Many of us have seen with what pleasure a cat absorbs its food in a bowl. And probably some people are wondering what is so delicious about these balls and can they be tried? You can try it, but it is not recommended to use it on an ongoing basis, regardless of what food you buy for your cat - dry or liquid. Remember, what is good for an animal can be harmful to people. Today we’ll talk about whether cat food can be eaten by people and why it is harmful to humans.
What is cat food?
Before you find out whether a person can eat dry cat food, you need to understand what this product is. Cat food includes those meat products that are also supplied to humans. It does not contain the contents of the stomach and intestines, bones, wool and other frightening components. But this does not mean that a person can consume industrial animal feed.
Appearance of dry cat food
All commercial diets for pets are divided into three large categories:
- canned food in cans;
- wet food in sealed bags;
- dry pads.
It is impossible to count all the manufacturers specializing in the development of formulations and production of diets for animals.
In most cases, owners of their pets prefer dry pads. Their cost varies greatly depending on the type and quality of the raw materials. Premium food is made from natural meat, grains, fats, adding vitamin and mineral complexes.
Note! Cheaper formulations contain hide, sinew and bones.
The production process of dry pads includes 6 stages:
- Grinding. Factories are equipped with special mills designed to grind raw materials into flour. Crushed particles are able to be digested faster and better by animal organisms.
- Mixing all used components in special blender machines. All contents of the tanks must be mixed evenly, otherwise the pet may be poisoned.
- Extrusion is a process during which the resulting composition passes through special forming holes, resulting in compressed granules at the output.
- After extrusion, the granules are dried. This step is necessary to remove any remaining moisture from the granules.
- Cooling. Dried pads are subjected to cold treatment so that during storage, pathogenic microflora, which can cause severe poisoning in animals, does not develop on their surfaces.
- Glazing is the final stage of production. Various fats and flavors are dispersed on the surface of the granules, which can attract the attention of pets.
A range of premium pet foods
As for the production of wet and canned food, the technology is approximately identical. There are only a few differences:
- the raw materials are not dried and cooled; instead, the granules are treated with moisture-retaining components;
- the temperature in the tanks is high when mixing ingredients. This is necessary for the starch to take a jelly-like form. The taste of the finished product greatly depends on the quality of this stage;
- The still hot food is packaged in cans and sealed bags, and finally sterilization is carried out to prevent the development of pathogenic microflora.
For your information! At the end, all that remains is to cool the finished feed and put it on sale.
Myth No. 7. Doctors make money by selling food
Reality: Veterinary clinics and pet stores sell food from different manufacturers. When a veterinarian recommends commercial food for your pet, most often he gives you the right to choose the brand and recommends that you choose at least super-premium food.
Manufacturing companies, contrary to everyone's expectations, do not pay doctors for selling and advertising food. Your doctor may recommend commercial food or select an individual diet for your pet, taking into account the needs of the pet and the preferences of the owner.
Conclusion: Doctors do not benefit from recommending commercial feeds.
Recommendations from veterinarians
Every person who gets a cat at home should be aware that the pet’s health and life expectancy are entirely dependent on him (with the exception of chronic and hereditary diseases). The well-being and condition of the cat depend on the correctness of the diet.
The dog does not eat dry food: what to do if it did before
Basic recommendations from veterinarians:
- You cannot mix industrial food with natural food, since each variety is digestible in its own way. The interval between such meals should be at least 8 hours;
- You cannot purchase different types of wet or dry food, for example, expensive and cheap, and mix them with each other. This is due to the fact that a sudden change in product can have an extremely negative impact on the health of the pet.
Some experts may also advise you to refrain from purchasing budget food, since there is practically nothing useful in its composition, except for chemicals.
Note! If financial capabilities do not allow you to buy expensive formulations, it is better to switch your pet to natural food and introduce fortified supplements into the diet with a certain frequency.
Basic rules for creating a diet for domestic cats
To summarize: how should cats be fed?
Fanaticism on any issue is bad. If you are assured that cats need to be fed only natural food or only food, the person does not understand the issue, but blindly believes in his “theory”.
Whether to feed your cat dry food is up to you. It has both advantages and disadvantages. One thing is certain - choose industrial feed if you don’t have time. Meal planning and cooking takes effort.
Porridge with fish is no better than Whiskas, and fresh rabbit meat is no cheaper than holistic food. Both food and natural food can be fed in very different ways.
You need to focus on the result. If a cat has shiny fur, perfect plasticine poop, optimal physical fitness and activity, then the food is suitable for her.
How is cat food different from human food?
Compared to humans, cats have virtually no need for carbohydrates. But at the same time they experience an increased need for proteins and fats. Due to the peculiarities of their metabolism, cats digest protein foods well, but a person will quickly begin to feel unwell and have stomach pain with such food.
How to get a cat to eat if he refuses to eat
If a person still wants to conduct an experiment and eat dry food, after a short period of time he will begin to experience headaches and problems with bowel movements. Later, disturbances in the functioning of the cardiovascular system will inevitably begin to develop. That is why animals cannot be unknowingly fed from the human table; they need a completely different diet.
For your information! The diet of a healthy person should include about 55% carbohydrates, 30% fat and 15% protein, while for a cat the concentration of carbohydrates should not exceed 2%.
Other differences:
- The animal body is not capable of synthesizing an acid such as taurine. That is why pet food should be enriched with these elements. A person, in turn, is capable of producing it, so there is no need for it to come from the outside;
- Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) is produced by the cat’s body, so it is not necessary to enrich dry, wet and liquid food with this vitamin. People do not have this feature, so their diet must necessarily include fresh vegetables, fruits and herbs, otherwise scurvy disease may develop;
- Another significant difference between people and animals is that what is normal for cats is iron, but for humans it is a 100% overdose. An adult cat needs about 80 mg of iron for every 1 kg of weight. For a person, no more than 18 mg is enough. The excess accumulates in the liver, destroying it;
- For the proper functioning of all organs and systems of pets, it is important to enrich the diet with vitamin A, but it is toxic for people. Excess in the body leads to problems with hair, skin and vision. The person begins to suffer from headaches, irritability and nausea.
Proper diet for a healthy person
Note! There are often cases when a person likes to eat dry food pads, for example, Whiskas or Kitekat.
There is nothing wrong with this attraction if you eat them rarely and little by little. Scientists conducted a study where people tasted different foods, the average rating on a nine-point scale was 5 points.
Myth No. 6. Veterinary diets can be prescribed independently
Reality: There is everyday food for healthy animals, taking into account their needs. But there are also therapeutic diets for animals with any pathologies.
Diets are an integral part of treatment, along with medicinal drugs, and are used strictly as prescribed by a veterinarian after diagnosis. Giving treated food for prevention can harm the animal.
Diets are created taking into account the fact that during illness the need for nutrients changes and we need to adapt to this. For example, a diet for animals with kidney failure contains reduced amounts of protein and phosphorus, while a diet for patients with diabetes, on the contrary, contains an increased amount of protein.
Diets for the treatment of urolithiasis are used when we know the acidity of urine and what salts it contains. They are not recommended for lifelong use and the duration of their use is monitored by a doctor.
Conclusion: veterinary diets are prescribed by a doctor.
What happens if you eat dry cat food?
As mentioned earlier, human and cat bodies require completely different products. What is necessary for one is completely contraindicated for another. But what motivates a person to taste the treats of their pets?
What can you get infected from a cat to a person: symptoms of diseases
The composition contains a considerable amount of flavorings and taste enhancers to attract the attention of animals, while the smell may seem attractive to humans.
For your information! The results of a large number of social surveys indicate that many people like to use dry cat food pads as a beer snack.
If you try the food, nothing bad will happen, but you can’t eat such food for a long time. By overusing dry food, a person may develop problems with the digestive and cardiovascular systems.
Possible consequences of abuse of industrial cat food:
- a dangerous imbalance of substances in the body, which can lead to disruption of the functioning of organs and systems;
- excess iron accumulating in the liver, resulting in the destruction of organ cells;
- excess taurine;
- deficiency of vitamin C (ascorbic acid) leads to a decrease in the body’s protective functions;
- inhuman combination of nutrients;
- excess vitamin A.
Consequences if a person consumes cat food
Important! Ready-made pet food contains a high concentration of artificial flavors and taste enhancers, and as we know, they do not carry anything good.
Myth No. 5. You can give your pet as much food as he wants.
Reality: this approach to feeding an animal will lead to obesity, eating disorders, and selectivity in food.
Many animals, especially after castration, are prone to overeating. The amount of food your pet should receive is indicated on the food packaging. It is different for different foods. Adult dogs are fed 2 times a day, dividing the recommended amount into 2 equal parts. For cats, it is preferable to always have food in a bowl. If your pet is prone to overeating, the daily intake should be divided into several servings and given in fractions.
Conclusion: the daily amount of feed must correspond to the standards specified by the manufacturer.
What happens if a child eats food from a cat bowl?
If left unattended, a curious little child may eat food from the cat's bowl. The main danger is that dry food, if it gets stuck in the throat, can cause choking. In other cases, it is necessary to contact a medical facility immediately if, soon after such a meal, the child develops a fever, abdominal pain and diarrhea.
For your information! In 2010, it was proven in laboratory conditions that by eating cat food, a person can get salmonellosis. Sometimes, for infection, it is enough to pull dirty hands towards your face. After contact with your pet, be sure to wash your hands thoroughly with soap.
If a small child eats food from a cat's bowl, it should be shown to a doctor
In general, if not abused, industrial food for dogs and cats will not harm human health, but will not bring any benefit at all. Therefore, you should not abuse it.
Benefit or harm?
This method of feeding is in great demand among animal owners. The advantages of feed are its long-term storage and balance. You can add food for a day and not be afraid that the animal will be hungry in the absence of the owner. Cats eat food with pleasure, and this is not surprising.
But is dry cat food harmful? Many well-known brands of products contain components that stimulate appetite and improve taste. Thanks to modern technology, low-quality feed appears attractive to animals. Eating such a product becomes addictive, and the cat begins to refuse other food.
Many foods are oversaturated with carbohydrates, which are harmful to animals. Such a diet can negatively affect the condition of the stomach and kidneys. 24/7 access to food causes obesity in cats, which is unnatural for animals. It is better to use two meals a day.
Dry food is the main cause of urolithiasis in cats. The reason is insufficient saturation of the body with fluid. Also, high carbohydrate content in food increases sugar levels and can lead to diabetes. To avoid this, you should choose meat-based food.
