Is dry cat food harmful or not?

Today, dry pet food is the basis of the diet of most pets. Such a popular type of food for cats has its advantages and disadvantages, which must be familiarized with before use. In pet stores you can find many brands of dry feed, 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 animal feed.

• Owners of domestic cats note convenience as the first advantage. It is very simple to store food in this embodiment. For storage, you can use any convenient container. You can also leave the product in its original packaging.

The plastic packaging found in every home will work just fine. Separately, it is worth noting the long shelf life of the products and convenient use. To feed a furry pet, just open the package and pour the right amount of food in a bowl.

• Manufacturers offering superior quality products, produce feed with a balanced composition. First of all, premium quality goods have this quality. Properly selected components and substances are necessary for excellent health and well-being of the pet.

Without the use of ready-made feed, cat owners have to compose a menu on their own, taking into account the particular breed and the beneficial qualities of each individual product. Trading companies offer food for various age groups, taking into account the peculiarities of the development of cats at each stage.

• If you are the owner of a purebred cat, You will certainly be interested in food for a particular breed.It is very difficult to independently select and calculate a menu for a particular type. Producers have already done this for you and take into account the characteristics of each breed. When making food, the predisposition to diseases, the taste preferences of the pet, the need for certain substances and much more are taken into account.

Separately, it is worth noting medicinal feeds that help animals recover after surgery or illness. They contain special components aimed at improving the condition of the body. Also on sale you will find compositions for pregnant and lactating cats.

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

• The product contains taurine. This is a special component that is essential for animal health. This item is required for:

1. maintaining excellent animal vision;
2. heart disease prevention;
3. participation in the digestive processes (the substance helps the digestion and absorption 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 from the cat’s diet, dry food will help to cope with the problem of taurine deficiency.

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

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

Experts recommend monitoring how much water a pet consumes. 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 can not feed the animal only with dry formulations. It is recommended to combine food, combining wet and dry food.

• Most brands use chemical components. in product manufacturing. They are necessary so that the food is stored for a long time and has a special taste. Typically, such additives are included in low quality formulations. This food is harmful to cats. It is worth noting that wet foods can also have this drawback.

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

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

This disadvantage is individual and depends on the characteristics of the body of each pet. Some cats can constantly eat dry food and feel great, while others begin to feel discomfort after several days of feeding. Therefore, you should carefully monitor the health of the animal and record negative changes in his health.

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

• Do not mix natural food with ready-made feed. If a pet begins to have health problems, it will be very difficult to determine their cause.
• As noted above, It is not recommended to change the manufacturer, in extreme cases, you can do this rarely. Change can lead to poor absorption of food.
• Feed changes need to be done carefully for at least one week. Gradually mix a new product, observing the health of the cat.
• Be sure to place a container of clean water next to the food bowl, so that the pet is not thirsty.
• Do not feed your pet with low quality products. Saving on food quality can negatively affect a cat’s health.
• Do not use expired food.
• After opening the package, be sure to check the condition of the feed.
• 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 drinking water should be 3 times higher.
• Highly recommended use feed 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 periodically renew it.

Veterinarians believe that wet and dry feeds of the same brand can be mixed due to the fact that they can be similar in composition. You can’t change the diet 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 a 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 the pet, use products premium class. Their cost is more expensive than other formulations, but the price is fully justified. Use of products is also recommended. famous and popular brands. Large companies that occupy leading positions in the animal feed market value their reputation and are responsible for the manufacture of products responsibly.

For tips on choosing dry food, see below.