Are You Feeding Your Cat the Wrong Food?
How much time do you spend worrying about what you eat and how much you eat? You probably spend a lot more time thinking about it than you realise. You see, your body has a rhythm that tells you roughly when it’s time to eat (it's also tied to blood sugar levels and the amount of calories you take in versus spend in a day). That means, most people think about food a minimum of three times a day. More than likely, it’s more than that. If you pack a lunch for the office, you’ve thought about that meal at least twice. If you planned it out or went shopping for that meal specially, that’s another time.
Now, we know that feeding your cats should be simpler. Many cats are controlled enough to graze if there’s food sitting in their bowl all day long. But, considering just how much time you spend thinking about what you eat; don’t you think you owe it to your cats to think about their food for just a few moments?
The Basics of Feeding Any Cat
We know it’s relatively simple to feed your cats. You buy food (the same food every time, most likely), and then you feed your cats an amount based on how much they weigh. And, either they gobble it down immediately (like dogs) or they allow it to sit in their bowls for the day.
Either way works. And it works because of the way dry cat foods are made. No matter how big or small each pellet is, it represents an entirely balanced portion of your cat’s diet. Each piece of the kibble has the right proportion of protein and calcium and everything else your cat needs to remain healthy. You just need to feed your feline friends according to their weight. That’s why it’s important to have an idea of how much each of your pets weigh. (And why you should measure out the food as opposed to just dumping it in the bowl.)
But, Cats Are Frisky Creatures
If you have a cat, you know just how frisky these little bodies can be. They will get into everything - and anything. If you leave the lid off the dust bin, you’ll find your pet inside, gnawing on the bones from supper. If you leave a cupboard door open, they’ll leap over the sink to get inside to munch on that open packet of bread.
This is what it means to own a cat. But, it does make it difficult to understand that cats can’t eat everything. They think they can, and they can be pretty convincing. But, they shouldn’t have everything you do. Unfortunately, there are many things that cats just cannot digest. And, just like humans, cats can develop food sensitivities. That’s why you need to take a moment to consider their diets.
The Symptoms of Food Sensitivities
If you have sensitivity to certain foods, you know that it’s one of those super irritating conditions. It means frequent trips to the toilet, plenty of bloating and general discomfort at mealtime. It’s the same for your cats.
Symptoms of food sensitivities include:
Vomiting
Flatulence
Loose stools or difficulty passing them
A reluctance to eat (since the stomach and intestines feel full already)
And this can come just from eating the foods that you’ve purchased for your pets.
Keep in mind that food sensitivities are different from food allergies. Food sensitivities cause extreme discomfort because of digestive difficulties. If you, or your cats, eat something they’re allergic to, it’s the same as eating poison. A food allergy is something that requires urgent medical attention if your cat eats that food. Sensitivities are a different thing altogether.
Diagnosing Food Sensitivities
If your cat uses an outdoor toilet, you might not notice the symptoms of food sensitivities straight away; unless, of course, your pet can’t stop farting when she comes in for a cuddle. It’s a lot easier if your cat is restricted to the house and uses a litter box. Then, you’re likely to spot food sensitivities much faster.
If you do happen to have an indoor-outdoor kitty and you suspect food sensitivities, then you might just want to temporarily restrict your pet’s movements. This does two things. For a start, it ensures that your cat isn’t getting into foods or other substances out of doors that you can’t control. The other benefit is that you can monitor what’s happening in the litter box.
But, before you make the switch to a sensitive cat food, we need to give you a small warning. You see, you shouldn’t diagnose food sensitivity on your own. That goes for you, your cats, and any other pets or family you may have. The truth is that these symptoms are too close to those of more serious conditions. You need a vet to rule out anything more serious, and potentially life-threatening so you know you’re treating the condition correctly.
The Difference Between Sensitive Foods and Traditional Cat Foods
Food sensitivities can develop in your cats regardless of their age. Even if you never experienced problems before, your pet could be having difficulty with certain foods now. It has to do with the amount of exposure to certain ingredients. Typically, the troublesome elements are:
Beef
Dairy products (no matter how many times you’ve seen kittens lapping a bowl of milk)
Soya and derivatives
Gluten
Now, not every cat experiences difficulties with food, nor will all sensitive cats have an issue with the same food. But, if your cat does have a hard time digesting food, it is most likely going to be one of these (and other ingredients that are not routinely used in pet foods). As you can guess, the primary difference between sensitive foods and the traditional cat foods is… the exclusion of all ingredients that trigger sensitivity issues. But, don’t worry, they still have all the nutrition your pet needs.
Making the Switch to Sensitive Foods
Once you have the all clear from your vet to make the switch to sensitive cat foods, you’re in for the next hurdle. And that’s getting your pet to make the switch. No matter how delicious the new food is, you may have a bit of a problem with this. In fact, it’s more usual than you might imagine. The same cat that digs around in the bottom of the bin to lick the egg residue from the shell may just give you a hard time about a duck flavoured meal.
There’s
a reason your cats like the old food even though it hasn’t made their
life easy. It has to do with their expectations. They’ve gotten used
to the old meal, and it’s what they expect. As much as your cats seem
to be able to go with the flow, they really do like knowing what they’re
going to get. So, you may have to do that old trick of slowly adding
in the new food to the old food so they can get used to the smell.
But, You’ll Need to Keep an Eye on What Your Cats Eat
Dogs with food sensitivities are sometimes easier to deal with than cats (or people) are. That’s because their movements are far more restricted. It’s much more difficult to confine cats, especially if they’re used to going outside for a bit of a hunt. Unfortunately, you will need to keep a closer eye on what your cat can get into once you’ve established a food sensitivity. Until that digestive tract has managed to balance itself, you’ll need to be strict.
Fortunately,
once your cat has made the switch to sensitive food and isn’t getting
treats that disrupt digestion, you will be able to snuggle your pet
without all those nasty smells. And, it will certainly make that whole litter box experience that much more pleasant. Isn’t that something to look forward to? We think so.
