By: Morgen Marshall
Cat Feeding Basics Cats need crunchy food, meat and clean water every day. Many cats can do without the meat or canned foods, but all should be getting some crunchy food every day to ensure dental health.
Cats can be messy eaters, and a placemat under their food bowls can be helpful. Keep the area clean and sanitary. Use a non-toxic cleaner on the floor and walls around the feeding area. Keep cat hair to a bare minimum and clean the area daily. Wash all food bowls daily, especially bowls used for wet foods, in hot water with soap before each use. Failure can cost your cat's health!
Water should be fresh every day. Many cats will move the bowl around the floor. This can be amusing but the behavior has a purpose. Cats cannot see the surface of the water, and by making it move, light will reflect, giving the cat an accurate distance measurement to the surface of the water. You can add a drop of food coloring to the water that contrasts with the bowl color to accentuate the cat's detection of the water surface to reduce or eliminate moving of the water bowl. For this reason, a filtering water system is helpful. The movement of the water is attractive to the cats, and the filter keeps the water clean and fresh. Even with the use of these systems, it is important to wash the bowl with soap and water, and refresh the water supply daily.
Use stainless steel bowls for wet, canned or fresh foods. These are most easily cleaned and have the strongest resistance to bacteria. Never feed more food than the cat can consume in a 30-minute period. Remove the bowls after feeding. Frequent feedings are fine, as long as your cat continues to eat dry foods.
A good-quality dry food is recommended for daily grazing. Many quality brands are available in supermarkets, and specialty foods are available at dedicated pet supply stores. Specialty foods include formulations for senior cats, cats with certain conditions including cancer diabetes, and kidney disease; and formulations specifically for pregnant or lactating cats and cats prone to digestive upsets. Dry food promotes dental health by stimulating gums and cleaning teeth. Dry food can be fed in ceramic or plastic bowls, as long as the bowls are cleaned daily with hot soapy water. Be sure to allow the bowls to dry completely before adding the dry food to deter bacterial growth. Fresh food is recommended daily, and is more appetizing to the cat. Having additional bowls available for dry food is advisable.
Do not over-feed the dry food because stale food is not attractive to your cat and will need to be discarded. Also, your cat may eat more than is healthy and add weight, which contributes to health problems. Hips, digestive tracts and blood glucose levels are only a few of the tender systems in your cat. By over-feeding your cat, you can contribute to an early demise. In addition, by knowing how much your cat normally eats, you can be alerted early if your cat suddenly stops eating, which is another sign of disease. Since cats cannot tell us when they do not feel well, any early indications of disease are helpful and can forestall serious consequences.
By practicing these hygienic habits and providing fresh food and water for your cat daily, your cat will live a healthier, longer life.
Copyright 2005, Morgen Marshall [Cat Feeding Supplies] (link: http://www.for-the-love-of-cats.com/CATFEEDING.html)
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