Cat Care - Feeding & Safety

[sasvika]

Feeding

You should bear in mind that cats have a very acute digestive system and have specific nutrition needs. You pet needs to be fed a balanced diet containing water, proteins, vitamins and fatty acids.

The use of dry foods in your cat bowl will ensure that your pet has clean teeth and healthy gums. Try not to be tempted to put water with the dry food as this may lead to wasted food and also makes the food go off quicker which can make your cat sick.

Never feed your feline friend anything which has bones in it. This includes foods such as turkey and chicken. these bones splinter easily and can really injure your companion.

Make sure that your cat's food is served at room temperature and not straight out of the fridge. Cats have a tendency to vomit cold food.

Safe Environments

The best place for a cat is in the home. If you let your cat roam outside then there are many hazards that can put him/her in danger. These include predators, cars and rat poison.

It has been proven that cats which live indoors will have a greater life expectancy than those allowed to roam outdoors. Your cat may also annoy the neighbours and is likely to kill wildlife such as birds if put out at night.

[Amy]

I was told by my vet to put water in my cats food to help with vomiting?! He said that cats do not have as much of a thrist drive and they can easily become dehydrated. He told me to mix 3 Tablespoons of water with her food to ensure she gets enough water. I have begun doing so and she has begun to vomit less.

Is this an exception or should I stop putting water in her food??? Yikes, Im concerned now!

[**Sapphire**]

I've never put water in my cat's dry food. They do vomit on occasion, but not enough to warrant putting any water in their food to soften it.

What you could do Amy if your concerned about the water intake is get a waterfall water bowl for your cat. It might get him interested in drinking more water.

My 3 cats love to drink out of the bathroom sink, so I always have it on a trickle for them to drink whenever they want it. So they are getting plenty of water by jumping up there & taking some big drinks.

You can also try mixing a little wet food with the dry food so that the dry gets a little moist. Some cats don't like that so you kind of have to play with it a bit to see if your cat will like eating it that way.

[Amy]

Wet food is a no no in our house. It gives gas and very loose stools. I will look into those fountain waterers.

[FaunaFreak]

I have also been told that slightly moistened kitty food helps with digestion AND hydration - but I was also told not to make too much at once, and to discard the remainder after 15 minutes. That should help reduce the problems of spoiled or wasted food