Is your cat a foodie with a refined taste, often refusing top quality cat food but quietly nibbling at snacks that were left on the kitchen table? What kind of food can help provide a balanced diet for your picky feline? Here are a few tips from PET-A-HOOD.
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Food that your cat should NEVER eat
1. Spring onion (scallion), onion, garlic, chives
All members of the onion family can cause damage to a cat’s red blood cells and even cause anemia.
2. Alcohol
As little as 5-8ml alcohol per kg concentration could cause alcohol poisoning in a cat.
3. Avocado
Avocados can upset a cat’s digestive system, cause vomiting, diarrhoea, and even fatal heart conditions.
4. Raw Fish
Excessive unsaturated fat and there is an enzyme in raw fish which destroys thiamine, which is an essential Vitamin B for your cat. Lacking of thiamine can cause serious neurological problems.
5. Raw Egg
Raw eggs contain a specific protein that interferes with the absorption of Vitamin B in a cat, in turn causing conditions like excessive nasal discharge and saliva, or skin issues like over-shedding.
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Food that your cat CAN eat
1. Chicken Breast
Cats are carnivores, so quality animal protein is ideal. Be careful not to season the chicken breast with any salt, in order to protect your cat’s kidney functions.
2. Watermelon
Cats in general do not like to drink much water, and that habit in the long run could cause stress for their kidneys. Watermelons are full of water so they are a great supplement to a cat’s diet. However, over-eating should be avoided as watermelons have extremely high sugar content. Seeds should also be removed beforehand as they could cause diarrhoea if ingested by your cat.
3. Cooked Carrot
Carrots are extremely nutritious. However, raw carrots are difficult for cats to digest, so they should always be cooked and cut in small pieces for your cat to eat.
4. Cooked Egg
Eggs are a great source of protein that can be easily absorbed by cats. Egg yolks in particular, contain Vitamin B and unique amino acids that are essential for a healthy coat. Be mindful that excessive consumption could lead to high cholesterol.
5. Natural Yogurt
Yogurt is rich in Vitamin B and Calcium. It is also capable of breaking down lactose, making it a suitable food for lactose intolerant cats. However, only natural, unflavored yogurts should be fed to cats.
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While these natural foods are great for cats, their diet still consists of dry and wet cat food – read on for some tips.
Unfinished Cat Food
Cats are (not surprisingly) very smart animals! They can tell how fresh their food is. If the cat food has been left out for a while, or they have already had their portion, you will likely notice that they will no longer eat from the same bowl, until fresh cat food is added. In order to minimize wastage, you can mix a small portion of fresh cat food, snacks, or supplement powder with the unfinished food to attract your cat. If the unfinished portion is small, it might be a better idea to simply refresh the entire bowl.
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Changing to a different type or brand of cat food
A cat’s diet needs to be designed according to its age and corresponding nutrition requirements. An abrupt change in diet could cause vomiting, diarrhoea etc. The process of changing the type of brand of cat food that your cat is used to, should be gradual, especially if your cat is a kitten or elderly.
Kittens
New-born kittens require a lot of protein and in general, a high-calorie diet to support growth. While it is important to use these highly nutritious formulas designed for kittens, they could easily cause obesity for others who have overgrown this diet. Therefore, kittens should switch to normal cat food after a year. The switch should be gradual: start with a small amount of new food mixed with the old, and increase the portion of new vs old daily until your cat is completely comfortable with the new regular cat food.
Older Cats
Cats are considered “elderly” when they turn nine years old, and unfortunately that is when a lot of health issues surface. Using cat food designed for elderly cats or doctor prescribed or recommended cat food can help with general nutrition, slow or relieve long-term illnesses. The time it takes for elderly cats to adapt to a new cat food is much longer compared to younger cats, as their digestive system deteriorates with age, so extra care and patience is required.
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