Is dry cat food harmful or not?

Today, dry pet food forms the basis of the diet of most pets. Such a popular type of food for cats has its advantages and disadvantages, which should be familiarized with before using. In pet stores, you can find many brands of dry food, differing in properties, composition and price. In our article, we will take a closer look at this product, its advantages and disadvantages.

First, let's talk about the benefits of using dry pet food.

• As the first advantage, owners of domestic cats note convenience. It is very easy to store food in this version. Any convenient container can be used for storage. You can also leave the product in its original packaging.

Plastic containers, which can be found in every home, are great. Separately, it is worth noting the long shelf life of products and convenient use. To feed your furry pet, just open the package and pour the right amount of food into a bowl.

• Manufacturers offering superior quality products make feed with a balanced composition. First of all, this quality is possessed by a premium product. Competently selected components and substances are essential for the excellent health and well-being of your pet.

Without the use of ready-made food, cat owners have to independently compose a menu, taking into account the characteristics of a particular breed and the beneficial qualities of each individual product. Trading companies offer food for different age groups, taking into account the developmental characteristics of cats at each stage.

• If you are a pedigree cat owner, you will definitely be interested in food for a particular breed.It is very difficult to select and calculate the menu for a specific type on your own. The producers have already done this for you and have taken into account the characteristics of each breed. When preparing food, the predisposition to disease, the pet's taste preferences, the need for certain substances, and much more are taken into account.

It should be noted separately medicated feeds that help animals recover from surgery or illness. They contain special components aimed at improving the condition of the body. Also on sale you will find formulations for pregnant and lactating cats.

• Another advantage is the abrasive properties of the solid feed pellets. Such food helps to cleanse teeth from plaque. However, even with regular use of dry food, it is necessary to brush your pets' teeth. Unfortunately, some owners neglect this responsibility.

• The product contains taurine. It is a special ingredient that is essential for the health of the animal. This element is required for:

1. maintaining excellent vision of the animal;
2. prevention of heart disease;
3. participation in the processes of digestion (the substance helps the digestion and assimilation of fat in the small intestine);
4. stabilization of the nervous system.

Taurine is found in fish, beef, and seafood. If such food is rarely or completely absent in the cat's diet, dry food will help to cope with the problem of taurine deficiency.

Despite the obvious advantages of such a diet, it also has a number of certain disadvantages.

• The first drawback is related to the peculiarities of the texture of the feed itself. If you regularly feed your pet dry food, it is recommended that you give him more water. It must be clean. It would seem that if you give the animal a sufficient amount of moisture, then there will be no problem, however, most cats drink very little.

Experts recommend keeping track of how much water your pet is consuming. If the cat hardly drinks, then it is advisable to reduce the amount of dry food to a minimum or completely abandon it. Some veterinarians believe that you cannot feed the animal only dry formulations. It is recommended to combine meals by combining wet and dry foods.

• Most brands use chemical components in the production of a product. They are necessary for the food to be stored for a long time and to have a special taste. Typically, these additives come in low quality formulations. This food is harmful to cats. It is worth noting that wet food can also have such a disadvantage.

• According to many experts, Continuous feeding of dry food can cause gastrointestinal diseases. Also, the pet can be tormented the following ailments:

1. gastritis;
2. ulcer;
3. intestinal obstruction;
4. stomach ache.

This disadvantage is individual and depends on the characteristics of the organism of each pet. Some cats can eat dry food all the time and feel great, while others begin to experience discomfort after a few days of feeding. Therefore, you should carefully monitor the health of the animal and record negative changes in its well-being.

If you intend to use dry food for your pet, check out with the following rules for its use.

• Natural food must not be mixed with ready-made feed. If your pet starts to have health problems, it will be very difficult to determine the cause.
• As noted above, it is not recommended to change the manufacturer, as a last resort it can be done rarely. Change can lead to poor absorption of food.
• Change of feed must be done carefully, for at least one week. Stir in the new product gradually while monitoring the cat's health.
• Be sure to place a container of clean water next to the food bowl, so that the pet is not tormented by thirst.
• You can not feed your pet with low quality products. Saving on food quality can negatively impact your cat's health.
• Do not use food that is past its expiration date.
• After opening the package, be sure to check the condition of the feed.
• An adult healthy cat eats 2 times a day. Lactating and pregnant cats can eat more than five times.
• As for drinking, then the animal needs to drink about 30 milliliters per kilogram of weight, but this is when using moist and natural food. If the animal eats dry food, the volume of water drunk should be 3 times higher.
• Highly discouraged use food for adult animals when feeding kittens. Such formulations are not designed for them.
• Water tank should be wide so that the mustache does not touch its edges. Check the water for freshness and refresh it periodically.

Veterinarians believe that it is possible to mix the same brand of wet and dry food due to the fact that they may be similar in composition. Diet cannot be changed drastically for a specific reason. When using the same composition, the animal's body begins to produce special enzymes to break down food, which contributes to the assimilation of the product. Thus, the body gets used to the specific composition.

The benefits and harms of dry cat food are related to their quality and composition. In order not to risk the health and well-being of your pet, use products premium class. Their cost is more expensive than other formulations, but the price is fully justified. It is also recommended to use products famous and popular brands. Large companies that hold leading positions in the pet food market value their reputation and approach the manufacture of products responsibly.

See below for tips on choosing dry food.