Special Diet for Kitty
Just like humans, cats often need a special kind of diet. If your cat is pregnant or is nursing, your vet may recommend a special diet for her. Special diets are also needed for kittens, older cats, and cats who have other medical conditions or that need to lose weight. There are many cat food manufacturers who make special brands of cat food for all type of cats.
Pregnant and nursing cats: A special diet is needed for cats that are pregnant or are nursing. The pregnant cat needs more protein and vitamins than a cat that is not expecting a litter. These cats will eat larger portions of food particularly in the final stages of her pregnancy. With the nursing cat, the nutritional needs will increase. It is found that mother cats will nurse their little ones for at least six weeks. It is usually a recommendation that they nurse their young for eight weeks. During this time, a premium brand of kitten food is recommended.
Kittens: Anyone who has seen how kittens grow and develop knows how fast they do so! For the first year of their lives, the kitten needs a special diet. There are many special foods available for the kitten in mind. They do eat more and tend to eat several times a day. As your kitten gets older and weans itself from its mother, it relies more and more on the dry kitty food. It is a good idea to begin offering solid food as young as four weeks of age. Sometimes it helps if you soak the food in a little bit of water to help soften it. This will make it much easier for your kitten to chew.
Older cats: As you cat ages, it will have different dietary requirements. Since an older cat has less energy, it will often need a specialized form of food. Older cats may need a special kind of food that helps with any kind of digestive problems it may have. There are many special foods availabe for the older cat which is seven or more years old.
Cats with heath issues: Any cat that has certain medical conditions will more than likely require a special diet. There are various medical conditions that can be present such as diabetes, digestive problems as well as problems with the kidneys. Your vet may recommend what type of food may be most beneficial to your cat. For example, cats with diabetes will need a diet that is high in protein but is low in carbohydrates. When you have a cat that has special needs, it is important to follow the feeding instructions given by your vet.
Overweight cats: When your cat has a weight problem, the easiest way to get back to a weight that is healthy is through a special diet and through exercise. Most vets agree that cats which are overweight may also suffer from other health issues. In order to lose the excess wieght, follow the feeding instructions given by your cat’s doctor.
Most cats do well if they have to be on special diets. In order to make the cat’s life easier, try mixing the old food with the new food that is to be introduced. Gradually add more and more of the new specialized food until it is eating just that particular kind. In this way, you can ensure that your cat remains healthy and happy!
