Photo by Inge Wallumrød taken from LINK

Domestic cats are carnivores; their digestive system is no different from those of their wild cousins (lion, tiger, jaguar, cheetah, etc.). They are adapted in every respect to the consumption of meat and other products derived from animals – it is from proteins and animal fats that they obtain energy, as well as necessary for the proper functioning of the body. Good cat food should contain 60-100% meat and should not contain plant protein or plant by-products or grains.

All dry food available on the market contains very low humidity, it is about 8-10%. Giving a cat food with such a low fluid content is simply dehydrating it.

Photo by Chevon Rossouw taken from LINK

Chronic dehydration, which causes the feeding of dry food, leads to serious diseases, sometimes even irreversible damage, e.g. in the kidneys, pancreas, liver, urinary and digestive systems.  We can see that cats who are on a suitable diet very rarely drink water. Nevertheless, they must have access to it at all times. Calculating the daily dose, we can add this water loss to the food.

Deodorization below 5% often gives no clinical signs, and above 10-15% may lead to death.

In the natural world, weaker animals tend to die, so hiding their weaknesses is a key element of survival. This is physiologically inscribed into their lives and we need to be aware of it. Cats are MASTERS at masking symptoms. Unfortunately, often when we notice them in a cat, the disease is already developed, and it may be too late for treatment. Control tests allow it to be noticed when it is just developing, and as is known, it is easier to treat at an early stage.

Photo by Omar Ramadan taken from LINK

Sources:

Cholewiak-Góralczyk, A. (2021).  Kocie smaki. O zbilansowanej diecie dla kotów. Kraków: Wydawnictwo Otwarte.

2023/2024 © Julia Szymańska,  Języki Obce w Mediach i Biznesie, 3 rok, Akademia Nauk Stosowanych w Koninie