Feeding domestic cats
The rules for feeding indoor cats are based on an understanding of their physiological and behavioral characteristics. What features are peculiar to domestic cats and what care they need?
What are the needs of cats living at home?
Such a cat is limited in movement and spends most of its time sleeping and eating. Her inactive way of life is reflected in many physiological processes in the body. Low activity can lead to disruption of the gastrointestinal tract, deterioration of stool quality and the appearance of a sharp, unpleasant smell from the tray.
In addition, domestic cats are more prone to weight gain and obesity. Therefore, the caloric content of the diet of such a pet should be reduced, and its composition should include a prebiotic that contributes to the normal functioning of the intestine. Thus, PRO PLAN® Housecat dry food contains chicory root, a source of natural prebiotic inulin. The increased fiber content in this diet contributes to the natural removal of hair lumps from the cat’s intestines and gives it a feeling of satiety, despite its reduced calorie content. A great addition to a dry diet will be PRO PLAN® NUTRISAVOUR® Housecat wet food.
How to feed a neutered or sterilized pet?
If your pet has been neutered or sterilized, you need to pay special attention to its diet and the amount of fluid consumed. The ancestors of cats, the inhabitants of the desert, adapted themselves to do with a small amount of water to meet their metabolic needs. This “addiction” of cats can negatively affect the health of the urinary system, especially in neutered and sterilized pets. Make sure your cat always has fresh, clean drinking water.
Domestic cats should consume at least 30 ml of liquid per 1 kg of weight (for example, if a cat weighs 3 kg, it should consume about 90-100 ml of liquid per day). Failure to comply with these norms and lack of moisture increases the risk of diseases of the urinary system.
What are the benefits of a combined diet?
The most progressive approach to the feeding of neutered and sterilized cats is considered to be a combined type of feeding, which implies daily feeding of both dry and wet food. Such nutrition contributes to the maintenance of appetite and increases the level of moisture consumed, necessary to maintain the health of the urinary system. In addition, there are fewer calories in wet food, therefore, it is selected in the correct proportion with dry food, it helps to maintain the optimum weight of your pet. Wet food in the form of delicate pieces of different tastes and textures PRO PLAN® NUTRISAVOUR® Sterilised will provide a variety of nutrition, and thanks to a balanced composition will help maintain the health of the urinary system.
What if your cat is selective in food?
If your cat reacts negatively to the proposed food, she has frequent stool disorders, and the veterinarian is unable to make any diagnosis, your pet may have sensitive digestion. In this case, it also requires a special feeding regimen. For the prevention of gastrointestinal disorders, animals with sensitive digestion should be protected from excessive dietary diversity, and feed should be easily digestible and contain a limited number of protein sources. PRO PLAN® Delicate dry food and PRO PLAN® NUTRISAVOUR® Delicate wet food for adult cats with sensitive digestion contain exceptionally high-quality and carefully selected protein sources that minimize the risk of developing food allergies in cats. The high content of prebiotics and fiber in these foods contributes to healthy digestion and maintaining good quality stools, and the exceptional taste characteristics of PRO PLAN® Delicate food will impress even the most fastidious cat.
