Cats | Pet Lover Blog

Food

Dry food has been a recommended staple diet for cats by many experts for a number of years. It is an easy option to leave a bowl of dry food out constantly; something that cannot be done with tinned food. Unfortunately though, it’s not a natural food source and has been developed by humans using many additives and un-natural products. Cats, like humans, will eat until they fill themselves up. However, dry food has many more calories and carbohydrates than a natural food source, which leads to the cat taking in far more than necessary just to feel full-up. Many owners assume that their cat is just greedy, but in many cases it is not the quantity of food being eaten, it is the quality.

Naturally, cats are obligate carnivores; meaning they only feed on other animals. The cats prey however, are generally herbivorous and have various vegetable and plant matter in their guts. All of which, will be consumed by the cat. Domestic cats have been shown to have longer intestines than wild cats; proving they have evolved over hundreds of years to cope with more plant and vegetable matter (carbohydrates). Still, this is no excuse to turn a carnivore into an omnivore. Rather, supplementing the diet with small amounts of carbohydrates is acceptable.

Many consumers believe that dried food is actually better for cats. The manufacturers have implemented the belief that all these additives such as corn and grains are an important part of a cat’s diet, implying ‘the more the better’ approach. Although very small quantities of these may benefit the cat, too much will be detrimental to their health.

Kidney disease is one of, if not the biggest killer in cats. Kidney disease is usually a result of lack of water and unfortunately, cats have a very low thirst drive. Although they may drink when eating dry food, they will generally only take in half of the liquid necessary for their health. A cat’s prey item consists of around 75% water, canned and raw foods have a similar amount. Dry foods on the other hand usually have a maximum of 10% water content. It is obvious therefore, that canned or raw foods are an absolute must to maintain a healthy cat.

Cats need a high level of protein in their diet which must come from animals. Plant protein differs from meat protein, and should not be substituted. When protein is calculated in canned food, the moisture content must be subtracted from 100 and the protein percentage worked out from the result. For instance, a canned food with 8% protein and 75% water means that the true protein value should be worked out like so:

Non-Moisture Content = 25% so: 8

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Obese - Meaning cats that are 20% or more, heavier than their ideal weight.
Overweight - Meaning cats that are between 1-19% heavier than their ideal weight.

It is estimated over 50% of the UK’s cats are overweight.
20-30% of these are Obese.
Cats between 2 and 10 years old are more likely to be overweight.
Cats prefer smaller, more frequent meals.
In the wild they may eat up to 20 meals per day.
Cats are obligate carnivores, meaning they strictly feed on animals in the wild.
Cats naturally eat raw meat; it is perfectly acceptable to feed raw meat in captivity.
Cat’s teeth are designed to tear meat, not crunch on dry biscuits. Dry food should not be fed to benefit the cat’s teeth.
Water is a very important part of the cats diet:
o A cat’s prey is generally 75% water.
o Dry food usually has no more than 10% water.
o Tinned food usually has approximately 75% water.
o Kidney disease is the number 1 killer of cats. Kidney disease is usually the result of lack of water.
o It is important for water to be a part of the food, as they have a very low thirst drive and will not drink as much as they should.
Cats excrete the enzyme ‘amylase’ from the pancreas. Amylase is used to break down carbohydrates; it is lethal to feed too many carbohydrates, but a small 3-5% carbohydrate level is ideal.
o Fibre is a non-digestible carbohydrate.
o Starch is a digestible carbohydrate.
o Un-used carbohydrates are stored as fat.

Causes of Obesity

Humans are the number one underlying cause for overweight and obese cats.
Overweight humans are more likely to have overweight pets.
Cats that eat dry food are more likely to be overweight.
Cats often eat when they are bored.
Inactive cats are 16 times more likely to become obese.

Indoor cats are twice as likely to become overweight.

Disabled cats are more likely to be overweight.
Neutered cats are 3 times more likely to become overweight.
A neutered or spayed cat usually has approximately 20% lower metabolism due to being less active. This means they require approximately 20% less calorie intake.
High energy cat food should only be fed to energetic cats. This will not make un-energetic cats more energetic.
The temperature at which your cat is kept at will affect its metabolism. Cats that live predominantly outdoors will need more calories to maintain a higher body temperature. Cats kept in a centrally heated house will need a lower calorie intake.

Effects of Obesity

Obesity shortens life expectancy.
Obesity can cause the following conditions:
o Diabetes mellitus - Sugar diabetes
o Lower urinary tract disease - Several disorders involving the bladder and urethra.
o Lameness - Due to arthritis or muscle injuries
o Non-Allergic skin diseases - Due to being less able to groom.
o Hepatic lipidosis - Fat build up in the liver.
o Cardiovascular disease
o Lower stamina levels and exercise tolerance
o Higher risks when using anaesthetic
o Dystocia - Problems giving birth
o Pickwickian syndrome - Strain on the lungs due to excess fat, making it harder to breathe
o High blood pressure - Leading to heart failure
Overweight cats are 4 times more likely to develop Diabetes mellitus
Obese cats are 7 times more likely to be affected by lameness.
Overweight cats are 3 times more likely to be affected by lameness.
Obese cats are 3 times more likely to get non-allergic skin diseases due to being less able to groom.

Obese cats are twice as likely to die at middle age, between 6 and 12 years old.

By Chris Jones
Director of Pet Club UK Ltd.
http://www.petclubuk.com

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Bringing home another cat

Cats are loners by nature and do not prefer to mingle with any one else, be it one of their own kind. If you are planning to have another cat at home, make sure that you do it slowly and carefully. It would be helpful to keep these points in mind if you are are bringing a new companion in your home for your current cat so that their relationship becomes a pleasant one for both the cats and you.

Cats take a lot of time to accept other cats in the same house.

The older cat may not be able to share their things with someone who is new.

The older cat may also act aggressively in front of the new cat, alternately they may start shirking everybody and become a loner, though that should only last for a few days.

They may over-eat or under-eat as they suddenly realize there is someone else with whom they will have to share their food, and as a result become insecure about their food.

The new-comer should be kept out of the territory of the older cat.

The two should not be introduced in the area of the older cat. This way, the older cat is not threatened by the presence of the new cat.

The cats should be kept separated for the first few days. Put the new cat in a room with the door closed. The older cat will soon realize that there is a new cat in that room and will begin to investigate. They will begin to “play” with each other under the door. After a few days, open the door and let the new cat come out when she is ready. She will slowly, but surely come out of the room as she gets more comfortable. However, that room will probably always be her “safe” place and she will retreat back there often.

The new kitten’s room should have all the necessary goodies so that she does not have to roam around the whole place to find them.

The new kitten’s room must have a litter box, food, water bowl, comfey bed, toys and a scratching post.

Let the meeting be postponed until the time your new cat is familiar with your home.

Be friendly with the new cat, she must never feel that she is an outsider.

Scents have a very important role in relationship between the cats. Before you put the two cats together to meet, you can have them sense each other’s presence by sharing things between them, such as their food bowl, toys etc.

If they are able to bear each other’s scent, we may assume they will also tolerate each other’s company. Whenever the two cats meet, associate it with happy incidents such as a pat to the older cat or a treat to both of the cats.

Don’t ever be frustrated with either of the cats as they are as much stressed out as you are. Be co-operative to both of them and do not prefer one over the other.

Amazing Cat facts
Did you know…

Ailurophilia is the word to define “love of cats.”
Ailurophobia means Fear of Cats.

There are around 500 million domestic cats in the world, with 33 different breeds.

A cat’s heart beat is twice as fast as our heart beat, at 110 to 140 beats per minute.

The largest cat breed is the Ragdoll. Males weigh twelve to twenty pounds where as the females weigh around ten to fifteen pounds.
The smallest cat breed is the Singapura. Males weigh about six pounds while females weigh about four pounds. There is one breed of cat called Calico cats who are almost always female.

Cats usually wag their tails when they are in a stage of conflict.
An average cat has 1-8 kittens per litter and 2-3 litters per year.
During her productive life, a female cat can give birth to more than 100 kittens.

In 1952, a Texas Tabby named Dusty set the world record by giving birth to more than 420 kittens. The largest known surviving litter was that of a Persian cat named Bluebell; Bluebell gave birth to 14 kittens in one litter!

A single pair of cats and their kittens can produce as many as 420,000 kittens in just 7 years. Cats have 290 bones in their bodies and 517 muscles.

A cat does not “meow” at another cat. This sound is reserved for humans.
The lifespan of an indoor cat is 15 years, while the average age for an outdoor cat is only 3 to 5 years. Puss was the world’s oldest cat. She died in 1939 after celebrating her 36th birthday.
A cat’s normal body temperature is 101.5 degrees which is slightly more than humans.

Towser, a tortoise-shell tabby in charge of rodent control in Scotland, killed 28,899 mice in her 21 years career.

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