Raw potatoes: pros and cons in the diet of pets
What is the benefit of raw potatoes in the diet of pets? Is it possible to eat raw potatoes? A question that interests many modern farmers. According to generally accepted opinion, potatoes as a vegetable do not contain anything useful, being a source of large amounts of starch and carbohydrates. But at the same time, in its raw form, potatoes contain natural enzymes that help the animal’s body work faster. It is also known that potatoes have a high content of potassium and fiber, so they are beneficial for many animals.
With all this, some animals are contraindicated in copious amounts of raw potatoes, as they can cause upset or even poisoning. It also contains little protein and mineral salts, which can adversely affect the pet’s health.
One of the reasons why it is also not recommended to give raw potatoes to animals is chemical treatment during the growing process. Now that the general picture of potato consumption by pets is approximately clear, let's try to understand it using the example of each of them.
Why you can't feed cats from the owner's table
The pet often hangs around when the whole family is having lunch or dinner. It is unlikely that he is hungry, he just requires attention. You should not give him food from plates - most likely, this is food that is strictly prohibited. And this will not add education to the cat.
In addition, human food contains many additional additives (spices, oils, salt, sugar, sauces) that will not bring any benefit.
It is better to feed the cat beforehand or put food in his bowl before lunch. A well-fed animal will quickly wean itself from asking for handouts.
If you want to pamper your pet, it is better to give him a piece of raw meat - veal, beef or chicken, turkey. The only condition is that the product must be frozen for at least three days in the freezer and thoroughly washed with cold water.
Benefits and harms
Thanks to this root vegetable, pets' skin lesions heal better. Adding potatoes to a kitten's diet has both positive and negative sides. The advantages of such nutrition include the fact that the vitamins contained in the vegetable have the following effects on the body:
- improve visual functions;
- make the coat thick;
- improve immunity and nervous system;
- normalize metabolism;
- accelerate wound healing.
Useful substances such as copper and potassium are necessary for building bone tissue and muscles and maintaining the functioning of the heart. Fiber is an essential component for normal digestion. During diarrhea, it removes fluid and helps remove hairballs that form in the gastrointestinal tract of cats. The benefits of potatoes are also evidenced by the fact that many feeds contain this product. The downside of kittens eating root vegetables is the high starch content in the product. This component clogs the intestines, is very poorly digested or not digested at all, which leads to indigestion and flatulence.
Raw potatoes in the diet of dogs
The debate between dog handlers and veterinarians does not fade away even for a minute. The fact is that everything is individual - whether it is possible to eat raw potatoes depends on each breed of dog and its digestive characteristics. Many breeds do not experience any harm to the body from potatoes, quite the contrary. Others suffer from diarrhea and even volvulus, which adversely affects their well-being and leads to serious consequences.
Potatoes contain a lot of starch, so they are poorly digestible and can negatively affect the gastrointestinal tract, and in some cases even create a threat of parasites.
At the same time, some nutritionists believe that nothing critical can happen to a dog’s body from eating one potato a day. On the contrary, your pet’s body will be saturated with essential carbohydrates and fiber. Can your pet eat raw potatoes? The main thing here is not to overdo it and approach this issue wisely. First of all, after eating potatoes, you must check the stool of your beloved animal. If everything is in order, then you can safely give raw potatoes a little at a time.
The benefits of mashed potatoes
Potatoes contain a lot of vitamins, including vitamins B, A, C and E. Vitamin E is considered the most important for a cat’s health, since the condition of the animal’s coat depends on it. Thanks to it, the cat is able to quickly cope with fungal diseases, and it also ensures the functioning of the cat’s gonads. How active the animal will be depends on the sufficient amount of vitamin E in the animal’s diet.
Vitamin A takes care of the condition of your pet’s skin, thanks to it the animal’s vision remains sharp in the dark. B vitamins ensure proper functioning of the nervous system. The presence of this vitamin in the diet of a pregnant cat is very important. Its deficiency can negatively affect labor and can lead to protracted labor in the animal. Therefore, to avoid problems with postpartum complications, you should provide your cat’s diet with as much food as possible with vitamin B.
The body's defenses are fully effective against viruses and infections only if there is enough vitamin C in the diet. It is important for cats because, like humans, they can get colds or bronchitis. If pets consume a sufficient amount of foods with vitamin C, their immune system can cope much more easily with pathogens, preventing them from negatively affecting their health.
Potatoes contain many minerals such as potassium, phosphorus, niacin, copper and pantothenic acid. Vitamin PP (nicotinic acid) is involved in protein and carbohydrate metabolism. Without copper, the conversion of iron into hemoglobin is impossible; it is also important for the growth of the animal, participates in the functioning of the genital organs and the production of gonads. Phosphorus is involved in the functioning of the nervous system and brain, and potassium ensures the vital activity of almost all glands, organs, tissues and blood vessels.
Enjoy potatoes and sweet potatoes. without your cats!
If you grow potatoes in your garden or on your urban farm tract, be careful to keep your cats fed before they join you outside of any disaster. Likewise, keep any raw, uncooked potatoes you may have in the house. For what? The unripe potato plant, including the green skin of the unrefined vegetable, contains a chemical called solanine. Solanine is present on the growing potato plant as a defense mechanism, a poison that repels those who would seek to eat it.
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Ingredients in large quantities, which do not necessarily have to be large since cats are small creatures, solanine toxicity from potato plants, as well as tomatoes and eggplants, among other popular cooking and cooking vegetables, can be harmful to cats and kittens. Raw or unripe potatoes can cause serious digestive upset and negatively affect the nervous system.
Sweet potatoes are only a distant relationship with standard drops. Because they are not in the nightshade family like standard potatoes, they do not contain solanine when they are growing or unripe. However, there are several types of sweet potatoes whose vines and flowers contain properties that make ingestion toxic to cats, according to the ASPCA.
A small portion of a dehydrated sweet potato slice may appeal to your kitties and cats as an unusual or occasional treat, but only in limited quantities that they can handle. The same goes for the taste of boiled, boiled or baked sweet potatoes, without additives, spices or toppings.
Where our feline friends are concerned, the best that can be said about potatoes and sweet potatoes is that, cooked simply and offered in small pieces and bites, they offer no immediate danger other than temporary digestive upset. If your cat suffers from constipation, the fiber content of potatoes or sweet potatoes can really help move things around. Otherwise, our kittens and cats can show love in their own unique ways, just like this tiny guy.
There are much worse things to offer our cats. The occasional bite of mashed potatoes mixed with their winnings or sweet potato slices as a special treat isn't bad for our furry friends, but it also shouldn't make up more than a portion of a cat's daily food intake.
The nation's potato and sweet potato growers and their cats have every reason to rejoice. Spring is on its way! How will you celebrate National Sweet Potato Month and Potato Lover's Month in February?
Can cats eat raw potatoes?
Many veterinarians categorically prohibit giving cats potatoes. Therefore, the question of whether cats can eat raw potatoes disappears by itself. The fact is that the poison solanine contained in it can cause fatal poisoning of a pet. Also, raw potatoes and the starch in them damage and clog the cat's digestive system, so it is never recommended to feed them raw potatoes.
It can be given in ready-boiled form, but it is absolutely useless and does not benefit the animal, it only adds weight. At the same time, you should not give even ready-made potatoes more than twice a month. Otherwise, there is a risk of intestinal blockage.
Content
1. Useful properties of potatoes 2. What are the harms of potatoes for a cat 3. How to properly feed a cat with potatoes 4. Potatoes in industrial feed
Everyone knows that meat should be the basis of a pet’s diet. Is it possible to give a cat potatoes, the owners wonder, watching how greedily their pet looks at the crumbly boiled tubers. Some say categorically: “No!”, others put not only boiled, but also fried potatoes in the bowl. Who is right?
Diet planning
One adult animal weighing about 4 kg needs about 200 grams of natural food per day. For castrated males or female cats, this rate should be reduced, since due to changes in the functioning of hormones, metabolic processes slow down. As a result, the animal may become obese.
The general percentage composition of the correct diet for a cat is as follows:
- 70% protein foods (raw or boiled beef, poultry, rabbit).
- 20% raw or boiled vegetables.
- 10% boiled porridge.
The basis of the food is meat . This is an indispensable product that allows the animal to be healthy, gain energy and have beautiful skin and coat.
Meat contains those amino acids that are extremely necessary for the animal and are not found anywhere else, namely:
- Biotin (essential for healthy skin and coat).
- Taurine (found only in fish and beef, responsible for the health of blood vessels, nervous and reproductive systems).
- Arginine (responsible for metabolic processes in the body and the production of hormones).
It is important to remember that cooking meat destroys these amino acids.
Also, fats and proteins enter the cat’s body with animal products. They participate in the structure of body cells and are the main supplier of energy for an active cat.
Fish is also a good supplier of protein and rare amino acids, but it is not recommended to give it more than once every few weeks, and it is completely prohibited for castrated cats. This is due to the fact that this product contributes to the appearance of urolithiasis in cats.
In addition to these products, fermented milk products (kefir, fermented baked milk, cottage cheese) and eggs (only boiled or raw yolk) can be added to the cat’s diet.
In addition to meat, a healthy animal needs vegetables. It is an indispensable supplier of fiber and vitamins. Vegetables normalize the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, and can be either raw or boiled. You can add to your daily diet: carrots, cabbage, sweet potatoes, spinach.
In last place are cereal crops. This could be boiled rice, oatmeal, or corn kernels. They are added to food in the form of a ground paste.
How to properly include potatoes in your cat's diet
Potatoes replace grains in a cat's diet; their content should not exceed 10%. The daily dose of food for an animal is 5% of its body weight: for a cat weighing 4 kg – 200 grams, of which – no more than 20 grams of potatoes.
You should not feed your cat potatoes too often. The norm is 1–2 teaspoons (about a quarter of a boiled tuber) once a week. It is recommended to follow the rules:
- It is allowed to give the animal only boiled or baked potatoes without salt and seasonings. Salt causes urolithiasis; potatoes are mashed and mixed with meat;
- Young potatoes containing little starch are preferable;
- Before cooking, old tubers should be thoroughly cleaned, washed, if you have time, cut into pieces and soak in cold water for at least an hour;
- Do not use green or sprouted tubers: solanine is poison for animals;
- You cannot feed your cat raw and fried potatoes;
- Do not mix potatoes with prepared food: both dry and wet. Ready-made food already contains the optimal amount of products a cat needs. By adding natural food to them, the owner upsets the balance. The simultaneous intake of prepared feed and natural products leads to dehydration of the animal's body.
If a cat eats potatoes for the first time, you need to take a closer look to see if your pet develops bloating, flatulence, constipation or diarrhea. In case of a negative reaction, the root vegetable should be completely excluded from the diet. It is not recommended to add crushed dried potatoes or potato flour to animal food: it is very difficult to calculate the required dose. In addition, these products often contain preservatives.
Cats can only be given boiled potatoes without seasonings, salt and spices, no more than 20 grams per day
Sometimes cats show increased interest in potatoes: they beg their owner for a crispy piece or start gnawing on raw tubers. Perhaps the animal lacks potassium, silicon, vitamins C or E. In order not to harm the health of the pet, it is better not to indulge its tastes. In such cases, it makes sense to consult a veterinarian and introduce appropriate vitamins into the cat’s diet.
mother, housewife and cook at heart
Rabbits and raw potatoes
The situation is completely different with rabbits. There is no question here about whether rabbits can eat raw potatoes. It occupies an important place in the diet of these animals.
Raw potatoes are useful for rabbits during the fattening period, since starch is quickly processed by the body, turning into fat. Raw potatoes are also rich in vitamins and provide great variety to your daily diet.
However, raw root vegetables should be gradually introduced into the rabbits' diet. At the same time, it is important for farmers to know that feeding raw potatoes to young animals under 4 months is prohibited. Particular care should be taken when giving tubers to nursing rabbits, as starch clogs the milk vessels, which is very dangerous during the feeding period.
Rabbits are almost the only animals that can be given raw potatoes without worrying about the consequences.
What to do with cats who love vegetables?
On the Internet you can find a large number of videos in which cats eat, and with pleasure, raw potatoes, cabbage, olives and other vegetables and fruits that are not suitable for them, and even in large quantities.
It is difficult to say what exactly is the reason for this behavior. Perhaps in an instinctively felt need, and perhaps in taste preferences. By the way, a cat tastes food about 18 times weaker than a human. And this despite the fact that cats have a very acute sense of smell.
The reason lies in the smaller number of taste buds, as well as in the method of feeding: a cat’s teeth are not intended for thoroughly chewing food; their main purpose is to tear off pieces of meat from game and immediately swallow them.
According to experts, a cat often bites cucumbers or raw potatoes because it feels discomfort in the oral cavity and thus tries to “massage” the gums or cope with tartar. Owners of pets with similar predilections should pay attention to this.
All cat owners who suddenly exhibit strange food preferences should carefully analyze their pet’s diet. Predilection for plant foods is not organically characteristic of predators and may be a sign of deviations in the state of their body.
In the wild, they eat the stomach and intestines of their herbivorous prey, which contain the necessary plant components in exactly the small quantities in which cats need them.
Proper nutrition
Animal protein is the main source of energy for carnivores. The cat needs meat. It should make up at least 50-60% of the diet. When cooking independently, the owner can use low-grade products (goulash, trimmings after deboning), but with a minimum of fat. Plant ingredients will complement the meat. A wide range of grains and vegetables are suitable for cats. Potatoes will enrich food:
vitamins C and B6;
The root vegetable has a neutral taste and is easy to chew. Animals are often drawn to try the puree and eat the potatoes with the rest of the salad ingredients. It can be mixed with minced meat or canned food, increasing the serving size. The answer to the question whether cats can eat potatoes depends on the pet’s health.
Stomach problems, chronic diseases, recovery after surgery – there are various reasons for strict control of an animal’s diet. Potatoes can be offered to a healthy cat in small quantities.
Tubers are an abundant source of carbohydrates. A diet based on it will lead to weight gain and related diseases. A cat's stomach is also not designed to digest large amounts of plant food. A potato diet will cause problems with the gastrointestinal tract and disrupt the absorption of nutrients.
Prohibited Products
Raw potatoes are dangerous for cats in any form: tubers, bushes, fruits. All components of the plant contain solanine, a protective chemical that is poisonous to humans and animals. In root vegetables, the glycoalkaloid is concentrated in the green areas that appear due to exposure to sunlight. But even the clean part of the raw tuber contains a certain amount of toxin. Depending on the concentration, poisoning occurs from a portion equal to 0.1-1% of the cat’s weight.
Planting root crops should be protected from a free-roaming cat, providing the pet with suitable flora for chewing. Home cellars are also prohibited. A cat can become poisoned by eating a sprouted tuber. The diet should not contain potato peelings (raw or cooked). Along with the skin, which contains harmful substances, the green part is often cut off.
Due to the large amount of fat and additives, pets should not be given:
any deep-fried food;
foods flavored with spices or sauce.
This also applies to the question of whether cats can have boiled potatoes. The product itself is safe, but seasonings can harm the body. Garlic and onions (fresh, cooked, or in powder form) are harmful to cats. They contain substances that can cause anemia. Cats will be harmed by a large amount of salt and preservatives contained in ready-made sauces.
Root vegetables are all-season products. But you should not offer your cat the first young tubers that appear on the shelves in the spring. Foreign or grown in a greenhouse, they may contain residues of fertilizers and other substances that remain after cooking. A person should also wait for the official new potato season.
Safe dishes
Potatoes cooked without spices and excess fat are suitable for cats. They can eat mashed, boiled (steamed) and baked tubers. First, the pet is given a test portion. If there are no consequences, the cat can periodically receive 1-2 teaspoons of cooked potatoes.
Some people like it in its pure form, but more often owners mix puree with expensive canned food. Cheap products already contain little meat. The root vegetable will complement pates of brands like:
Like any food, potatoes can cause individual reactions. At the first feeding, only a test dish is given. It is excluded from the diet when:
the pet's ostentatious disgust - burying the bowl.
Severe symptoms will require a visit to the veterinarian. But most animals experience isolated attacks and recover on their own.
A controversial food is yams or sweet potatoes. Its shoots are considered safe for cats. But animals absorb the nutrients of root vegetables worse than people. Sweet potatoes can irritate a cat's stomach.
Pets are eager to try food from the owner's table. Yes is the answer to the question, can cats have boiled potatoes? Pure (without spices or sauce) root vegetable is safe for adult, healthy animals. But you need to limit your carbohydrate intake.
Tips for feeding rabbits raw potatoes
Farmers agree on whether raw potatoes can be fed to rabbits. If rabbits do not eat raw potatoes well or refuse them altogether, then potatoes should be excluded completely from feeding. After a month, you need to try again to give them raw potatoes, since often rabbits do not eat them in the summer, and in winter they gobble them up “by both cheeks.”
When using raw potatoes, you need to take into account that large males need to eat no more than 40 kg of raw potatoes per year, females - no more than 36 kg of raw potatoes.
In this case, fresh potatoes should make up no more than 1/10 of the pet’s daily diet. Before giving the tubers to the rabbits, you need to wash them thoroughly and cut them into several small pieces.
Do not feed raw green potatoes under any circumstances. It contains large amounts of solanine, a toxic substance. It can cause acute poisoning and even death.
Optimal diet for a cat
When considering the issue of cat nutrition, you should also pay attention to the fact that village cats, which often obtain their own food on their own, in addition to their direct prey - rats and mice, automatically eat food that was in the crops and stomachs of the victims - here we are talking about plant matter. components, including broccoli, potatoes and many other vegetables.
So here it is. Being on such a natural diet, village cats and dogs practically do not get sick, they do not experience such a phenomenon as indigestion. The cat’s stomach itself is perfectly adapted to digesting both animal and plant proteins. Following this, a balanced diet for a domestic cat should have the following percentage :
- 70–75% meat
- 15–20% vegetable additives
- 10% cereals
The only thing that should be taken into account is that in the diet of sedentary or sterilized animals, the protein and fat content must be reduced by 5-10%.
The dangers of low-quality dry food
Industrially prepared dry and wet cat foods are the simplest nutritional option. But for them to be useful, their composition must be balanced. Proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, micro- and macro-additives must be contained in the required proportions. Read about the composition of industrial feeds.
Not all industrial mixtures meet such strict requirements. Compositions with a meat content of 50 percent or more deserve a satisfactory rating. Such foods belong to the super premium and holistic classes (Acana, Orijen, GO!). Read our review of the best foods for cats and kittens.
Cheap mixtures, such as Whiskas or Kiteket, contain a lot of vegetable grains and fats; they are not recommended for complete nutrition of pets.
Manufacturers achieve the attractiveness of such cat food through flavoring additives and aromas, which also cause harm to animals.
Dry mixtures containing a high content of soy, wheat, corn, and hydrolysates (artificial proteins) should be avoided. If the components are named with the general term “meat” or “fish”, then this is an undefined raw material and you cannot buy such a product.
The best foods contain more than 70 percent quality meat or fish, whether raw, dried or processed. The composition must be described in detail, indicating the percentage of components.
Can goats eat raw potatoes?
Another category of domestic animals where farmers are well aware of the use of potatoes in the diet of animals and actively use them. Can goats be fed raw potatoes? Many farmers come to the conclusion that it is not only possible, but also necessary. Goats are first-class eaters; they love raw potatoes and eat them with pleasure. At the same time, according to farmers, not only milk yield increases from eating potatoes, but its properties also improve. It becomes tastier and richer, since the milk fat content increases due to the substances contained in potatoes.
However, here, as in the case of rabbits, it is necessary to wash the potatoes and cut them into several pieces. Then the resulting mass should be sprinkled with mixed feed and mixed to obtain a homogeneous mass.
So we figured out together whether a goat can eat raw potatoes. True, there is one safer method of feeding raw potatoes to a goat. Many people wait until the potatoes have sprouted strongly. All the supposed poison goes into the sprouts, thereby making the potatoes completely safe for consumption by goats and other cattle.
Can cats be given mashed potatoes?
In order for your cat to remain healthy, active and cheerful, it is extremely important that her diet is balanced and varied. Like a person, a cat needs many vitamins and minerals, most of which are not found in animal food, therefore, in addition to meat and fish, the pet should be offered milk, kefir, vegetables and fruits. However, this does not mean that you can feed your cat from the table; there is a list of food products that cannot be offered to her, as they pose a great threat to her health. Is it possible to feed a cat mashed potatoes, what are its benefits and harms?
Treasured BZHU: feeding cats with natural food
There are no uniform rules for creating a cat’s diet. It all depends on the individual characteristics of the animal. Some cats like variety in their food, others prefer one or two types of food. If the pet doesn’t like the food, he will starve until the owner takes his preferences into account.
When preparing a natural diet, some owners include exclusively meat foods. Remember that tailed predators need nutrients, vitamins, micro- and macroelements found in plant foods. The lack of these substances is reflected in the appearance of the pet: the cat’s fur begins to fall out, become tangled, and dandruff appears.
Related article: Do potatoes need tops - signs and timing of mowing
In order for a cat’s diet to be balanced, it must include high-quality foods containing proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals. We’ll talk about the main sources of nutrients in a cat’s diet separately.
Pigs and raw potatoes
Potatoes are good feed for pigs. It is quite well digested, up to 97% dry matter. Boiled and steamed potatoes can be fed to all pigs at any age.
But here, too, the eternal dilemma arises - can pigs have raw potatoes? At the same time, veterinarians recommend feeding raw potatoes as a vitamin supplement in an amount of no more than 10% of the total daily diet. The whole point, again, is a large amount of starch and solanine, which have a detrimental effect on the health of animals.
Many farmers add hay, wheat, legumes and melons to raw potatoes for better absorption in the pig’s body.
Vegetables as a source of dietary fiber
- Fiber is necessary for the intestines to function properly. However, the deserted (= sparsely populated) digestive tract can process it due to its special structure. However, in terms of usefulness in the literal sense of the word, it’s not worth considering dietary fiber from this side. But fiber is needed as a brush to cleanse the intestines and speed up digestion. Sympathy forms feces and reduces the risk of congestion.
- Meanwhile, other valuable substances contained in vegetables are absorbed and must be absorbed into the body. This is especially true for those crops that the adopted child consumes with pleasure. If the cat is overweight, pickles will only be a plus. They create a feeling of fullness, are low in calories and make stool liquid.
- Veterinarians specializing in dietology and nutrition for cats claim that in the presence of excess weight, vegetables are introduced into the animal’s menu in the amount of 15% of the daily menu. However, at the same time, it is necessary to equip the cat with sufficient meat. It is important to know the norm and introduce vegetables close to the animal first in small portions. Abrupt introduction of such products into the catalog will lead to diarrhea, vomiting, and fecal incontinence.
Composition and beneficial properties of the vegetable
The red root vegetable contains an unusually rich range of useful substances. It includes:
- Organic acids (acetic, oxalic, tartaric, malic).
- Vitamins (almost the entire group B, C, P, PP, carotene).
- Minerals (cobalt, phosphorus, magnesium, copper, calcium and especially potassium).
- Amino acids (lysine, arginine, histidine, valine).
- Glucose, sucrose and fructose.
In addition, beets contain pantothenic and oleanolic acids, iodine and little-known methylmethionine sulfonium chloride, or vitamin U. The vegetable is also a supplier of fiber, proteins and carbohydrates.
Thanks to its beneficial composition, beets can improve many physiological processes in the cat’s body.
Effect on the body. When introduced into the diet, the root vegetable helps:
- normalization of hormonal levels;
- hemoglobin production and blood thinning;
- formation of a strong skeleton;
- increasing immunity;
- strengthening the walls of blood vessels;
- lowering cholesterol;
- normalization of gastric juice acidity.
In addition, beets help reduce the risk of tumors and allergic reactions, take part in lipid metabolism, maintain energy balance and prevent the development of anemia.
Unpeeled Potatoes
Many cats love to eat raw second bread, but an excessive amount can become a source of problems that adversely affect the life of a domestic predator. A large amount of starch clogs the stomach and promotes bloating, in which the pet may need help from a veterinary clinic due to indigestion, that is, a rise in high temperature due to disruption of the intestinal tract.
In this case, a clean and peeled vegetable contains potassium, fiber and copper, which has a beneficial effect on the condition of the animal’s coat, muscle mass and the functioning of the digestive system. Of course, the microelements contained in potatoes are relevant for cats of any age, because during the reproductive period they strengthen the muscular system, and at an older age they improve the animal’s amblyopia and sense of smell.
Many feed manufacturers, based on research from scientists with their eyes open, add crushed potatoes to concentrated feeds, wanting to vary the diet of their potential consumers. Today, ultimo on the shelves of specialized stores can even provide food for animals with gluten allergies. In such situations, the tuber is processed using a special technique that removes starch while maintaining other beneficial properties.
Why does the cat ask for potatoes?
Many pets can claim potatoes themselves, but in this case, owners need to be extremely careful and attentive. Such impulses indicate a lack of certain microelements in the animal’s body, and only the help of a professional veterinary clinic employee will help solve the problem.
If it is not possible to get advice, it is worth observing the behavior and condition of the animal after eating prohibited food. Excess starch can cause flatulence, in which case it is worth reconsidering the way your little friend eats, protecting him from health problems.
Many cat owners try to replace seized potatoes with flour or tuber-based semi-finished products. But such a replacement is not rational, because it is difficult to calculate the acceptable dose for an animal, and the previous problems may remain. In addition, freeze-dried products contain a large amount of preservatives, which contributes to the development of cancer in cats, which is almost impossible to cure.
In rare cases, when eating potatoes is strictly prohibited, you can replace them with cereals. They are included in most dry food, and fill the balance of fiber and other useful microelements.
When preparing a diet for small kittens, it is better not to improvise and take the help of professionals, because the consequences of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract in children can be destructive and inhibit the full development and growth of the animal.
Is it possible to feed a neutered cat fish?
Vegetable menu for your pet
Owners who feed their pets with ready-made diets do not need to create a full menu that includes healthy and necessary ingredients. When feeding naturally, the owner needs to balance the components when choosing foods that can be given to cats. The useful category includes:
- Zucchini - goes well with meat ingredients; they can be served raw, boiled or steamed.
- Beets - can be given in small quantities, after boiling, chopping and mixing with meat or offal. Large amounts can cause diarrhea in the animal.
- Broccoli – a little of this vegetable in your pet’s menu will provide his body with valuable bioflavonoids. But a large dose to a cat is dangerous because broccoli contains the toxin isothiocyanate.
- Cauliflower - a cat can be fed this product only after it has been heat treated.
- Carrots are rich in vitamins; pets can eat them raw or boiled. Suitable as an addition to almost any dish.
- Cucumber - a little raw vegetable will not harm your pet, unless we are talking about a nursing cat or an animal suffering from an intestinal disorder. It is not recommended to give canned and lightly salted cucumbers to cats.
- Spinach – finely chopped greens will enrich any dish with valuable microelements.
- Pumpkin – 1-2 tbsp. l. It is recommended to add pumpkin puree to your furry pet’s dishes. But it is better to avoid large amounts of this product, since excess fiber in the body can lead to upset of the animal’s digestive tract.
When including vegetables in your pet’s menu, we must not forget that they can make up no more than 20% of the total diet.
How to properly feed your cat potatoes
The animal's daily food intake is no more than 5% of the animal's weight. A balanced diet for domestic cats should include 70-75% meat. The remaining 15-20% of the diet should come from vegetables, and 10% from grains. Sometimes cereals can be replaced with potatoes. The norm would be to give no more than two teaspoons of boiled potatoes once a week. In this case, the following feeding rules should be observed:
- give your pet only boiled or baked potatoes, cooked without salt and spices;
- do not use green tubers - they contain solanine, a substance that is poisonous to humans, and even more so to a small pet;
- It is best not to use old potatoes for feeding. As an option, before cooking, peel and wash it well, then cut and soak for at least 1 hour in cold water. This will help remove excess starch from the tubers. Young potatoes contain less starch, so preference should be given to them;
- Do not mix boiled potatoes with wet food or canned food - it is better to mash it and mix it with meat.
Important!
Raw and fried potatoes should not be given to cats. The first contains a lot of starch that is not digestible by the body, in addition, due to the presence of the glycoalkaloid solanine in it, it is toxic. When cooked, solanine is destroyed. Therefore, make sure that the cat does not gnaw on raw tubers and does not “treat itself” to potato peelings.
Potatoes boiled in their skins are the healthiest: they retain almost all the nutrients. And for frying, oil and cooking fats are used. With such heat treatment in products containing starch, the content of acrylamide increases, which in the body provokes the release of glucose into the blood. In addition, scientists have proven that the dangerous carcinogen acrylamide damages DNA and provokes the development of cancerous tumors.
It is unlikely that anyone will fry potatoes especially for a cat - but the temptation to give your pet a spoonful or two of food from your plate is quite great. When you bring a spoon of fried potatoes to your cat's bowl, remember that you are bringing serious health problems there. The salt that you added to the product during frying is the first step to urolithiasis and heart failure for your pet. Fried potatoes are a high-calorie dish, hence the heaviness and discomfort in the stomach, and excess weight that your pet may develop.
Important!
When giving potatoes to your cat for the first time, observe its condition. The root vegetable can cause intestinal upset, bloating, and flatulence. If such signs are present, potatoes should be completely excluded from the diet.
