why and how to switch your cat from dry food. (1)
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Five reasons not to feed your cat dry food
Pet stores and super market shelves are filled with a wide range of cat food. For years, kibble or dry cat food has been the preferred choice for most cat owners, for many reasons. To name a few it’s easy to feed and most cats seem to like it, and after all, the bag says it’s “balanced and complete”.
The truth must be said, dry pet foods, even the high quality, high priced premium and veterinary formulated brands, are the equivalent of fast or junk food for pets. When your cat is on a regular supply of dry food its no different than feeding your kids sugared cereal everyday for every meal. Dry food contributes to many modern day health problems for your cat. Below is a list of 5 reasons why you shouldn't feed your cat dry food “Kibble” and should plan switching them over to a fresh/wet cat food:
1. Cats are obligate carnivores: This means that cats biologically need meat to survive. Plant based proteins are not nutritionally sufficient. Unlike humans and dogs, cats lack the specific enzymes that process plant-‐based proteins metabolically. Little to none carbohydrates in their diet is needed. Feeding your cats foods that are high in carbohydrates leads to a number of degenerative diseases, such as diabetes, liver and kidney disease, and inflammatory bowel disease.
2. Free choice feeding: Many pet owners prefer to feed their cats dry food because it can be left out during the day without it spoiling while the cat is left home alone. This method is also referred to as free choice feeding and is one of the main contributors to obesity in cats. Cats are natural hunters, and it does not make sense that they should need access to food 24x7. Feeding your cat two times a day mimics their natural ‘in the wild’
feeding behavior much more closely, as well as providing controlled portions rather than leaving food out all day. Weight can be controlled without starving your cat.
3. Urinary tract problems: Unfortunately, dry food is the leading cause of
most urinary tract problems in cats. Even though cats that are on exclusive dry food diets generally drink more water, they still don't get enough moisture to support all necessary function. Most end up living in a constant state of low-‐level dehydration, which can lead to serious bladder and kidney problems. Dry food is also so high in carbohydrates that it increases the levels of sugar to unnatural levels in the cat’s blood stream. This leads to an imbalance of the cat’s natural metabolic process. This can and in many cases lead to diabetes.
4. Dry food DOES NOT clean your
pet’s teeth: Contrary to the belief that dry food delivers a dental maintenance effect; Dry food DOES NOT clean your pet’s teeth. Most cats and dogs don't chew their food thoroughly for any of the scraping action that is the theory behind this dental cleansing function; and what they do chew fragments into small pieces.
More so, a carbohydrate-‐based residue develops on the cat’s teeth and gums, which supports the growth of plaque and tartar.
5. Cancer: Last but not least is cancer. Heat processing of grains and potatoes creates acrylamide, which has been shown to cause cancer in animals. Many dry foods also contain preservatives such as BHA and BHT, shown to cause cancer. A low-‐carbohydrate food has been shown beneficial in slowing cancer growth as cancer cells seem to “feed” more easily on simple carbohydrates (and again, wet foods are lower in carbohydrates and less glycemic than dry foods).
The best thing you can do for your cat is eliminate all dry food from his or her diet; and feed meat based, grain-‐free or raw diets, which is coherent with the needs of a carnivore.
Some cats are notorious for switching from their dry food. They are literally addicted to the carbs and additives used in the dry food; not much different from a carbohydrate or sugar addiction in humans. During the manufacturing process, substances called “animal-‐digest” (fermented by-‐products of meat processing with no nutritional value)
are sprayed on the kibble to make it more appetizing to cats. Most cats wouldn’t go near dry food without these flavor enhancers. For difficult cats you need to follow a well-‐planed and gradual transition to a healthier diet. To switch your cat from a dry food diet to a Natural and fresh option such as the Tails Natural & Grain free Cat Food, follow these steps:
1. Begin by feeding a tablespoon of fresh/wet food as a treat for 3-‐4 days. Make a big deal of this event. Your cat will quickly begin looking forward to it!
2. Make sure that you spread the fresh/wet food across the bottom of the
cat food dish. Mash it flat with a fork. You’re trying to teach your cat to eat slowly and this usually encourages them to take their time during their meal. Many cats gulp down this new “treat” and end up vomiting from eating too quickly.
3. Decrease the volume of dry cat food by ¼ and provide a fresh/wet food serving to replace the decreased amount. Do this for 3-‐4 days. Remember not to top off that dry food bowl. You’re trying to teach your cat to eat just twice a day, not whenever he wants.
4. Decrease the volume of dry food by ½ for the next 3-‐4 days. Replace the decreased ½ with a fresh/wet food serving. Split the fresh/wet food portion ¼ in the morning and ¼ during the evening feeding.
5. Decrease the volume of dry cat food by ¾ for the next 3-‐4 days and
increase the morning feeding to a half can of wet food. Continue with the same amount of fresh/wet food.
6. Stop the dry cat food completely. Feed an equivalent of ½ can of wet food
in the morning and ½ can in the evening. If your cat is being extremely pitiful over the loss of his crunchy dry food, try giving him just 4 tablespoons every few days. Your aim is to move the cat to a healthier diet that consists mainly of wet food. If you can’t get there, roughly 20 percent dry food and 80 percent wet food is great for your kitty.
References include:
• The Carnivore Connection to Nutrition in Cats, Dr. Debra Zoran • Antech Diagnostics News, December 2003 • Understanding feline diabetes mellitus: pathogenesies and management, Dr. Jacquie
Rand and Rhett Marshall • Update on Feline Diabetes Mellitus, Dr. Claudia Reusch (World Congress 2006) • Feline Diabetes Mellitus, by Dr. David Church (Word Congress 2006) • Canine and Feline Diabetes Mellitus: Nature or Nurture? Rand et al • Carbohydrate Malabsorption Is a Feature of Feline Inflammatory Bowel Disease but
Does Not Increase Clinical Gastrointestinal Signs • Feline Obesity: Causes, Consequences and Management, Dr. Rand (WSAVA 2004
Congress) • Increased Dietary Protein Promotes Fat Loss and Reduces Loss of Lean Body Mass
During Weight Loss in Cats, Dr. Laflamme and Dr. Hannah • Evaluation of effects of dietary carbohydrate on formation of struvite crystals in urine
and macromineral balance in clinically normal cats • Treatment of feline diabetes mellitus using an α-‐glucosidase inhibitor and a low-‐
carbohydrate diet • Managing FLUTD – Clinician’s Brief • Final FDA Acrylamide Action Plan, Data • Role of Diet in the Health of the Feline Intestinal Tract and in Inflammatory Bowel
Disease • Management of Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease – Dr. Forrester • Nutrition and Cancer: New Keys for Cure and Control 2003! • Small Animal Oncology • How to Switch a Cat from Dry to Wet food | eHow.com