Many owners of domestic neutered cats are puzzled by the question of which brand is best to choose food for their pet. Despite the fact that the sterilization procedure is absolutely safe for a healthy young cat, sterilized individuals may experience body disorders such as excess weight or difficulty functioning of the heart and blood vessels. This is the reason for the need to create a balanced diet, which includes special food.
Most often, it is carried out as a sterilization procedure in order to prevent the occurrence of unwanted odors in the house and to rid the animal of aggression.
Feeding the British
Like representatives of other breeds, British cats can be big beggars. The owners themselves also feel very sorry for the animal that has undergone surgery; they sometimes feed it with goodies from the human table, unable to resist the pitiful and pleading look.
As a result, the cat can also gain excess weight, and many human dishes contain large amounts of salt and other elements harmful to the cat's health. Strict measures such as diet, exercise and play help reduce the risk of diseases that British cats are susceptible to after castration or other complex operations.
What can you feed?
After the operation, the owner thinks about whether it is possible to feed the pet regular food or give preference to a line of medicated food. If before the procedure the animal ate natural food, you can offer dishes from the permitted list of products:
- lean meats;
- offal;
- dairy products;
- vegetables;
- eggs: half a chicken or 1 quail.
A healthy cat can be fed not only with special food, but also with regular food, paying attention to the composition. It is better to choose premium, super-premium and holistic products.
Feeding schedule
IMPORTANT! Veterinarians recommend feeding your neutered British cat twice a day. A strict feeding regimen will allow the body to process foods well.
If the cat already has a routine, for example, he eats once a day, after the operation you can continue to follow it so that the cat does not have stress. You cannot increase the daily amount of food, dry or natural, even if the animal looks pitiful and constantly asks for more. The risk of obesity is especially increased in Britons after castration.
When the cat eats natural products, the remaining portions should be removed from the bowl, as it may spoil. Is it difficult to calculate the norm? You can always consult a veterinarian on this matter.
Changes after castration
The castration operation is quite complex; it cannot go unnoticed by the cat’s body. After surgery, the pet’s metabolism changes, and the hormonal levels have slightly different indicators . Narrowing of the urethra is also characteristic.
The cat’s behavior also changes significantly; he will be less active, apathetic, and lazy. The veterinarian who performs the operation must warn the owner about the consequences and instruct him on how to organize the care and nutrition of the pet.
What's prohibited
If it’s difficult to remember exactly what a British cat can eat after castration, it’s worth remembering the list of taboo foods. First of all, this is food that contains a lot of salt, spices, and sugar. Also included in the list:
- semi-finished products;
- bakery;
- smoked, salty, spicy dishes;
- seafood and fish;
- sweets.
If spicy and salty foods cause kidney disease, then baked goods and sweets lead to obesity. Both results are dangerous for the health and life of the cat.
Natural products
Many cat owners, despite the convenience of ready-made food, prefer to feed their pets with natural products. After castration is carried out, the British menu should be reviewed and made healthier and safer. The diet should contain the following healthy foods:
- Lean meat (chicken, beef, turkey, veal).
- Healthy porridges (buckwheat, oatmeal).
- Legumes, vegetables (fresh), fruits.
- It’s great if your cat has the opportunity to eat fresh grass if he wants.
- Periodically, the current needs to be given cottage cheese, kefir, fermented baked milk.
The list of products allowed for feeding a castrated British cat is quite large and varied. But if the animal owner does not have the opportunity to constantly prepare fresh food, you can switch to convenient ready-made food. The main thing is to choose the right type of food.
Selection rules
It is impossible to choose the best food for a neutered cat without knowing some details:
- It is better to focus on products intended for animals after castration.
- The mark “Light” is an indicator of a lightweight composition with a reduced amount of fats and carbohydrates. If your pet is prone to obesity, this is a suitable food option.
- Choose food with plenty of protein. The composition must contain at least 50% protein.
- Consider the amount of carbohydrates and choose products in which its content does not exceed 20%. A larger amount will lead to excess weight and increased blood sugar.
- The norm of minerals is up to 6%, because An excess of phosphorus, magnesium and nitrogen promotes the growth of stones.
- You can alternate canned food, pates or dry food of the same brand.
- On the packaging you can see instructions with the composition of the product, recommended daily intake and expiration date.
Practical advice
Veterinarians always warn cat owners that castration is a complex operation, after which you need to carefully care for your pet and feed it properly:
- You should pay attention to the cat more often, pick it up, stroke it, and offer various games. The pet should move as much as possible and be active.
- If you have a private home, you can send your Briton for walks in the fresh air, which will be very beneficial for his health. During a walk, your cat can find herbs needed to maintain good health.
- If you live in a city apartment, you can also take the cat for a walk in the nearest courtyard, but before that you need to put a leash on it.
- It is recommended to monitor the cat, its behavior, mood, and appetite. And if the usual picture is violated, contact a veterinarian for advice and examination.
- You need to follow a diet not just in the first period after castration - dietary restrictions are needed throughout the life of a British person.
Differences between food for sterilized cats and cats
After sterilization or castration, cats undergo changes in their bodies, so they need to establish proper nutrition. The animal's behavior becomes more phlegmatic and aggression disappears. Such pets live longer and are less prone to cancer, but their body is prone to developing:
- obesity;
- constant feeling of hunger;
- decreased activity;
- urolithiasis.
In this regard, all good food intended for sterilized cats and female cats is developed taking into account all these characteristics of the body.
There are 4 classes of dry food:
- Economy These are cheap products, so they contain bone meal, offal, flavorings and flavoring additives. Colored granules. These include Whiskas, Friskas, Kitiket
- Premium The composition contains protein and by-products. These include Hills and Royal Canin.
- Super premium. Meat and a small amount of offal predominate. This group contains foods such as 1st Choice and Profine Adult Cat.
- Holistic. The highest class of products. They are prepared according to the development of nutritionists and include dehydrated meat and fish. It does not contain poorly digestible plant proteins (corn, gluten, wheat). Vegetables act as fiber and there are absolutely no artificial ingredients in this product.
How to choose food for a sterilized cat?
First of all, when you choose food for your pet, you need to pay attention to its composition. The rule here is: “The shorter the list, the better. And also there should be no chemical ingredients.”
The main ingredient should come first, that is, protein. And this is meat or chicken. A good product will not consist of colored granules. They should only be a nondescript brown color.
The more nutritional components a food contains, the more satisfying it is. This means the animal will eat less. The dry product must be washed down with clean water. Therefore, with a smaller volume, the animal needs a little liquid and it will not swell much in the stomach. Accordingly, digestion will be better and all useful elements will enter the blood.
It is imperative that when choosing food for sterilized cats and female cats, you need to focus on their age. Products of this type are divided into types: for ages from 1 year to 7 years and over 7 years (Aduld). This is due to different needs for vitamins and minerals. Therefore, if an animal is older than 7 years, then it is already classified as elderly. He requires special food. There is also a category of dry food for pregnant cats, since they need a special diet for the development of the fetus and maintaining the health of the animal.
Another aspect of choice is disease prevention. The food that prevents the development of urolithiasis contains less magnesium, the correct ratio of phosphorus and calcium, and a lot of protein.
Best lists
Having studied all the popular foods for sterilized cats, we will choose the best in terms of quality and price. I propose to set the following categories for this:
- the best holistic food for sterilized cats;
- the best food for sterilized cats and female cats aged 1 to 6 years;
- The best food for sterilized cats and cats over 7 years old.
The best holistic food for sterilized cats
This category includes the grain-free complete food Diusa Pet Alleva Holistic. Available in three varieties: lamb and venison, ocean fish, chicken and duck. This series includes both products for cats from 1 to 6 years old, and for kittens. Therefore, you can accustom your pet to good dry food almost from birth.
The Italian manufacturer produces products without dyes or flavors, even those that are safe for health. The composition contains only high-quality meat and fish without bones in a dehydrated (60%) and raw state (20%), useful extracts of herbs, berries and vegetables. There are no grain crops here. The products are fully balanced in microelements and vitamins, so there is no need to give them additionally.
The company has been on the global market for more than 120 years and is famous for only high-quality pet products. Our own developments allowed us to improve the composition and achieve recognition among cat owners. Grain-free food allows you to bring your animal's diet closer to what it receives living in the wild. This has the highest proportion of protein content. The cat's body is designed in such a way that proteins are more important than carbohydrates. Therefore, Diusa Pet Alleva Holistic is most suitable for maintaining health and immunity. Judging by the reviews of the owners, their animals quickly switch to this product and recover after consuming cheap feed. These cats feel better, the condition of their teeth and coat improves, and their weight normalizes. All this suggests that this food is suitable for sterilized cats.
The food is excellent for pets suffering from allergies, obesity, and who have developed health problems due to the consumption of lower class products. But if your cat or feline is inactive, then holistic can lead to excess weight. Therefore, it is better to first take a small package for testing.
The best food for sterilized cats and female cats aged 1 to 6 years
This category includes a complete and balanced diet from Monge Superpremium Cat, which belongs to the superpremium class. It is available for both kittens and adults. Therefore, almost from birth you can accustom your pet to good nutrition.
In first place in terms of content is the meat product in a dehydrated state and must be at least 10% fresh meat, and the total amount is at least 36%. In addition there are cereals, dried egg, salmon flour and oil, brewer's yeast (source of vitamin B), vitamins and minerals. The high content of protein and L-carnitine allows you to maintain activity and physical fitness for a long time.
The food is suitable not only for spayed and neutered cats, but also for those with sensitive digestion. Ensuring the proper functioning of the digestive system and the balance of intestinal flora due to the prebiotics FOS and MOS. The first improves the growth of beneficial bacteria, and the second prevents pathogenic bacteria from attaching to the mucous membrane. Due to this, the immune system is supported and the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract is improved.
Healthy skin, coat and increased body resistance to inflammatory processes due to the balanced content of Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids. Prevention of the development of urolithiasis is carried out thanks to a balanced composition and neutral Ph. This product contains no dyes, preservatives or flavors.
The best food for sterilized cats and cats over 7 years old
This category includes the Purina Pro Plan Sterilized 7+ diet. The product recipe is rich in protein, vitamins, amino acids, and microelements. Ph balance is maintained, which acts as a prevention of urolithiasis. The LONGEVIS complex was developed specifically taking into account the needs of older sterilized cats and their low activity, so it allows you to balance their diet. It has been scientifically proven to extend their life by at least one year and improve their health.
The content of natural proteins is at least 41% and a reduced amount of carbohydrates. It contains a complex of vitamins: E, B, A and D3. As well as important microelements, 3% Omega-3 and 0.5 Omega-6. The balance of protein, carbohydrates and fiber allows you to maintain optimal weight, preventing the development of obesity. In addition, it supports the cat’s basic vital functions: immune, digestive and renal. The daily diet takes into account the weight of the animal and must be adhered to in order to prevent overeating and the associated consequences.
