Is it possible to soak dry cat food: the opinion of veterinarians

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Today, a cat lives in almost every apartment. These wonderful animals can not only please with their playful nature, but also help their owners in stressful situations. However, when starting a kitten in the house, it is necessary to think about its nutrition. Of course, everyone wants the animal to grow up he althy and happy.

Today, pet stores offer a huge variety of food. The most popular of them are dry mixes. It is believed that the higher the class of food, the better it will be for the pet. However, quite often, pet owners begin to wonder if it is harmful to feed cats such difficult-to-digest food. Maybe soaking dry food is the best solution?

That is why it is worth considering the opinion of experts on this issue. You need to know that first of all it is recommended to pay attention to the following important aspects of choosing dry food.

About dry food

If we talk about whether it is possible to feed a cat with pre-soaked dry food, then first you need to pay attentionfor some helpful tips. Cat food packages are usually labeled with a category. The higher it is, the better quality the manufacturer guarantees.

The cheapest feed is not recommended for animals in any form (soaked or dry). The fact is that they have a detrimental effect on the he alth of the cat. Therefore, it is recommended to refuse such options or give your pet such food only in the rarest cases.

If the products are of better quality, then it may well be the main diet of the pet. In addition, dry food will not harm the pet if it always has clean drinking water nearby. The fact is that in such food products there is practically no moisture. Because of this, the components are very poorly digested, so the animal must definitely drink after or during meals.

Also, do not mix food. First of all, it concerns various dry products. It is also not recommended to add canned food to granular feed. The fact is that the digestive system must accept a certain type of food. Mixing 2 different types of food can cause stomach problems.

Can I resort to soaking?

When talking about whether dry cat food can be soaked, it all depends on the specific situation. Veterinarians often comment on this issue.

Often old cats pounce on food and begin to swallow it very quickly, without even chewing. This happens whenthe animal begins to have problems with teeth or his fangs fall out altogether. In this case, it is also worth either switching the pet to a more liquid diet, or figuring out if dry cat food can be soaked.

You need to understand that in the absence of the required amount of liquid, dry components can stagnate in the body of the animal, and this, in turn, will lead to constipation. It is not recommended to allow this, since in this case intoxication will begin, and poisons will begin to be released into the gastric tract. It is better to add some water to food.

When does food need to be soaked?

Answering the question of whether it is possible to soak dry cat food, it is worth considering the situation when it is simply necessary. If a pet vomits some time after eating, then this indicates that the granules are harming the walls of the stomach. In this case, it is recommended to study the consistency of the vomit. If there are whole pieces of dry food in the vomit, then this indicates that the animal is not getting enough water, or this category of food is not suitable for this pet.

In this case, the answer to the question of whether dry cat food can be soaked is unambiguous, since the food must be liquefied. It is also recommended to visit the veterinarian. It will help you choose a different type of food.

How to soak dry cat food?

In order for everything to work out in the best way, it is necessary to use exclusively purified boiled water. She needs to make sure shewas not very hot, as boiling water will destroy the beneficial substances contained in the feed. The optimum temperature should be 50-60 °. Using cold water will take too long for solid food to dissolve.

How to soak, brew dry food and do I need to adjust the nutrition? Yes, a portion of the product must be filled with water so that all components are completely covered with liquid. The mixture should be left in this state for 10-15 minutes. This is enough time for the feed to swell and be ready to eat.

Some owners of small kittens prefer to pour warm milk over food. However, experts strongly discourage this. The fact is that milk contains its own nutrients, which can enter into a bad symbiosis with the components of dry food. Also, when feeding an animal, you need to pay attention to some nuances.

Pet's age and weight

In order for the feeding system to be set up correctly and bring maximum he alth to the animal, it is necessary to very clearly determine the daily norm of feed, regardless of whether it is soaked with water or given in its original form.

If you exceed the recommended dose, the animal will quickly begin to suffer from obesity. Therefore, it is recommended that you contact your veterinarian and clarify how much nutrition your pets should receive.

Features of feeding kittens

If a kitten lives in the house between the ages of 6 and 12months, then he should be given no more than 100 grams of dry food per day. Older pets require 2 times more. As a rule, food packages indicate the approximate amount, and how many times you need to feed the animal.

It is also worth considering that animals do not always understand exactly how much nutrients they need to function properly. Fluffy fidgets are very fond of climbing into the refrigerator or on the table at night and feasting on what people have left. At the same time, you should carefully monitor the animal and try not to spoil it. Giving him what people eat will not help his digestive system.

When a cat looks much larger than its counterparts or suffers from obesity, then you need to feed it no more than 2 times a day, no matter how much it asks for more.

If more than two pets live in the apartment, then you need to allocate a bowl for each of them and make sure that both pets receive the required amount of food.

What do you need to do to keep your pet he althy?

In the process of feeding a pet, you need to follow a few simple rules that will help keep the animal he althy for a long time. First of all, it should be borne in mind that adult cats should never be fed with food intended for kittens. The fact is that depending on the age of the animal, certain additives, minerals and vitamins are added to the products. Therefore, experts do not recommend buying inappropriate food.

Also worth itKeep in mind that dry food should never be mixed with fresh food. This can lead to indigestion. Sometimes pet owners decide to add some natural meat to dry food. This is absolutely the wrong decision. If the animal for one reason or another refuses to eat dry food, then you do not need to force him. Food packages should be kept tightly closed and should not be refrigerated.

In closing

If we talk about whether dry cat food should be soaked, then experts have nothing against this method of feeding. The main thing is to follow just a few recommendations. A visit to the veterinarian is also recommended.