Nutrition for cats: lactating, neutered, British and kittens

Each owner makes the decision to castrate his cat at his own discretion or on the recommendations of a veterinarian. But you need to remember that after castration the pet will need not only competent care and attention, but also special nutrition.

When developing such nutrition, the characteristics of the breed are taken into account, as well as the physiological changes that occur in the body of a British cat after the operation.

Balanced, complete food will allow the cat to quickly adapt to changes, recover after surgery, and also not gain extra pounds of weight, which always threatens castrated animals. Experienced veterinarians, as well as cat food developers, will tell you what to feed a castrated British cat.

ATTENTION! Food for castrated British cats is necessary for one more significant reason - after surgery, they are at risk for diseases of the genitourinary system.

Changes after castration

The castration operation is quite complex; it cannot go unnoticed by the cat’s body. After surgery, the pet’s metabolism changes, and the hormonal levels have slightly different indicators . Narrowing of the urethra is also characteristic.

The cat’s behavior also changes significantly; he will be less active, apathetic, and lazy. The veterinarian who performs the operation must warn the owner about the consequences and instruct him on how to organize the care and nutrition of the pet.

Risks of genitourinary diseases

Just like humans, cats can form kidney stones. Urolithiasis develops due to dietary habits, lifestyle, and heredity. Stones formed in the kidneys are very difficult to remove in castrated cats; their urethra is very narrowed.

The presence of stones is manifested by a number of symptoms; the disease is severe and brings many problems to the animal, including severe pain. What are the main causes of urolithiasis?

• Lack of calciferol and retinol in cat nutrition.
• Metabolic disease.
• Infections.
• Malfunction of protective colloids responsible for dissolving salt.
• High water hardness, other.

If the operation is performed too early, this leads to obstruction of the urethra.

The advice of veterinarians is extremely important for the prevention of stones and for improving the health of British cats. And one of the main ones is a change in diet, choosing food that will prevent the appearance of stones. This food is characterized by a reduced amount of calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium.

Should vitamins be added to the British diet?

Vitamins, interval complexes and other biological supplements must be included in the diet of a cat that is on a natural diet. Conventional products do not contain enough useful elements, so compensation is required. The need for vitamins in the British also increases during the growth period (from 3 to 6 months), during pregnancy and lactation, after surgery or a serious illness. Cats of this breed most often lack vitamin B, so it is necessary to purchase medications that contain it.

Useful vitamins for British cats:

1. Vitamins Kitzim. They are made in the UK, contain magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, iron, taurine, B vitamins. Can be used for kittens, pregnant and lactating cats, and adult animals.
2. Beaphar. This is a food supplement with biotin and taurine for adult cats produced in Holland. Contains B vitamins, as a result of which it has a positive effect on the animal’s fur, preventing its loss.
3. Canina. These vitamins are produced in Germany and contain biotin, phosphorus, calcium and fiber, vitamins B12 and A. They are used in adult and elderly cats and kittens to prevent skin problems.
4. Omega Neo is a domestic product. The tablets contain essential fatty acids omega-3, omega-6, vitamins A, B, E, taurine. Used to improve the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract and prevent joint diseases in adult cats.
5. Veda Biorhythm - Russian vitamins developed specifically for kittens. They are used during the growth period as they improve the absorption of nutrients. Veda Biorhythm contains B vitamins, L-carnitine, taurine.

Do not forget that in most cases, vitamin and mineral complexes are taken in a course of 1–3 months. This allows you to create a depot of active components in the cat’s body. Longer use may lead to undesirable consequences. One of my colleagues, who got a British cat, purchased several different vitamin supplements at once on the advice of a veterinarian.

She regularly added them to her pet’s food for six months. Gradually, the owner noticed a change in the pet’s appearance and behavior. He became more inhibited and aggressive, his fur looked unkempt. The woman took the cat to a veterinary clinic, where doctors diagnosed hypervitaminosis due to the abuse of biological additives. After stopping the pills, the animal immediately began to feel better.

Omega Neo contains essential amino acids Kitzym vitamins are best suited for British cats Veda Biorhythm vitamins are created specifically for the growing kitten’s body We invite you to read: A calf is coughing: how to treat it and how to prevent it

Diet

ATTENTION! After any operation or treatment course, it is important to take special control over the feeding of your pet. If the animal is fed natural food, you should select only safe foods and dishes.

It is easier to feed your British cat with ready-made food, because many manufacturers offer special types of food for cat health problems. How to feed a neutered British dog correctly, avoiding the risk of urolithiasis?

1. First of all, fish should be excluded, as they contain a lot of phosphorus.
2. Other foods should also have low levels of these substances. If the cat agrees, you don’t need to add salt to porridge or stewed vegetables.
3. It is more convenient for castrated cats and cats sterilized with special food developed by food manufacturers.

Such feed contains substances that acidify the soil, and this is an important prevention of the formation of stones in the lobes. This food is produced by premium food manufacturers. The food may not indicate the absence of microelements harmful to the cat; you need to read the packaging correctly.

The cat should drink as much water as possible, which also prevents the formation of stones. Animals that are castrated urinate less, the urine stagnates and this leads to the development of urolithiasis.

Castration of a British cat initially creates many problems for the owner. You need to properly care for the animal and monitor changes in its condition. But it is also important to create a menu for him that will relieve complex diseases.

Advantages and disadvantages

Complete canned food is as close as possible to the natural diet of obligate carnivores. They contain about 80% moisture, minerals, and vitamins. They have balanced analytical components. In terms of energy content, this type of food is suitable for sterilized cats.

The advantages of wet food are:

• humidity 70-80% (good for pets who drink little);
• the presence of different tastes and medicinal diets;
• long-term storage in sealed packaging;
• convenience of dosage;
• natural texture;
• easily digestible components;
• high degree of saturation.

The disadvantages of this type of nutrition are:

• high cost;
• storage of opened packaging for no more than 2 days in the refrigerator;
• lack of tartar prevention.

Some pets refuse full-ration canned food and eat only dry food. In this case, treats are suitable. They can diversify feeding and increase the amount of moisture consumed. However, you should not give treats every day.

Natural products

Many cat owners, despite the convenience of ready-made food, prefer to feed their pets with natural products. After castration is carried out, the British menu should be reviewed and made healthier and safer. The diet should contain the following healthy foods:

• Lean meat (chicken, beef, turkey, veal).
• Healthy porridges (buckwheat, oatmeal).
• Legumes, vegetables (fresh), fruits.
• It’s great if your cat has the opportunity to eat fresh grass if he wants.
• Periodically, the current needs to be given cottage cheese, kefir, fermented baked milk.

The list of products allowed for feeding a castrated British cat is quite large and varied. But if the animal owner does not have the opportunity to constantly prepare fresh food, you can switch to convenient ready-made food. The main thing is to choose the right type of food.

Ready food

Despite the myths, ready-made food is safe for the health of cats, but it must be of high quality. Ready-made foods are varied in composition; they are intended for different ages and different breeds.

With the help of well-chosen food, you can solve many cat health problems, including preventing the development of obesity or urolithiasis after castration. What types of prepared foods are there?

1. The simplest and cheapest group is economy class food. With their help, you can feed an animal, but the food contains many dangerous substances, flavors, and preservatives. If it is not possible to buy higher quality food, it is better to switch the animal to natural products.
2. Middle class - highly nutritious products, meat can account for up to 25% of the total weight. But this is also not the best option, especially for cats after surgery.
3. In premium foods, meat makes up at least half of the well-balanced components.
4. Super-premium food is often purchased by owners who breed pedigree cats. The composition contains both meat and vegetables, but there are no dyes or flavors.
5. The most expensive foods are of the “Holistic” class; they are completely natural and retain all the usefulness of the ingredients. Often, with Holistic nutrition, you don’t even need to give the animal additional vitamins. If this food has a medicinal function, it can only be given as prescribed by a doctor.

It is recommended to feed your neutered British cat the same food, without changing it unnecessarily. Premium and super-premium food series from different brands contain food suitable for cats after castration.

What to look for when choosing wet food?

In order for a cat to feel good, it is necessary to take a responsible approach to the choice of food. When purchasing a wet complete food or treat, you need to pay attention to:

• best before date;
• the conditions under which the product was stored;
• transparency of the composition;
• amount of meat and offal;
• ratio of calcium, phosphorus and magnesium;
• moisture percentage;
• the presence or absence of good reviews;
• manufacturer and country of manufacture (for example, Royal Canin canned food belongs to a French brand, but can be manufactured in France, Poland or Russia);
• individual needs of the animal;
• value for money;
• absence of flavorings and flavor enhancers.

The more meat in wet food, the better. However, ingredients such as rice, legumes or vegetables are also beneficial in small quantities. Therefore, when choosing canned food for sterilized pets, it is important to review the composition.

If the animal does not gain weight or is hyperactive, the daily dose indicated on the package can be increased. If signs of obesity are detected, the recommended daily amount of feed is reduced.

Feeding schedule

IMPORTANT! Veterinarians recommend feeding your neutered British cat twice a day. A strict feeding regimen will allow the body to process foods well.

If the cat already has a routine, for example, he eats once a day, after the operation you can continue to follow it so that the cat does not have stress. You cannot increase the daily amount of food, dry or natural, even if the animal looks pitiful and constantly asks for more. The risk of obesity is especially increased in Britons after castration.

When the cat eats natural products, the remaining portions should be removed from the bowl, as it may spoil. Is it difficult to calculate the norm? You can always consult a veterinarian on this matter.

Menu for the week: what to feed your cat

Feeding cats natural products comes down to the type of feeding children. Introduce new foods gradually so that your stomach can adapt to the new food. There is individual intolerance to foods, which is most often accompanied by diarrhea.

If you choose a natural diet, include the following products:

1. Meat (pork is not recommended). If raw, then only after freezing. Do not share with chicken, because... Chicken protein causes allergies in the form of hair loss. Vary different types of meat.

2. Offal - after defrosting or stewed. No more than once a week.

3. Fish - without bones and only thermally processed. 1 time per week. More often it is not necessary, because it provokes urolithiasis.

4. Egg yolk - in any form, 1 time per week.

5. Fermented milk products - any that the cat likes. Give milk with caution from the 4th month of a kitten's life, because... As the body ages, it stops accepting lactose. Milk can cause diarrhea.

6. Hard cheese - once a week.

7. Porridge - rice, semolina. Sugarless. If the cat eats buckwheat, you can eat it too. Any porridge that your pet eats. Can be mixed with egg or meat. 1 part porridge, 2 parts meat.

8. Baby food in the form of meat puree - once a week. Recommended up to 8 months.

9. Grass - purchased or grown. DO NOT bring grass from the street, because... it may contain infections from infected animals and worm eggs.

10. Brewer's yeast - add to food 3 times a week.

11. Vegetable oil - no more than 2 teaspoons per day.

12. Water is always fresh, only bottled, in sufficient quantity, at room temperature.

13. Vitamins for cats or kittens - depending on age.

It is not recommended to give

1. Pork, lamb, duck.

2. Sweet fruits.

3. Vitamins intended for people - because. dosage is calculated by weight.

4. Sweets.

5. Potatoes.

6. Salty, seasoned and smoked foods.

7. Canned food for people.

Cat behavior

Neutered British cats move less than other cats, they become even more phlegmatic and calm . As a result of a sedentary lifestyle, the animal's weight may increase. And excess weight, like in humans, is the cause of many diseases .

Therefore, the owner of a pet should also monitor the cat’s nutrition for this reason. The veterinarian will tell you what kind of food a Briton should eat. He can give advice on feeding both ready-made food and natural food.

ATTENTION! If your cat is too lethargic, your veterinarian may prescribe vitamin B12 injections.

Such injections are performed only as prescribed by a specialist, in the dose specified by him. Self-medication can only significantly worsen the situation. There are several other measures you can take to increase your activity. Castration is carried out at a young age, so it is worth getting him interested in playing with a ball and other toys.

Feeding the British

Like representatives of other breeds, British cats can be big beggars. The owners themselves also feel very sorry for the animal that has undergone surgery; they sometimes feed it with goodies from the human table, unable to resist the pitiful and pleading look.

As a result, the cat can also gain excess weight, and many human dishes contain large amounts of salt and other elements harmful to the cat's health. Strict measures such as diet, exercise and play help reduce the risk of diseases that British cats are susceptible to after castration or other complex operations.

How to choose the right dry food

Budget options are not suitable for sterilized animals. Such manufacturers replace real meat with offal and complicate the composition with a large amount of plant fiber, which can negatively affect the functioning of the stomach and intestines.

Designed for sterilized and neutered animals, can be used immediately after surgery and for permanent use. The composition does not contain cereals and potatoes, it does not cause spontaneous allergic reactions. Carnilove Adult Cat Sterilized Lamb {amp}amp; Wild Boar Grain-Free is affordable, wild boar, and enhanced with lamb flavor.

The included components (glucosamine and chondroitin) have a positive effect on the condition of joint and cartilage tissues and are suitable as a treatment menu for pets suffering from musculoskeletal pathologies. The pads are produced in the optimal size, which allows the animal to swallow them whole. Its disadvantages include its moderate pungency and unpleasant odor; after opening the package it dissipates in a short time.

Important! It contains a small amount of salt, which has a positive effect on the genitourinary system. The owner must ensure that the cat has free access to water - otherwise problems with ICD are difficult to avoid.

LEONARDO Adult Light is a low-calorie type that helps pets stay in good shape. It is produced in granules with a volume of 10 mm. The composition is presented:

• marine zooplankton (krill) – supplying the animal’s body with polyunsaturated fatty acids (Omega-3), natural enzymes and antioxidants;
• chia seeds - help improve digestion processes due to mucous substances, include up to 20% polyunsaturated fatty acids;
• apple fiber - plant fiber.

LEONARDO Adult Light helps cats not gain weight, take care of their teeth and remove accumulated plaque, and optimize the alkaline balance of urine.

Important! It contains 80% animal and 20% plant protein. Buyers' opinions about quality are directly opposite: fans consider it useful for animals, opponents are skeptical, preferring products from world brands.

Recommended for cats 1-7 years of age, contains 123% fat and 37% protein. This balance is allowed for neutered pets. The disadvantages of Royal Canin Cat Sterilized 37 include:

• lack of complete information about the component composition;
• inclusion of wheat and other grain crops.

Royal Canin

Intended for animals under 7 years of age, used as a prophylactic against urolithiasis. It contains a minimal amount of starches and carbohydrates, which helps prevent excess weight and diabetes. Royal Canin Neutered Young Male is completely balanced.

Royal Canin -2

Made from salmon, turkey and poultry, fish oil and liver. The high protein level and low carbohydrate content makes it low in calories. If the dosage is calculated correctly, the cat’s belly will not fall out and an additional layer of fat will not appear.

Important! The disadvantages of Purina include the presence of corn and wheat, which often cause allergies in cats.

Purina

The manufacturer claims that the composition includes 109 varieties of live probiotics - active substances that help normalize the balance of microflora in the gastrointestinal tract. It contains a sufficient amount of protein, a small amount of carbohydrates and up to 7% mineral inclusions.

Cats enjoy eating small pellets that contain 70% meat products. They do not contain harmful ballast components. Due to it, the condition of the animals' fur improves and the bad breath disappears. After a week, the stool will normalize: it will become formed, without an unpleasant and pungent odor. This feature indicates the normal balance of intestinal microflora.

Advice! To the disadvantages of GRANDORF 4 Meat {amp}amp; Brown Rice Sterilized refers to excessively small granules that periodically get stuck between cats' teeth.

We suggest you read: Laxative for cats for constipation. The best laxatives for animals

What's prohibited

If it’s difficult to remember exactly what a British cat can eat after castration, it’s worth remembering the list of taboo foods. First of all, this is food that contains a lot of salt, spices, and sugar. Also included in the list:

• semi-finished products;
• bakery;
• smoked, salty, spicy dishes;
• seafood and fish;
• sweets.

If spicy and salty foods cause kidney disease, then baked goods and sweets lead to obesity. Both results are dangerous for the health and life of the cat.

Practical advice

Veterinarians always warn cat owners that castration is a complex operation, after which you need to carefully care for your pet and feed it properly:

1. You should pay attention to the cat more often, pick it up, stroke it, and offer various games. The pet should move as much as possible and be active.
2. If you have a private home, you can send your Briton for walks in the fresh air, which will be very beneficial for his health. During a walk, your cat can find herbs needed to maintain good health.
3. If you live in a city apartment, you can also take the cat for a walk in the nearest courtyard, but before that you need to put a leash on it.
4. It is recommended to monitor the cat, its behavior, mood, and appetite. And if the usual picture is violated, contact a veterinarian for advice and examination.
5. You need to follow a diet not just in the first period after castration - dietary restrictions are needed throughout the life of a British person.