veterinary medicine

Cat's Diet - From Crunchies to Meat

Introduction

Many cats are fed exclusively to dry food.

On the other hand, dry food is the food that contributes most to the onset of feline diseases.

If the animal only eats dry food, it is necessary to modify its nutritional habits and convert it to meat.

Domestic cats have a behavior very similar to that of spoiled children.

Taking action on feline addiction to dry food can be more difficult than it seems.

In more complex cases, the transition process takes time, patience and the implementation of some tricks.

Why do Industries rely on Crunchies?

Like any type of commercial sector, the animal feed industry also tends to maximize profit.

This result can be achieved by reducing production costs and / or increasing sales.

The dry food is the one with the highest profit margin; let's see why:

  • It has a very high plant component, which reduces the costs for raw materials.
  • The working process reduces waste to a minimum, guaranteeing a high yield.
  • The resulting food is scarcely perishable, reducing storage costs and facilitating the pace of production.
  • It does not require a very demanding packaging.
  • The finished product is highly appreciated by cats, as it is enriched with aromas and other special substances.

NB . The same companies also produce hypothetically "therapeutic" food versions. In reality, these foods are almost identical to normal commercial lines and differ in some negligible details.

How Much Meat Should a Cat Eat?

For those who have used their cat to have the bowl full of croquettes 24 hours a day, it could be difficult to estimate the right portion of canned meat.

An average cat should eat 180-220kcal / day, or about 140-170g of wet food divided into 3-4 meals. In canned meat, the higher the protein percentage, the lower the total calories; vice versa for the amount of fat.

If the cat is overweight the portions should be reduced. If it is the feline is underweight the portions should be increased slightly (very rare eventuality with a diet based on biscuits).

Unfortunately, the label of canned meat never reports the specific calorie content.

On the other hand, the energy supply for most wet foods is around 100kcal per 100g of product (it varies from 80 to 120 based on the percentage of water and fat); the humidity is approximately 78%.

Almost all cats lose weight during the transition from dry food to canned food. Since most felines are overweight at the time of passage, this reaction is considered a positive effect. Keep in mind that a slender cat, with appropriate muscle mass, also becomes much more active (just like humans do).

Weight loss becomes harmful or potentially harmful only when weight loss exceeds 1-2% in a week. If the cat in transition is more than 10 years old, it is advisable to weigh it in a scheduled and regular manner to avoid complications.

Cats that like meat immediately, statistically take no more than 3 weeks to get used to everything.

Initial considerations

One of the most significant problems that arise during the transition from dry to soft food is the animal's habit of crunchy consistency.

Sometimes there is total rejection. In this case, it is necessary to insist and absolutely avoid replacing the meat with the croquettes.

Other domestic felines perceive the positivity of change and do not oppose the transition.

Keep in mind that sudden passage can cause diarrhea. Some cats need a slower and more progressive change than normal; this is not a worrying condition.

Cats "refractory" to change tend to fast. It is necessary to exploit the feeling of hunger that will inexorably hit them to induce them to eat the new food.

Remember that felines do NOT need food available 24 hours a day. On the contrary, for a predator the appetite is a positive experience.

That being said, it is often very difficult to hear one's cats begging for food. Moreover, initially large quantities of meat will be wasted which, remaining outdoors, will dry out and go to waste. It is however necessary to remember that this is a positive, indispensable intervention, not a wrong or a mistreatment.

It is different for more extreme cases.

When to get alarmed?

If the animal is obviously overweight or diabetic and is fasting for more than 48 hours, it can suffer serious health complications; for example hepatic lipidosis.

These can also occur with an energy consumption equal to or less than 50% of daily caloric needs for a period of several days.

According to the experience of some veterinarians, hepatic lipidosis should NOT occur with an energy consumption of 15kcal per kilo of weight per day.

A cat in a normal weight of 4kg has a safety margin of 60kcal / day, which corresponds to just over ΒΌ of the average requirement (200kcal / day).

Cheats

Before starting the list of "tricks" useful for the transition phase dry food - meat, we emphasize again that it can be a quite demanding food modification. It requires a lot of patience, strong nerves and firmness.

It must always be kept in mind that there is NO cat to which it is impossible to change eating habits.

  • As anticipated, it is essential that the cat reluctant to the meat perceives greater appetite or even hunger. In this way, the survival instinct will induce him to adapt.
  • Most cats prefer food at room temperature; not heated and cold "from the fridge".
  • For felines that are "home", it is useful to make them move more. Physical activity (even simply play) promotes calorie expenditure and stimulates the appetite.
  • Better to divide the cat's diet into 3-4 daily meals. Small portions of the new food help the animal to accept it more quickly.
  • It is useful to structure meals with both products. Even just the habit of smelling meat is far from negligible. The portions must be adequate and, if the cat does not eat, will have more appetite in the next meal. It is NOT necessary to increase the amount of dry food for any reason.
  • Experimenting with different tastes and formulas can help to "guess" the animal's preferences.
  • Dry food must be used in the opposite way to the custom. It should not be left in the bowl for more than 20 minutes. When the cat finishes the meal, all the residues must be removed.
  • It may be useful to choose different types of dry food. Especially those rich in fat and low in carbohydrates lend themselves. The advantage is to "break" the routine by proposing a different taste. Moreover, the nutritional profile is closer to that of meat. With a higher energy intake, the portion should be smaller.
  • With their sense of smell, cats are able to perceive the presence of dry food inside the house and refuse to eat anything else. It is advisable to hermetically seal the dry food to make the animal understand that "there are no alternatives".
  • Sprinkle canned meat with a small portion of a welcome food (for example tuna, Parmesan cheese, prebiotic "FortiFlora Felino", freeze-dried meat, etc.) can promote the habit of new flavor. The initial objective is to accustom the cat to non-crunchy foods, which is why any type of meat or fish is welcome; however, this is a temporary solution.
  • Immerse the croquettes in the liquid to control the canned meat. Some cats tend to reject it immediately but otherwise the transition becomes very fast. As we have said, the habit of smelling meat is a very important initial goal.
  • Propose wet food from the hand.
  • Gently soak the animal's gums or use a syringe without a needle to inject the blended food into the animal's mouth (as is the case with medicines).
  • In animals with a "difficult" character, instead of gums, it is better to dirty the hair of the paw; the cat will lick immediately and taste the new food.
  • It might be helpful to let the cat eat in a quieter room than usual.
  • If there are more individuals, better separate them.

Once the feline converts to canned food, it is advisable to let it manage the daily meat resources independently. Wet food can be kept safely for up to 12 hours at room temperature and the bowl can be filled just a couple of times.