When you start a small four-legged purr, you should be aware that this is not just a pet. From now on, this tailed friend is a full member of the family. He requires attention and needs proper care. From how you will relate to the animal, its health directly depends.
In the first days of independent life, a kitten needs proper and balanced nutrition. This care item is one of the most common among cat lovers. Is it worth giving a kitten only dry or wet food and how to do it correctly, we will consider in the article below.
What is dry food?
A full-product with a balanced composition in accordance with all standards - this is how dry food can be characterized. Its second name is “industrial”. This method of feeding is convenient, since you do not need to cook and monitor the amount of nutrients. On any package there is always information about the composition and rules.
Remember! Dry dog food should never be given to feline representatives. The thing is that the dog food does not have all the substances necessary for the proper development.
Speaking about whether it is possible to feed a kitten only with dry food, it can be concluded that yes. But this is possible only if this food is full-ration and can give the future handsome all the necessary nutrients.
In such a product must be:
- proteins;
- fats
- vitamins;
- trace elements.
In the basic composition of full-feed fodder, not vegetable, but animal proteins.
Right choice
Feed should be chosen by those in which meat comes first.
In order for your kitten to have a beautiful coat, healthy skin, a well-developed brain, the feed must contain omega-3 fatty acids.
The following data must be indicated on the package:
- meat - 35%;
- pure protein - up to 40%;
- fats - 20%;
- carbohydrates - the minimum amount.
Kinds
If your four-legged baby eats one dry food, carefully study all of it kinds.
- Economy - A cheap type made from meat waste. It contains various types of colorants, flavors and flavor enhancers.
- Premium - it contains some meat, vegetables, cereals and vitamins. The composition does not include harmful additives.
- Super premium - An excellent feed, which contains a lot of meat, vegetables, fruits, berries, cereals and other useful additives. Does not contain dyes and harmful food elements.
- Holistic - the best dry food. The main component is meat extracted from ecologically clean places. Absolutely no harmful chemical additives.
If we talk about the natural habitat, then cats eat primarily meat. They use water much less than their four-legged friends - dogs. But pets are slightly different from wild relatives, in this regard, you need to provide the cat with water or wet food.
Wet food
This type of food is as close as possible to natural nutrition. Of course, you need to give the kitten a wet food, but again - you should choose only the view from the superpremium line. The composition of such feed contains all the necessary elements for proper growth and development.
Keep in mind the fact that wet food will cost more than dry.
Advantages and disadvantages
The benefits of dry food relate:
- low price;
- balanced food;
- lack of a strict regime;
- does not require additional vitamin supplements.
Minuses:
- unappetizing appearance, sometimes repelling animals;
- there is no way to check the composition;
- additional load on the teeth;
- dry food.
And now you should find out what is good and bad in wet foods.
pros:
- identity with natural nutrition;
- mouth-watering appearance, aroma;
- externally, one can determine the composition;
- proper load on the teeth.
Minuses:
- high price;
- requires additional vitamin preparations;
- clear mode;
- cooking time consumption.
Is it possible to combine?
Dry food is a complete balanced diet that does not require any additives or supplements.
Dry and wet feeding are combined, but at the same time all the value of useful substances is lost, disturbances occur in the body of the animal.
Mixed food is prohibited even by veterinarians, not to mention breeders.
Scientists conducted a series of experiments in which it was found that eating 50 to 50 can cause three diseases at least.
- Failure in the balance of substances. Due to the fact that everything is harmonious in dry food, and in wet - there is no single system, an imbalance of nutrients occurs. Due to this, a different type of pathology develops.
- Stones in the urinary system. The most common disease is due to an excess of phosphorus and calcium. Due to this, the formation of stones. If the disease is not determined in time, the animal may die.
- Gastrointestinal problems In the process of digesting different types of food, enzymes of a different nature are produced, which overload the body, as a result of a failure in the digestive tract. This leads to serious illness.
No need to be scared. If you once or twice a month will please a pet with a piece of meat or, conversely, a little feed, nothing will happen to him. Rarely - not scary. If you increase the norm, the consequences will not be very pleasant.
Feeding rates
The amount eaten by a cat must be monitored.
Due to malnutrition, inhibition of many body functions occurs, and an excess will cause, in addition to obesity, a lot of ailments.
If we talk about dry food, just follow the instructions on the packaging. A growing cat needs less food. Keep track of your pet’s weight. Knowing its weight, it is easier to calculate the required amount of feed for proper development.
A cat up to 6 months old needs to eat 3 times a day. From 6 to 9 months, the norm decreases to 2 times a day.
For one feeding, the dose is calculated according to this algorithm: per 1 kg of pet weight - 60 g of dry food. Remember to have water to drink. It should be clean and fresh.
Attention! If your pet does not drink much, consider this as a signal for going to the vet.
If the cat is hungry, then he will eat his portion within 20 minutes. After this, wash the bowl until the next meal. All other approaches to food are regarded as lazy eating.
Recommendations
Dry or wet food is always designed for a healthy animal. If your tailed friend is sick, he will be given special nutrition after a full examination by a veterinarian.
A small organism may experience an allergic reaction to a new product. Watch your pet's behavior closely after eating new foods.
In order not to permanently spoil the bite of a kitten, it is better to soak the feed a little. To check the correct development, visit the veterinarian on time and take the necessary tests.
In order for you not to worry about the correct growth and development, give the cat food of the same species and from one manufacturer. Do not forget that it should only be a super premium class. Pay attention to the diet for the early maturation of your pet.
You will learn more about feeding kittens with wet and dry food by watching the following video.
