Feeding your cat may seem simple, but the truth is quite different, dear pet owners. Besides feeding your cat correctly, you should also be aware of the six mistakes below to "avoid as much as possible." If you're curious and don't know what these problematic mistakes are, scroll down immediately and petncute.com will answer everything for you:
1. First Mistake: Overfeeding Your Cat
Dr. Joe Bartges, a professor of medicine and nutrition, states that the most common mistake pet owners make when feeding cats is overfeeding them. So how much food does your cat need? To keep your cat at a normal and healthy weight, you should provide them with between 24 to 35 calories per day per 453.5 grams. It is best to consult with a veterinarian to determine your cat's current condition to build a reasonable and scientific diet. Susan G. Wynn, DVM, a veterinary nutrition expert from Georgia and author of "The Cat: Its Behavior, Nutrition, and Health," also notes, “A veterinarian will know the abnormalities in a cat's diet, thereby suggesting ways to reduce food intake and limit obesity in cats.”
First Mistake: Overfeeding Your Cat
2. Second Mistake: Feeding Only Dry Food
Lisa A. Pierson, DVM, a California veterinarian and founder of CatInfo.org, says, “The biggest mistake pet owners often make is only feeding their cats dry food.” Veterinarians also point out that cats are less sensitive to thirst than dogs; they won't automatically drink water. This condition worsens if pet owners only feed cats dry food, eventually leading to urinary tract "dryness" and system malfunctions. You can remedy this by balancing between dry and wet foods. Surveys show wet food contains about 78% water, while dry food has only 5-10%, which is insufficient for cats.
3. Third Mistake: Not Providing Enough Water
According to ASPCA experts, water makes up 60% to 70% of an adult cat's body weight. A water deficit can lead to severe consequences, increasing susceptibility to diseases or even death. Besides serving wet food, you can also directly supplement by encouraging your cat to drink water more often. Give your pet bottled or boiled water to minimize germs.
Third Mistake: Not Providing Enough Water
4. Fourth Mistake: Adding Garlic to Treat Tapeworm
Some beliefs hold that the white wiggles near a cat's tail, resembling rice grains, are segments of tapeworms residing in the cat's small intestine. Many believe the best way to eliminate these parasites is by feeding cats fresh garlic. However, to date, there is no research proving garlic's capability to stop parasite invasions, including tapeworms and fleas. On the contrary, excessive use or feeding too much garlic can destroy red blood cells and disrupt blood circulation.
Moreover, although tapeworms are not life-threatening, they can lead to weight loss, vomiting, abdominal discomfort, and other issues if untreated. If you see tapeworms in your cat's feces or near the anus, consult your veterinarian for the most effective deworming solution. Pet owners should note not to self-treat worms in cats as not all treatments are effective and may cause more harm than good if the wrong medication is used.
5. Fifth Mistake: Feeding a Vegetarian or Vegan Diet
Cats are carnivores; their diet mainly consists of meats and animal organs. Some substances are only available from meat sources, such as the amino acid taurine, found only in animal tissues. A lack of taurine can cause heart problems, congenital defects, and even death in cats. Additionally, a vegetarian or vegan diet can cause fatigue, exhaustion due to lack of energy, and deficits of essential nutrients like carbohydrates, proteins, etc. It's best to combine various foods like meats, fish, vegetables, eggs, etc., to help your cat develop comprehensively.
Fifth Mistake: Feeding a Vegetarian or Vegan Diet
6. Sixth Mistake: Not Paying Attention to Nutritional Balance
Pet owners may want to prepare delicious, attractive meals by themselves so their pets can eat safely and happily. However, not measuring or portioning them accurately could lead to nutrient excess or deficiency. Specifically, a diet high in tuna, liver, or liver oils (such as cod liver oil) can cause vitamin A toxicity, leading to bone and joint pain, brittle bones, and dry skin. Too much raw fish in the diet reduces vitamin B1 levels, causing muscle weakness, seizures, or brain damage in cats. Pierson shares: “If you want to prepare ‘appealing and tasty’ meals for your cat, you need to balance their portions.”
However, not all pet owners have time to measure or adjust nutrient amounts in each cat meal. The solution is to choose reputable brands selling fresh pâtés, as these foods already include various meats and vegetables. If you're still unsure, you can “trust” petncute.com, specifically their two product lines: TASTY (for cats over 12 months, including products like Beef Delight, Seafood Buffet, Tuna Big Boss, Chicken & Fish Combo, Fattening Chicken), and PROTECTOR (for cats under 12 months, including Big Ocean Fish, Fat-Belly Salmon, Lake Fish, Nourishing Chicken, Tiny Chicken, Ultimate Shrimp & Fish). So, why wait any longer? Get some for your beloved cat now!