Nomilynn
12-12-2002, 01:54 AM
--BON APETIT - FELINE FEEDING FACTS:
--OOPS! LOOK WHAT I LEFT FOR YOU ON THE CARPET!
If you have really watched your cat eat his dry food, you've
probably noticed that he probably just gulps it down without
chewing it up much. Some cats ingest too much dry food at
once and then regurgitate it a few minutes later. Cats with
this tendency need to be fed smaller portions.
They can also benefit from mixing in some canned food, or from
adding some water to the dry food. Another strategy is to him
feed a larger-sized kibble that must be chewed before being
swallowed. This slows eating and decreases regurgitation.
--TO GRAZE OR NOT TO GRAZE:
Using a feeder that only needs to be filled once a week makes
it easy to feed your kitty - IF he does not overeat. We tend
to think of cats as "grazers" who eat a few bites of food at a
time, but even theses "grazers" can get fat if they consume too
many calories. Dry food can be very concentrated, and feeding
more than one cup of food a day of some brands can cause kitty
obesity.
Most adult, indoor cats tend to gain weight if their bowls are
kept constantly full. When deciding how much dry food to feed,
check the label or consult with your vet. Feeding two smaller
meals a day is a good way to control intake.
--DRY FOOD AND LONGEVITY:
People today are more aware of their own nutrition and health,
for the most part, and they also tend to watch what their pets
eat. Most dry cat foods are chemically stabilized and preserved.
The safety of these chemical is constantly challenged, and pet
food maker defend their safety.
A few companies make "all natural" foods that contain no synthetic
ingredients. Whether these diets will improve your cat's
health and longevity has not been proven. Fortunately, vets
have seen many cats who have lived into their 20's after eating
regular, commercial dry foods for their entire lives.
--A GOOD FEEDING REGIMEN:
The most common feline feeding regimen is feeding a little
canned food once or twice a day, and leaving out some dry
food for the in between times. You might feel like you're
spoiling your cat a bit when you do this, but this method
works well if portions and between meal treats are kept under
control.
--OOPS! LOOK WHAT I LEFT FOR YOU ON THE CARPET!
If you have really watched your cat eat his dry food, you've
probably noticed that he probably just gulps it down without
chewing it up much. Some cats ingest too much dry food at
once and then regurgitate it a few minutes later. Cats with
this tendency need to be fed smaller portions.
They can also benefit from mixing in some canned food, or from
adding some water to the dry food. Another strategy is to him
feed a larger-sized kibble that must be chewed before being
swallowed. This slows eating and decreases regurgitation.
--TO GRAZE OR NOT TO GRAZE:
Using a feeder that only needs to be filled once a week makes
it easy to feed your kitty - IF he does not overeat. We tend
to think of cats as "grazers" who eat a few bites of food at a
time, but even theses "grazers" can get fat if they consume too
many calories. Dry food can be very concentrated, and feeding
more than one cup of food a day of some brands can cause kitty
obesity.
Most adult, indoor cats tend to gain weight if their bowls are
kept constantly full. When deciding how much dry food to feed,
check the label or consult with your vet. Feeding two smaller
meals a day is a good way to control intake.
--DRY FOOD AND LONGEVITY:
People today are more aware of their own nutrition and health,
for the most part, and they also tend to watch what their pets
eat. Most dry cat foods are chemically stabilized and preserved.
The safety of these chemical is constantly challenged, and pet
food maker defend their safety.
A few companies make "all natural" foods that contain no synthetic
ingredients. Whether these diets will improve your cat's
health and longevity has not been proven. Fortunately, vets
have seen many cats who have lived into their 20's after eating
regular, commercial dry foods for their entire lives.
--A GOOD FEEDING REGIMEN:
The most common feline feeding regimen is feeding a little
canned food once or twice a day, and leaving out some dry
food for the in between times. You might feel like you're
spoiling your cat a bit when you do this, but this method
works well if portions and between meal treats are kept under
control.