasting days without meat at all, but also without increasing the dose of dairy foods, are also welcome. Cats in apartment conditions most often behave sedentary lifestyle life, therefore, in case of food whims, pickiness, or loss of appetite, the diet can be reduced even without fear.

For example, the food quantity calculations above are valid for active cats who even in an apartment allow themselves active games etc. But for a cat leading a sedentary lifestyle, which prefers to sleep most of the day, the calculated amount will be exceeded, and the diet of such an animal requires a reduction in the amount of food eaten by 20-30% (see section The problem of obesity).

Whether there is a breed characteristics cat's diet?

There are no fundamental features for healthy cat any breed. A sick animal may need correction, but this requires individual work with a pet.

The cat is accustomed to dry food and refuses natural food.

Solving this problem with cats is much more difficult than with dogs. Cats are more picky, capricious and capricious. Prolonged feeding of dry or wet food to a cat, or other food ingredients not typical for cats, leads to a change in the food instinct, that is, it disorients the animal in choosing the possible food provided by nature. In such cases, fasting for 1-2 days, which would solve all the problems with the dog, may not help. It is recommended to feed the same food, but reduce it significantly so that the cat does not gorge on it for a long time (2-4 weeks or even more). During this period, the cat will lose some weight, its appetite will increase, and its feeding instincts will begin to return. And it is then that you can offer one or another component of natural food, gradually stopping the previous diet. However, the transfer may not be possible, and you will have to feed more familiar food.

Afterword

As you can see, among the indicated food components there are no dry and wet commercial foods, cereals in the form of porridges, breads and other carbohydrate foods; they are not recommended for cats, just as feeding sweet sugary fruits and everything else is not recommended. It is necessary to take into account that in relation to feeding dogs and cats, the concepts of “likes to eat this” or “does not like to eat that”, a strict diet, regardless of whether it is dry food or natural food, do not apply.

The main mistake that owners make in feeding cats is overfeeding. Even if the recommended components are kept, but their volume is greater than the norm, then this is as harmful as feeding the cat unacceptable products.

You should adhere to a simple rule that works in most cases - if, after eating food, the cat left any amount of it in the bowl, this means that the animal is already overfed. The bowl should not be constantly filled, as is often the case. Only an animal with a moderate feeding instinct will not overeat in conditions of unlimited access to food. By the time of feeding, the cat should show a keen interest in food and eat the entire calculated amount, otherwise if some of the food remains in the bowl, then perhaps the animal is overeating, someone other than you is feeding the pet, or there is a disease leading to decreased appetite. This situation requires a reduction in food volume.

An animal that experiences health problems (diarrhea, regular vomiting) while eating natural food is sick and requires treatment. Switching to dry food will only adapt the animal to the disease, and will not relieve it. This is like a diet that makes life easier, which has the right to be used in the practice of a veterinarian, especially in cases where the animal’s health condition is irreparable or the doctor is not able to cope with the pathology with a natural diet. Owners need to understand this.

Therefore, the answer to the question: “What to feed a cat?” can be answered - natural food, which contains everything necessary for the body of a carnivorous animal. It is also necessary to know that the recommendations of breeders or felinologists, as well as the popular literature written by them on keeping and feeding cats, have nothing to do with objectively correct methods of feeding, because the reason for such recommendations is partly due to ignorance and lack of understanding of the biological nature of the cat, and, partly, to reduce the cost or simplify the maintenance of an animal.

If you follow all the above feeding rules, your pet will live a long and healthy life.

Many of the questions that you still have after reading this article have already been asked in. However, if something remains unclear, ask there.

Also, questions and answers on most issues related to feeding dogs and cats can be read in.

Only practicing veterinarians really know how many animals have suffered from the genuine care of their owners. Sometimes the owner wants to please the pet so much that he forgets that the cat is a predator, and the diet of a predator is very monotonous. Of course, the pet should receive a rich and balanced diet, but in everything you need to know in moderation. Let's figure out what you can't feed cats and why some prohibitions have been introduced.

Obviously, the basis of a cat's diet is meat. In the wild, four-legged animals do not receive food, dairy products, fish, vitamin supplements and other unnatural products. A wild cat eats small prey, most often rodents. Domestic cats must adapt to food prepared for consumption.

In order to maintain the naturalness of the diet, the pet must be fed meat, observing several conditions. Raw meat can be a source of viruses and helminth eggs, but at the same time, this product is recognized as the richest source of protein. For the safety of the cat, raw meat should be kept in the freezer for 3-4 days, then defrosted, chopped and doused with boiling water.

Note! Cats swallow their food in chunks, so the meat does not need to be minced too much. Minced meat or very small pieces are only suitable for feeding kittens or older cats with dental problems.

When choosing from meat products, you can include in your cat’s diet:

• Beef, veal.
• Rabbit meat.
• homemade. Many chicken producers raise their birds using hormones, antibiotics and salty feed. When a bird consumes a lot of salt, it drinks a lot, which increases its weight at slaughter. Salt is harmful to cats...hormones and antibiotics too.
• Turkey - precautions are similar to chicken meat.

Meat is fed to a cat after cleaning, that is, without bones, skin and fat. If you cook broth, the meat should be lean. After cooking, the broth must be strained to prevent bone fragments from getting into your pet's bowl.

You can feed the cat (not often) lean, subject to a number of conditions. Pigs are carriers of the virus false rabies(resistant to low temperatures), so it’s not enough to freeze pork; it needs to be cooked. Please note that the meat must be lean and not free of fat. The false rabies virus is not dangerous to humans, and laboratories do not test meat for its presence, so purchasing it in a supermarket (after veterinary control) does not provide any guarantees.

A cat's diet must include meat by-products. It is important to understand that offal should make up 10–15% of the mass fraction of meat, but not replace it completely. There are also some restrictions on the consumption of such products, which depend on the type of meat.

Beef:

• Liver up to 2 times a week, chopped, treated with boiling water. With frequent use, diarrhea may develop.
• Kidneys are undesirable, but if the cat loves them, no more than once a week.
• Lung - cleaned of fat and only boiled.
• The stomach is well washed, very finely chopped, treated with boiling water or after deep freezing. You can also cook the stomach, but keep in mind that the smell that will permeate the whole house is indescribable.
• Heart – it is better to give it raw after treatment with boiling water. You can do it 4-5 times a week.

Chicken:

• – raw no more than once a week and in very limited quantities, boiled more often. For some cats, when regular use, raw liver can cause diarrhea, and boiled liver can cause constipation.
• Heart - if desired, cats can be given regularly and raw (after deep freezing), chopped before serving.
• Stomachs - crushed and boiled can be given 3-4 times a week.
• Necks - after deep freezing, you need to carefully beat or chop in an electric meat grinder. Chicken neck (if the bird is factory-made) consists of enough soft bones, serves as a source of calcium and prevents plaque.

Turkey:

• Heart - can be 1-2 times a week, frozen, chopped.
• Stomach – only for cats with insensitive digestive system in boiled and crushed form.

We have already found out above that cats should not be given raw (fresh) meat, the remaining prohibitions concern:

• Store-bought minced meat - often contains salts, fat, skin (even if this is not indicated in the composition). Please note that it is strictly not recommended to feed sterilized cats foods containing salt.
• Lamb, fatty pork and lard contain too much fat.
• Turkey liver - raw is guaranteed to lead to diarrhea, and boiled - to constipation.
• Ducks and geese (meat, offal) are too fatty.
• Necks of domestic chicken - if the bird was slaughtered over a year old, cervical vertebrae very strong.

Note! Goose and duck meat, often used as a base quality feed, the ban on consumption is not relevant here, since the products are low-fat.

Fish, shellfish, seafood

Many owners stubbornly feed their cats and do not pay attention to dozens of arguments that experts give. There is no categorical ban on eating seafood, but there are a lot of nuances and prohibitions. So, a cat can only eat noble varieties of ocean fish. Against the background of the first condition, the fish must be lean, of high quality, boneless and fresh. If all these conditions are met, you can pamper your cat with fish, but not more than once a week!

So, a cat can:

• Lean cod.
• Hake thoroughly cleaned.
• The sardine is lean and fresh.
• Trout only back, provided that the fish is not fatty.
• Boiled shrimp, peeled.
• Boiled chopped squids.

Note! Boiled fish can hardly be called healthy for cats, since at high temperatures almost all so-called enzymes are destroyed, and without them the degree of absorption of microelements is sharply reduced.

The next nuance is that the fish must be of high quality, which means grown in a clean environment. Almost the entire range of seafood presented on supermarket shelves has nothing to do with the ocean...except for its origin. Shrimp, squid and noble varieties of fish are grown on farms, in cramped “aquariums” generously sprinkled with pesticides, antibiotics and other (harmful) substances. Please note that the fish literally absorbs environment(water), and when a lot of fish are placed in one small tank... Simply put, one fish defecates, and the other eats it, and the water in which the future product is located is far from fresh.

Note! More and more experts do not recommend feeding cats pollock, even fillets. The ban is associated with widespread violations of the rules of factory farming of fish.

Let's return to the prohibitions. Cats All types of carp fish are not allowed, since its consumption leads to the destruction of vitamin B1 in the body. Then a chain reaction starts: the liver suffers, the process of blood purification is disrupted, and microelements are no longer absorbed. Visually you will observe the depression of the pet, its poor appetite and neurological disorders: tremors, seizures, convulsions, walking in circles, loss of coordination, etc.

Cats absolutely it is forbidden river fish and shellfish. Cannot be eaten either raw or boiled. Even after heat treatment (boiling water), fish can become a source of infection. dangerous species worms. All are dangerous, but some of them can settle in the liver, brain, and muscles. If river fish is boiled for a long time or canned, the product will be safe, but also useless.

Fish, even permitted and noble varieties, should not be given to a cat often. It just so happens that trimethylamine oxide, which is almost harmless to humans (found in fish), quickly leads to the destruction of iron in the cat’s body. As a result, the animal develops and rapidly progresses iron deficiency anemia.

It is recommended to completely exclude fish from the diet of cats prone to. Regularly feeding a neutered cat seafood will lead to the development of the disease within a few months. If the fish is given to a cat that is genetically prone to it, the disease may take longer to develop. It is not recommended to feed fish to cats of popular breeds, for example, Scottish Fold or British. The fact is that these breeds have quite a lot of diseases that are inherited, but the diseases may not develop until the metabolism is disrupted.

Industrial fish based food are manufactured in several stages and are safe for cats. Firstly, the fish undergoes long-term heat treatment, becomes safe and, as mentioned earlier, practically useless. Secondly, the fish is not cleaned, but ground to a homogeneous minced meat and then dried... a powder is obtained. Next, this powder is processed again high temperature, fortified and mixed with additives.

After all the manipulations, the fish powder contains only protein and fatty acids... and here there is a nuance. Fatty acid shorten the shelf life of feed, and to reduce the rate of oxidation, preservatives are used, for example, ethoxyquin. The effect of this preservative on the body of cats has not yet been fully studied, but even preliminary findings are very alarming.

The conclusion is simple: read the composition of the food and refrain from purchasing products with an impressive shelf life.

Milk, dairy products, eggs

Dairy products are very important and must be present in your pet’s diet. A kitten, pregnant or lactating cat should be regularly treated to cottage cheese, yogurt, fermented baked milk, but there are nuances here too. Many experts recommend eliminating whole milk from your cat's diet because there is a risk that your pet may have lactose intolerance. If your cat drinks milk without consequences (constipation, diarrhea), then there is no need to exclude it from the diet.

Cats should be given:

• Homemade calcined cottage cheese.
• Homemade yogurt without additives.
• Ryazhenka.
• Yogurt.
• Serum.

Why homemade and not store-bought? The answer is obvious - most store-bought products are made from dry milk powder and starch. Conclusions about the balance of benefit and harm can be made even intuitively.

Note! It is very useful for cats to consume calcined cottage cheese with grated carrots, this treat contains almost perfect balance to assimilate everyone useful substances.

Many cats love hard cheese , but it must be given with caution. Almost all hard cheeses contain salt, and as you remember, it leads to the development of illnesses genitourinary system and urolithiasis.

The following are prohibited:

• Homemade and store-bought cream.
• Any sour cream, although some cats love it very much.
• Butter.

Eggs are considered an allergenic and very controversial product. According to expert recommendations, a cat can have no more than 1 egg at a time and no more than 1-2 times a week. It is recommended to exclude raw protein completely, but the yolk can be raw or boiled. It is recommended to give quail eggs rather than chicken eggs to cats with a sensitive digestive system.

Porridge, vegetables and fruits

Since fruits and vegetables are not the main diet of a cat, we will not consider them in detail. Vegetables serve as a supplement and source of coarse fiber. They need to be fed in crushed, raw or heat-treated form. Usually vegetables are mixed with meat or cottage cheese.

The following are considered harmful to cats:

• and juicy fruits (can be given rarely if the cat likes it).
• All citruses.
• Grapes and raisins.
• Apricot and dried apricots.
• Persimmon, kiwi and most berries.
• Beans, soybeans, corn, alfalfa, semolina.
• Potato, raw cabbage and broccoli.
• Tomatoes and other red vegetables.
• Onion garlic.
• Spinach.
• Mushrooms, especially wild ones.

Controversial and toxic products

In number harmful products any food from your table gets in, especially fatty, fried, cooked with spices. Cats are not allowed sausages or any smoked products. Any canned food (fish, meat) prepared for people is prohibited. A categorical taboo is sweets.

Perhaps you didn't know that Cats are absolutely not allowed to:

• Alcohol, tobacco in any form, even vapors and smoke are dangerous.
• Fermentation products – kvass, beer.
• Flour and butter, including pasta.
• Anything that contains caffeine.
• Chocolate.

Note! Cats should not be given dry baby food unless prescribed by a veterinarian.

Let's start with the fact that homemade food is much more natural and closer to the natural diet of cats than the food offered in pet stores. But it should be remembered that not all foods that are useful for humans will be useful for cats. For example, cats should not be given onions, pork, chocolate, mushrooms, or salt, even in small quantities.

Don't feed your pet raw eggs, raw fish and milk. You will be surprised: how come they always said that cats love milk and fish? But in nature, a cat, in principle, cannot drink milk, and fresh fish is rarely found. So, milk and fish are not included in a cat’s natural diet and can harm the health of the animal; giving them is often not recommended.

Cats need 5 times more protein than dogs. Choose recipes that are rich in protein. There are quite a few of them a large number of: simple and accessible recipes designed to provide good nutrition to your pet. True, there is no guarantee that the cat will eat dishes prepared according to these recipes. Cats are generally very picky. So start with what your cat likes and what smells good.

Try to use as much as possible various types meat (chicken, beef, turkey, rabbit, lamb, etc.). This will not only provide a balance of nutrients, but also enrich the feeding with a variety of tastes and textures. You can try using several types of meat at the same time in one dish.

In addition to meat, it is worth adding the heart of various animals to dishes as an irreplaceable source of taurine, an important amino acid. If you do not add hearts to your cat's diet, give additional taurine as food supplement. You can’t do without the liver, kidneys and spleen of various animals - these organs also contain useful substances that a cat needs. But not every cat will eat these by-products, since their taste is quite
unpleasant. But they can be chopped with other meats and vegetables, such as pumpkin, spinach, tomato or carrots. In general, to prepare cat food you will need a blender, food processor or meat grinder, since the ingredients of the dishes often have to be heavily chopped.

The ideal feeding formula for cats is: half protein (meat), one quarter carbohydrates (grains) and one quarter fiber (vegetables). The source of protein is any meat that the pet is allowed to eat, the source of carbohydrates is brown rice (for example), and with vegetables you can deal with it this way: whatever the cat likes to eat, then give it. Meat can be either raw or boiled. You can also add special flavors and spices to food, but only in small quantities.

Food prepared for your cat can be stored in the refrigerator. But it will either have to be used several days in advance, or frozen.

Recipes for "cat" cuisine

1. Chicken with rice and vegetables

2 cups chopped or shredded chicken

1/4 cup grated boiled carrots

Cut the chicken into small pieces. Pass the carrots through a food processor. Mix chicken and carrots with rice. Serve at room temperature.

2. Diet for a picky cat

1 cup boiled chicken

1/4 cup steamed broccoli

1/4 carrots, steamed

Chicken broth, about half a cup

Mix ingredients and serve.

3. Salmon with rice

150 gr. steamed salmon

1/2 hard-boiled egg

1/3 cup boiled rice

1 tablet calcium carbonate (400 mg calcium)

1 tablet of vitamin-mineral complex

Mix and serve.

4. Liver holiday

2 cups chopped beef or chicken liver

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 cup cooked oatmeal

1/4 cup frozen peas, steamed

Boil the liver with vegetable oil, chop finely. Add cooked oatmeal and green peas. Cool and serve at room temperature.

5. From what is

1.5 cups meat

Beef, chicken, turkey, lamb (finely chopped)

0.5 cups vegetables

Carrots, zucchini, sweet potatoes, pumpkin or wheatgrass

0.5 cups mashed potatoes, rice or oatmeal

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

Pass vegetables through a food processor. Chop the meat finely. Mix meat and vegetables, potatoes, rice or oatmeal. Add vegetable oil and serve.

6. Tuna for lunch

0.5 kilograms of tuna, canned in oil

1/2 cup cooked brown rice

1/4 cup grated carrots

2 tablespoons sprouted wheat

Mix and serve. Do not give more than once a week as it may lead to vitamin E deficiency.

7. Liver and kidneys for dinner

1 cup boiled chopped liver or kidneys

3/4 cup boiled oatmeal

3 tablespoons grated carrots or zucchini

1/3 cup yogurt

3 tablespoons butter

Mix minced liver or kidneys, oatmeal and vegetables. Melt the butter and pour in the mixture. Add yogurt and serve at room temperature.

8. Holiday

1 cup shredded beef

1/4 cup alfalfa or parsley

1/2 cup cottage cheese with cream

Mix the ingredients.

9. Diet for allergies

2 cups shredded lamb

1/2 cup grated carrots or zucchini

1 cup cooked brown rice

1/4 cup cottage cheese

1/4 tsp. garlic powder

10. Dinner time

100 gr. cooked white meat chicken

1/4 cup cooked mashed potatoes

1-1/2 teaspoons butter

Combine all ingredients in a blender and serve at room temperature.

11. For breakfast

1 tablespoon green beans (cooked or pureed)

1 tablespoon finely chopped carrots

2 tablespoons chopped chicken breasts (skinless)

1/3 cup brown rice (cooked)

1 tablespoon olive oil

Mix all ingredients thoroughly. You can also puree the mixture in a blender if needed.

12. Stewed chicken for the cat

1 whole chicken

2 cups brown rice

6 stalks of celery

6 carrots, grated but not peeled

2 small yellow pumpkins

2 zucchini

1 cup green peas

A handful of green beans

Wash the chicken, then cover with water in a large saucepan and simmer. Cut the vegetables into pieces and add to the pan. Add rice. Cook until the chicken is almost falling off the bones and the vegetables are tender. Remove the chicken completely from the bones. This is very important because cooked chicken bones may cause serious intestinal damage. Pour everything into a blender and grind the mixture.

13. Recipe with chicken liver

1/2 cup cooked broccoli or cooked carrots

1/2 cup cooked rice

1 1/2 cups boiled chicken liver

Chicken liver broth

Place rice, liver, broccoli or carrots in a blender and blend them, adding a little broth.

14. Chicken with broccoli

Part chicken breast skinless and boneless, about the size of your palm or smaller, depending on how much you want to cook

Two or three pieces of broccoli

Boil the chicken and broccoli, mix in a blender until smooth.

15. Shrimp with carrots

3-4 raw shrimp. You need to cut off the tail and remove the outer layer, boil it.

The carrots will need to be cooked over high heat for 10-15 minutes, then blend them in a blender until smooth.

Once the shrimp have cooled slightly, cut them into small pieces. Mix with carrots.

16. Meat with cottage cheese

100 gr. meat, beef or poultry

1 tablespoon carrots

1 tablespoon cottage cheese

1 tablespoon sunflower oil.

healthy and delicious diet It’s easy to make for a domestic cat. You won't have to worry about harmful additives or product quality. Homemade food will surely provide your cat with everything essential vitamins and minerals, and your pet will always be healthy and beautiful.

Appearance pet in the house is always a joyful event, especially for small household members. Adults, however, have more worries, and one of them is ensuring proper nutrition for the animal. Despite the convenience of feeding ready-made industrial products, many cat owners choose a natural diet for their pets.

Features of the diet of cats

Pet owners who choose a natural type of feeding should be aware that such a diet does not imply feeding cats dishes from the human table. Food must be prepared specifically for the animal, be balanced and completely satiate the pet.

A natural diet for cats is not food from the human table, but specially prepared dishes

Important components of a cat's diet

Proper nutrition serves as a source of physical energy for the animal, normalizes metabolism, promotes the formation of bones and all body systems, and fur growth. In the diet furry pet There must be a sufficient amount of not only proteins, carbohydrates and fats, but also vitamins and beneficial microelements. A healthy and active individual should receive at least 10 g of protein, 2 g of fat and 2 g of carbohydrates per kilogram of its weight. In accordance with these standards, you need to make a diet.

According to the advice of experts, with a natural diet, the amount of daily food should not exceed 7.5% of the pet’s weight: if the animal weighs 4 kg, then it should receive no more than 300 g of food.

Squirrels

Representatives of cats are predators, and in nature the basis of their diet is meat, and this is one of the main sources of protein. Animal proteins, which are the main element of eggs, meat, cottage cheese and kefir, are better digestible. These foods should make up more than half of the total daily diet.

Carbohydrates

Known primarily as a source of energy, carbohydrates are also beneficial for the proper functioning of many organs and systems. For example, glucose is necessary for brain and kidney function, and carbohydrate fiber promotes normal bowel movements, helps remove toxins and gives a feeling of fullness. In the diet adult cat The daily share of carbohydrate food should be approximately 50 g.

Fats

Another source of energy is fats, which are also suppliers of vitamins, which include:

• A - for vision, normal condition skin and fur;
• D - for bone formation;
• E - for muscles and normal functioning of reproductive organs;
• K - to strengthen bones, ensure normal blood clotting and calcium absorption.

The sufficient presence of fats not only improves the taste characteristics of food, but also contributes to better growth and animal development. The proportion of fat in the diet should be approximately 20%.

The lack of vitamins D and A can be compensated fish fat- it should be added directly to food in the amount of a few drops. Pharmacies also have special multivitamin complexes - Polidex Immunity up, Doctor Zoo, Radostin.

To ensure that your cat receives all the necessary nutrients, you can give him vitamins.

Microelements and vitamins

A balanced diet is not only a sufficient presence of proteins and carbohydrates, but also vitamins and useful elements. Ready-made feed premium class already contain the required amount of all important elements, and with a natural feeding regimen, food must be additionally enriched with vitamin and mineral supplements. A special herb is also a source of useful substances, mixtures for germination of which can be found in veterinary stores.

Weed for cats contains beneficial elements

Besides fat-soluble vitamins, the animal also needs water-soluble C and B vitamins. Vitamin C, which is involved in hematopoiesis, the production of antibodies, improves resistance, fights aging, is produced by the cat’s body independently. Its deficiency in kittens and old cats is compensated by the presence of fermented milk products and carrots in the diet.

A lack of B vitamins leads to metabolic disorders, weight loss, poor coordination and hair loss. By-products will help replenish the deficiency of these vitamins; for the same purpose, you should enrich the diet with a solution of brewer's yeast.

Microelements also play an important role in ensuring normal life. A cat needs potassium, manganese, taurine, iron and iodine, but calcium and phosphorus are considered the most important for its health and development.

Table: microelements necessary for cats

Lack of vitamins in cats manifests itself various symptoms- weight loss, lethargy, hair loss, frequent colds. If there is any change in your pet’s condition, you should immediately contact a specialist who will give necessary recommendations to enrich the diet.

General rules for feeding your pet

Basics proper diet include not only the correct selection of products, but also a competent feeding regimen. As a rule, a kitten appears in the house at the age of 3 months, when it has already mastered the skills of independent living and is accustomed to solid food. Fluffy babies need to be fed at least 5 times a day, by six months you can reduce the frequency of food intake to 3-4 times, after 6 months a pet should receive food 3 times a day, and after a year it is enough to feed an adult twice a day. The volume of the pet's daily portion should be equal to:

• at the age of 3 months - 180–200 g;
• at the age of 4–5 months - 200–240 g;
• at the age of 6 months - 200–250 g.

The calorie content of the diet for a growing and developing organism should be at least 200 kcal, and the energy value of an adult animal's diet should be approximately 80 kcal.

Daily amount of pet food large breeds there should be more. For example, for Maine Coon kittens aged three months required volume food is 230 g. When an individual of this breed reaches its adult size, it eats about one and a half times more than a regular cat.

Large breeds, such as Maine Coons, need more food than regular cats.

Following a feeding schedule disciplines your pet and promotes its healthy growth and development. By always eating at a certain time, the animal is less susceptible to problems with the gastrointestinal tract and is less prone to begging and stealing from the table. This regime promotes the formation of respectful attitudes four-legged pet towards its owner - the animal ceases to consider itself a completely independent creature and gets used to respecting the order established by man.

Strict adherence to the feeding regime will wean the cat from stealing from the table and begging

Your pet should always have two bowls - the second for water, which needs to be changed in a timely manner.

If after the next feeding there is food left in the bowl, it should be thrown away after 15–20 minutes so that it does not spoil.

The importance of proper diet

Many owners, neglecting the rules of feeding, understand the importance of a balanced diet only when their pet begins to have health problems. It is especially important to follow the regime and correctly formulate the diet when the animal is actively growing and developing. Following the principles proper feeding Helps maintain the health and longevity of your pet. At any age, errors in the animal’s nutrition cause various disturbances in the functioning of the body. The most common health problems caused by poor diet include:

• pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract and joints;
• disorders of the kidneys;
• dental problems;
• allergy;
• urolithiasis disease.

Rules for natural nutrition

An undoubted advantage natural feeding is confidence in the freshness of the cat’s diet and knowledge of their composition, because the owner buys the food and prepares the food himself. But not all owners have the time to prepare culinary masterpieces that are balanced in composition for their pet - and this is the main disadvantage of a natural diet. In addition, animals that eat natural food are prone to developing vitamin deficiency. Therefore, in order to prevent vitamin deficiency, their diet should be enriched with vitamin and mineral supplements. Owners who have made a choice in favor of natural food should know which foods are preferable in the cat’s diet and which should be avoided, and also follow the feeding rules.

Table: healthy and prohibited foods in a cat’s diet

Any methods of processing cat food products other than boiling are prohibited. It is allowed to give meat raw, but previously frozen. It should be cut into pieces - very small for a kitten. Oil should be added to porridge or meat 0.5 tsp. 2-3 times a week - this will contribute to better functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. More than half - 60–70% of the total daily diet - should be protein foods - meat, eggs, cottage cheese or kefir. The other part is vegetables and cereals. All pet food should be warm.

In order to save time, the best option would be to cook nutritional mixtures For furry pets in advance, divide them into portions and freeze.

Table: recipes

In the morning you should feed your pet something light - kefir or cottage cheese, and for dinner it is better to give something more nutritious, for example, a mixture of boiled meat with vegetables or cereals (meat can be replaced with fish once a week).

How to switch an animal to natural food

The difficulty in switching from dry ready-made food to a natural diet is due to the fact that store-bought products, especially the so-called economy class ones, contain various flavoring and aromatic additives that are addictive. Exactly these chemical substances lead to the development of various pathologies - urolithiasis, dysbacteriosis, allergies and others.

You should gradually switch your pet to a natural diet, gradually adding new foods to the usual food. At first natural products added in small portions, but after about 5 days the volume of store-bought feed should be reduced to half. It may take 10–14 days to completely switch to natural foods.

Another option is to reduce the portion of ready-made food:

1. Two bowls are prepared for the pet - with store-bought food and homemade food.
2. Without eating enough dry food, the animal involuntarily switches to natural food.
3. Gradually, the pet will get used to homemade dishes and will not require dry food.

Felinologists advise adding catnip to new food for faster adaptation. After the cat switches to a new diet, there is no need to give treats.

Video: how to feed cats correctly