Picky Eater

In general, the cats are prudish with the food. They eat less dirt than the dogs and they separated of any thing that seems to them that smells bad. Also, As hunters that they are, have a marked preference to the food that has the temperature of the body. If we give tinned food to the cat or you exceed of our last night dinner, do not serve them directly from the refrigerator; it is necessary to warm it before. The ideal temperature is of some 35ºc. The commercial food for cats is balanced and is nourishing, and surely it is the best for ours. It is possible to complement the commercial food with other food, as meat of tin or cooked liver, fish or cooked eggs; but it's not advisable to give to the cat no more than 25% in this form. As soon as the cat gets used to the food done in house, he can prefer it and it isn't probable that it is as nourishing as the food prepared specially. If changes of mark or too many sudden changes are done, sometimes comes unexpectedly the diarrhea. Also the very oily milk is in the habit of provoking stomach injuries. You should do that the cat has clean abundant water, especially if dry food is given him.

Although the cats are carnivorous, his natural diet at liberty is changed, including some vegetables: or herb that the cat eats up or the content of the stomach of hervíborous prey. For very well fed that he is, surely our cat will eat herb and, and, if he can, will hunt any little animal that runs up out of house. Also probably that he shows a voracious interest for any thing that we are cooking or eating. Most of the owners believe that it is of bad education. If you want to discourage the cat, it is not necessary to give him delicacies in the table.

Q/A. I have two very big non-pedigreed cats. Now that they are 12 years old and they move less, they have increased their weight: from 5.5 to 7 kg must I put them on a diet?

You must certainly do it. With 12 years, their joints will not support easily more than 25% of weight and will be difficult to them to run and to jump. They will become sedentary and will become even fatter. Also they can get arthritis. To their age, the increasing of weight reverberates in the heart and the circulation. Consult to their veterinarian in order that he makes a plan of slimming.

I have heard that one must not use common liquid detergents with the animal's dishes. Is it dangerous for his health?

It does not damage them, but the cats have the delicate palate and can disgust if his dishes smells much to detergent: rinse them well with current water in order that neither rests nor smell of the detergent and stay them in air before using again. If you want, you may put the dishes in the dishwasher, but separated from your own for reasons of hygiene.