Hairy dogs that have been spayed or neutered have a great tendency to gain weight, especially the latter, since the reproductive glands have been removed they tend to become somewhat more sedentary. For this reason, many brands of pet food have been dedicated to making sterilized cat food.
However, one might wonder to what extent that food is really appropriate for these animals. And for that there is nothing like reading the ingredient label. Let's see then what is the composition of this type of feed.
What should cats eat?
First of all, let's start with the basics. What do cats eat? Cats, like good felines, they eat only and exclusively meat. Their bodies are designed to hunt: they have claws, sharp fangs, and perfected night vision. A goat, for example, being herbivorous has a jaw designed to chew grass.
But when you read the composition of some feed you can end up putting your hands on your head, especially if they are of low quality, since they include cereals (corn, wheat, etc.), by-products (beaks, legs, ... in short, things that no one would eat), artificial coloring.
How is the composition of the feed for sterilized animals?
The ingredients are included from higher to lower percentage, and of course each brand of feed can include one or the other. So Let's see one that I would not recommend giving to any cat and another that yes:
I think not recommended
Corn, poultry meal (min. 32% chicken), corn gluten, animal fats, fish oil, protein hydrolyzate, potassium chloride, sodium chloride, calcium carbonate.
If you look closely, the first ingredient is corn and it doesn't even indicate the percentage. Then we have poultry flour, that is, it does not even have meat; and the third ingredient is, again, a cereal.
I am almost sure that we give this feed to a herbivorous animal and they would not hesitate long to eat it.
I think recommended
Meat (min. 12% extrusion before fresh chicken), peas, poultry fat, tapioca, hydrolyzed salmon, potato, hydrolyzed chicken liver, brewer's yeast, egg powder, fish oil, beet pulp, flaxseed , apple, citrus, sodium chloride, fructo-oligosaccharides and mannan-oligosaccharides (FOS and MOS), chondroitin and glucosamine, lecithins, citrus and vegetable extracts of rosemary plants (fennel, thyme and chamomile flowers) Yucca schidigera .
This one, on the other hand, is already telling you that the first ingredient is meat, and it does not have any type of cereal.
Do not be fooled by the price or the advertising
There are several brands that spend a lot on advertising, but then do not make the effort to make high-quality meals even though they sell them almost at a gold price. There are other brands, however, that do respect the digestive tract of these animals.
In case of doubts, you can consult us 🙂.
I exclusively feed my cats with meat, without by-products or flours such as those marketed by the Orijen or Acana brands. They are more expensive but you know what you are giving them; one of my cats is now 17 years old and in perfect condition and has never had kidney problems or those typical of hypermarket feed or food chains. If for me I only buy quality food, for them too
Hello david.
Yes, those feed you mention are some of the best. You also have Applaws, Taste of the Wild, and even the True Instinct High Meat, among others.
A greeting.