OVMA Handbooks & Brochures

12 | A CAT OWNER'S HANDBOOK BOREDOM AND VARIETY Cats can be finicky eaters. Some cats will only eat one type or brand of cat food, while others enjoy variety at mealtimes. There is no nutritional reason to change food if it's a balanced, high quality diet. If you change your cat's food, gradually introduce the new food with the previous brand over five to seven days. For example, only use 10 to 20 per cent of the new food on the first day. Abrupt changes in diet may cause indigestion, vomiting, diarrhea and gas. COST Feeding your cat a healthy diet doesn't have to be expensive. To decide if a certain food fits your budget, consider the cost of feeding per day, not just the price of the bag or can. Better quality foods provide more nutritional value per gram of weight, which means your cat eats less food per day. This means that a bag of "expensive" food can last much longer than the same-size bag of a lower quality, "cheaper" food. DRY VS. CANNED Dry food is the most convenient food to feed your cat, as it can be left out all day and will require less cleaning of food bowls. It's generally high in calories and can be a major cause of obesity if volumes aren't carefully controlled. Most canned foods contain fewer calories per mouthful and offer an excellent way to increase your cat's water intake, which may help maintain a healthy urinary tract. Unlike dry foods, canned formulas can easily be made with the low carbohydrate level appropriate for cats. Many feline specialists promote feeding canned food as part of the diet. It's a good idea to start canned food at DID YOU KNOW? Cats generally lack the enzyme to digest dairy products, so feeding them milk or cream can make them sick.

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