How much dry food should you give your cat?

If you decide to have a pet, then even before you bring your little friend into the house, you need to find out everything about its content. Including about nutrition, which is more suitable for the animal. It would seem that it could be simpler: I went to a pet store, bought food, poured it on time, everyone is happy. But cat food is not only a treat for a pet, but also someone's business. Not always conscientious, by the way. Therefore, the question of the quality of feed, its relevance and feeding norms must be studied.

Feeding the cat with leftovers from the owner's table is not the best option. Animals accustomed to such a diet can, of course, get used to both pasta and sour cream and potatoes, but there is little good here. The predator, which the domestic cat has not ceased to be, needs high-quality animal food. And if almost no one succeeds in organizing natural food (this is really a luxury), then you can choose an adapted food. Not just picking up, but also keeping track of nutritional norms - this is the task of a caring owner.

When the kitten is two months old, he is ready to eat dry food. In this case, it is important where exactly the pet will eat. It should be a specific, unchanging place, dry and clean. If the kitten has to eat where everyone is constantly walking, where there is no calm environment for him, this can affect the feeding behavior of the cat.... Therefore, the indispensable conditions for food are peace and quiet in the place where the pet has a bowl.

If the cat is still small - 2-3 kg, then the serving size should be from 30 to 50 g.These must be products with a balanced composition. A cat weighing 10 kg, which is, of course, a large weight, should not eat more than 105 g of dry food per day: this leads to obesity.

The table is a reference point for the owner. It is also very important to feed correctly in terms of frequency. If the baby is not yet half a year old, then the kitten needs to be fed according to the four meals a day. If he has already outgrown this age, meals can be three times a day or even two times a day.

Experts do not advise kitten owners to mix dry food with natural food - this is an excessive load for the kitten's digestive tract. It is also important that the drinking bowl has water at all times. Vitamin supplements should be given to a kitten only on the advice of a veterinarian.

Adult cats usually eat two meals a day. If the breeder decides not to restrict food, and his bowl is constantly full, this will lead to obesity of the animal and an imbalance in eating behavior. Then, when the cat shows signs of the disease, the breeders wake up, start feeding a tablespoon - and it was easier to feed the kitten correctly from the beginning. An adult cat weighing 4-5 kg ​​needs about 55-70 g of dry food per day.

It is very important for a pregnant cat to eat right - high-quality regular food provides her with energy, which means that the animal will transfer pregnancy safely, will cope well with the birth and feeding of the offspring. Attentive owners, as a rule, when they find out that the cat is pregnant, seek an unscheduled consultation with the veterinarian: you need to make sure everything is going well and ask a few questions about the pet's nutrition.

The menu of a pregnant cat must include:

• proteins;
• vitamins;
• minerals.

If you notice that the animal has begun to eat with great appetite, then this is normal. Already in the third week of pregnancy, the cat begins to eat too much. Gradually, the daily ration doubles, and this is also normal. Do not forget that access to water for the animal must be constant.

In dry food for a pregnant cat, the following components are key.

• Calcium... If it is not enough in food, there may be problems with lactation, with diseases of bones and teeth.
• Animal protein. And the kitty herself, he is vital, and future offspring is also important - without him they will not be able to be born healthy and viable.
• Vitamin A. A valuable element for visual acuity, skin and coat health.
• Vitamin E. Responsible for regenerative issues, maintaining the health of the reproductive system.
• Vitamin K. Responsible for blood clotting, which is extremely important on the eve of childbirth.
• Cellulose... Optimizes bowel function.

Some owners sound the alarm if the cat refuses dry food on the eve of childbirth. In most cases, this does not bode well, on the contrary, in this way, the animal prepares for an early birth.

For the first eight weeks of kittens' life, their only food will be mother's milk. A nursing mother certainly needs a special diet. Its main feature is an increase in the volume of food. This volume can quadruple. You can buy a special dry food for nursing at the pet store, enriched with all the substances necessary for the lactation period. Proteins, vitamin and mineral supplements, and everything you need for good milk production is already in it.

Make sure that the food for the young mom does not contain artificial flavors: there is little benefit in this, and such food can turn the cat away from food. She is very sensitive during lactation, and she will not eat any suspicious food, in her opinion. I must say that even veterinarians do not have an exact opinion on whether to feed a cat on demand or to leave food in a bowl for a young mother all the time. Watch your pet, watch how often it comes to the bowl, whether it is full.

Usually, such procedures lead to the fact that the cat eats more per day than usual. Appetite increases, and sometimes against this background, the pet becomes obese. It is better if the cat who has gone through such stress, you start buying food with less fat. The animal should move more during this period, therefore brighten up the situation caused by castration or sterilization with new toys for the pet. The balls will literally help the cat to get distracted: he will start running, jumping, frolicking, which is very important for him during this period.

A particular risk for neutered / neutered animals is urolithiasis. Alas, the above procedures increase the risk of its development at times. Therefore, fish, rich in phosphorus and magnesium, turns from a delicacy into a product of danger.

About 50-60 g of dry food per day is the maximum for the recovery period (depending on the weight of the cat). If you see that the cat is gaining weight quickly, reduce the daily intake to 45 g. Consider not the age of the cat, but its weight (see the table above)... After stress, you do not need to feed the animal.

Many companies produce special food for animals that have recently undergone sterilization and castration. It is formulated in an ideal balance of substances, vitamins, microelements for a pet.

When the cat becomes old, loses its former mobility and cheerful disposition, she sleeps more and more. And her nutrition, as a rule, also changes. She doesn't need as many calories as she used to. Some breeders decide that the cat should not eat so little, and offer her food more often. The correct decision is to buy your pet a special food designed for older animals. It tends to be higher in protein and lower in carbohydrates, reducing the risk of obesity.

If you buy economy class meals, you are not saving at all! Paradoxically, this is true. When you took three packs for the promotion, and it seems that the next time you will have to visit a pet store will not be soon, then you are mistaken. Low-cost food usually does not saturate the animal with a small portion. You need to pour out almost a third of the pack so that the kitty is full. The more expensive product is usually so balanced that even a tablespoon or two the cat eats slowly and stays full for a long time.

For older cats, the rule for calculating the norm is as follows: the daily portion is no more than 7% of the animal's body weight. A high-quality feed will definitely contain components that help the immune, cardiovascular and genitourinary systems of the animal.

Another point should be clarified. Of course, all animal organisms are unique. And all those norms that are given on packages of dry food are averaged. If your cat eats a little more and is cheerful and graceful, this is normal. Track how much feed is consumed per month, compare with the average values. A slight deviation in one favor or another is, of course, permissible. If the deviation is not small, you need to think about it.

It also happens: a cat asks for food in excess of the norm indicated on the package. At the same time, he does not gain weight. This does not mean that the animal has a terrible diagnosis. You will probably just have to change the food, because this does not satisfy the pet's nutritional needs.

You are feeding your animal good food if:

• he has a shiny, healthy coat;
• strong teeth;
• good health and mood.

If your cat is diagnosed with a chronic disease, your first action will not only be treatment, but also the revision of food. And it will be up to the veterinarian to decide how the cat should eat now. He will make individual recommendations that you will need to adhere to. Another tip: If you're worried about over-filling or not getting enough sleep, buy a measuring cup at the pet store. Whenever you add food to the bowl, measure out the correct amount. This makes it much easier to track exactly how much food the animal is eating. Determination by eye can seriously disagree with the truth.

As for humans, food means a lot to a cat. As a breeder, an affectionate and caring owner, you can organize your pet a long, happy life, an important part of which is good nutrition.

How much dry food to give a cat is described in the next video.