Negotiation. Option number 1. Uncompromising.
The owner of the pet acts from the position of the correctness of the force, therefore he offers the animal his own rules of life and nutrition without exceptions and indulgences.
The cat’s proud response: presenting a list of diseases that can occur in the body of a feline creature without components of animal origin: from blindness, cardiovascular disorders to kidney stones.
The excited owner begins to read what is the list of these very components that the cat is not able to synthesize from cereals and vegetables: amino acids – arachidonic acid and taurine, vitamins A, B12, niacin and thiamine, as well as l-carnitine, which occupies an intermediate position between vitamins and amino acids.
Negotiation. Option number 2. Barter.
Indeed, in industrial imported feeds there are synthetically created taurine and various necessary additives.
But the cat carefully scratches the label with the composition of the food. In the first place are most often cereals. If the composition of the feed contains from 30 to 50% of cereals, corn or sweet potato, then normal, healthy intestinal microflora cannot be expected. In addition, cats need protein, at least 25% of the total amount of food. Cereals also contain easily digestible carbohydrates, which can cause a violation of the intestinal microflora in cats – dysbacteriosis. Moreover, it is not the cereals and cereals themselves that are harmful, but gluten. All cereals, except rice and buckwheat, contain it. But it is one thing in the natural form of gluten in the grain, and another thing is gluten in the form of a synthesized, which has become a separate component! Gluten (all the same gluten) is named so that the intestinal villi simply stick together from this “putty”. The gluten protein is often not perceived by the body, responding to it as a foreign element, starting to fight it. The immune system actively pushes it out through inflammation. Entire organ systems suffer from this fight against gluten, from the digestive tract to the brain and joints.
And why are most often soy and corn in the composition of feed? They are cheap and often modified. However, wheat, corn and soy are among the top three most allergenic cereals. Yes, and soy phytoestrogens in daily uncontrolled use can also cause unpredictable consequences.
The owner thought about it. And for some reason the cat went to her tray with sawdust. What else was she thinking? Yes, the owner forgot about the cat’s kidneys and the liquid they secrete (urine). Animal products provide the acidity of the stomach of cats, and when it decreases (due to vegetable nutrition), cats may experience problems with the urinary system. Vegetable protein is absorbed by a cat worse than an animal, and part of the load falls on the kidneys, urine becomes alkaline from an excess of vegetable food, which leads to the formation of struvite stones. And most often young cats from a year to 6 years old get sick.
It is necessary to think in advance about additives that would acidify the animal’s urine. For reference: the optimal pH values of urine in cats:
– a young growing animal from a lactation period to 5 years – 6,2 (possible fluctuations 6,0-6,4);
– an adult animal from 5 to 9 years old – 6,6 (fluctuations in the range of 6,4-6,8);
– an old cat from 10 years or more – 7 (possible fluctuations are 6,8-7,2).
These values are important for the prevention of urolithiasis, periodic urine analysis is recommended at least for this indicator. So without a veterinarian and monitoring the cat’s condition when switching to another type of food, you simply cannot do!
It is also important to remember that by nature, cats are not very inclined to drink water, and when fed dry food, it is the lack of the proper amount of liquid that leads to problems with the urinary system! Therefore, a cat needs a container of water. Only there is one important feature of cats: they do not distinguish the taste of liquid well, therefore they may not notice if they drink tea or water. Therefore, be extremely careful: do not leave open containers with non-drinkable liquids, especially transparent ones. There have been sad cases of cat poisoning when she drank antifreeze.
Negotiation. Option number 3. Compliant.
The owner agrees to products of animal origin. Moreover, heat treatment of meat products can again lead to a lack of taurine in a cat, so meat should be doused with boiling water, but raw. It is desirable to feed at the same time: dairy components in the morning, and meat components in the evening.
However, the cat also makes a small concession: it allows you to add a little cooked or steamed porridge and vegetables, raw or boiled, to its food. Plant food is given freely, without restrictions, approximately 10-15% of the meat portion. Most often it is pumpkin, carrots, zucchini, peppers, beets, cucumbers, lettuce. Germinated barley, wheat, oats, both crushed and sprouts. Bran can be added to wet food, preferably dairy and wait until they are soaked (in this state, they show their properties better). Cereals are given steamed with boiling water or boiled, but not more than 10-15% of the entire serving. Cats benefit from olive, unrefined sunflower, pumpkin and linseed oils. But be sure to read the contraindications. Vegetable oils are best added to the bowl where there are vegetables, but not to dairy products. It is necessary to accustom a cat to oil with a dose of 2-5 drops, gradually increasing to the norm: from 1/3 to 1 teaspoon.
Mineral Correction
The cat snorted slightly. What? It turns out that here she has her “buts”. List of foods harmful to cats:
Stone fruits: the stones of peaches, plums, apples themselves; grapes, raisins, citrus fruits, kiwi, persimmon, avocado, mango.
Fatty high-calorie foods: mushrooms, nuts, goose, duck, pork.
Yeast bakery and fermentable legumes (soybeans, beans, peas)
Vegetables: onions, garlic, potatoes, eggplants, tomatoes, someone says broccoli.
Sugar, chocolate, tea, coffee, spices.
Vitamins for humans with iron, dog food, tobacco
Yes, it would be easier with a parrot or a hamster. Perhaps a very smart vegan owner can take into account all the peculiarities of feline physiology and create their own unique combination of gluten-free vegetarian food and modified foods by calculating portions of amino acid and vitamin supplements, all of which are preferably wet.
My cat has beaten me so far… But who said I’m giving up?