When you live with a cat, a routine sets in, especially in terms of food. And yet, many actions that cat owners perform on a daily basis are in fact not, but not at all, recommended for the well-being and health of their hairball. Here are which ones!
1. Never switch diets
It’s a mistake that many of us make: always feeding the same thing to our cat. After all, if it suits them, it doesn’t mind eating and it seems healthy, there’s no reason to change their diet.
Especially since our feline friends are known to be somewhat demanding when it comes to food. Thus, if we were to buy new croquettes or a new mash and they refused to touch it, it would be money thrown out the window!
But in reality, it is highly advisable to encourage variety in a cat’s diet. The goal? Increase gastrointestinal tolerance, or more simply strengthen the intestinal flora. In short, to limit, in the long term, digestive disorders, but also to avoid monotony. The latter can indeed end up pushing a cat to sulk its diet.
In the wild, cats are not limited to one food. It therefore seems natural to offer domestic cats foods with different tastes, textures and smells. But be careful, at first it is necessary to gradually introduce new foods! And if possible start this food diversification when they are kittens…
2. Give meals in a bowl
Many cats eat from a bowl. It seems like a completely innocuous gesture. And yet, feeding your cat in a bowl is the most boring thing for them. So certainly the animal will certainly eat without complaining, but in reality this habit goes against its nature.
Indeed, cats are first and foremost hunters. In the wild, they spent much of their waking time hunting prey. It was their main activity. Today domestic cats make up for this lack by playing time with humans, but this is not enough.
So if you want to give your cat a more natural feeding experience, use toys that encourage foraging, like the Pipolino for example. In this way, your feline will be stimulated, both physically and mentally, and will therefore necessarily be happier!
3. Feeding in a busy room
Cats are solitary predators. This means that they are not in the habit of eating their hard-hunted prey in noisy places or around other cats. It can actually be a source of stress for them, causing them to either refuse to eat or rush to gobble up their ration.
To avoid any stress during your cat’s meals, install it in a quiet room, without disturbing noise (like a dishwasher on for example). And above all, make sure that he is alone, that is to say that it is not with other animals or even with children.
Good to know: if your cat has a habit of taking its food out of its bowl and then eating it further away, this is sometimes a sign that it needs more privacy.
4. Give a box straight out of the fridge
Some cats won’t be bothered that much by eating cold food. But as a general rule, our feline friends prefer food at room temperature. Or slightly reheated in the microwave (beware of the risk of burns in this case!).
Once again, this preference comes to them from their wild ancestors who, when they hunted, tasted their prey while still warm.
5. Give meals next to the water bowl and/or litter box
In the wild, cats never eat near their waterhole. And even less from where they do their business. They would be far too afraid of contaminating their food or, conversely, their water source.
In the same way, domestic cats do not like to eat near their water bowl (or their water fountain ) and their litter box. So be sure to separate each location.
If you live in a small apartment, this can be somewhat difficult. But believe us, it’s important for your cat to keep everything away from each other, even if it’s just a few feet.
6. Give sweet foods to please them
First of all, the cat is a strict carnivore, which means that it is only designed to eat meat, and nothing else. So of course, it is possible to occasionally give them fruits and vegetables in small quantities – as treats for example – but it is not essential.
When it comes to sweet foods (cakes, chocolate mousse, etc.), some of us tend to think of them as little treats for our furball. A way to reward them after the meal for example. But in reality, this habit is completely… useless.
Indeed, apart from the fact that sugar is very bad for the health of cats, it is good to know that they are not, but then not at all sensitive to sweet taste. Their taste buds aren’t made to smell that flavor, unlike salty, bitter, or sour.
