Food for sterilized cats and neutered cats: characteristics and selection rules

It has been proven that cats and female cats become more obedient and affectionate after sterilization and castration. However, such an operation leads to serious changes in the animal’s body. A loving owner must take into account these physiological characteristics and be able to choose food wisely.

• 2 Rules for feeding pets
• 3 Specialized feeds: selection criteria

  3.1 Which food is better: dry or wet?

How does a cat's body change after castration?

Removal of reproductive organs from cats is called castration. After surgery, animals experience the following processes in the body:

• hormone production decreases;
• the metabolism of fats, proteins and carbohydrates slows down;
• the intensity of urination decreases.

These factors increase the likelihood of developing certain diseases:

• obesity. After castration, the cat’s “life values” change and the animal focuses its attention on food. The animal’s mobility also decreases: cats often become lazy and clumsy after surgery. In addition, slow metabolism contributes to weight gain;

  After castration, the likelihood of obesity in a cat increases

• urolithiasis, in which stones of various compositions form in the kidneys. A decrease in the frequency of urination can lead to the accumulation of salts in the kidneys, from which stones are formed;

  Kidney stones can come in different configurations

Obesity in a cat is dangerous because it can provoke serious diseases: cardiovascular pathologies, type II diabetes, dysfunction of the musculoskeletal system.

Feeding schedule

It is best to feed castrated cats twice a day - morning and evening.

But if the cat is accustomed to eating once a day, it’s okay. It is better not to change his usual way of life too much after the operation; he has already experienced stress.

If you feed your animal dry food, you can leave the granules in the bowl for the whole day - when the cat wants, then he will eat. However, in no case should you exceed the daily feed allowance. As mentioned above, cats after castration are prone to rapid weight gain. The recommended amount of feed depends on the age and weight of the animal and is usually indicated on the food package.

Natural food quickly weathers and spoils, so its remains must be removed immediately as soon as the cat has finished the meal and moved away from the bowl. Your veterinarian will help you calculate the amount of food. When creating a diet yourself, you can hardly be sure that you are not overfeeding or starving your pet.

Specialized feeds: selection criteria

Food for castrated cats must meet the following requirements:

• contain little fat. A high level of fat makes the product high in calories, which means it increases the risk of obesity in a cat;
• include a lot of proteins. Proteins are the main building material of a cat’s body. The lack of these substances causes destruction of the musculoskeletal system;
• contain moderate amounts of calcium and phosphorus.

And also any cat food should be enriched with vitamins, minerals, and polyunsaturated fatty acids.

It is important to remember that any cat should be fed products from the same manufacturer. If a certain brand of food is suitable for an animal, it is not recommended to change it. If the cat begins to be picky and refuses its usual food, then it should gradually switch to products from another manufacturer.

Which food is better: dry or wet?

Castrated cats can eat both wet and dry food. Pros of wet food:

• contain a lot of moisture, so they are easy to digest;
• Suitable for teenage kittens during the period of teeth change.

Dry food also has certain advantages:

• clean the animal’s teeth from plaque, thereby preventing dental problems;
• help strengthen the jaw muscles.

If the animal drinks little, then preference should be given to wet food. If the cat mainly eats dry food, then it needs to be slightly soaked before use.

To choose the right food for a neutered cat, you should consult a veterinarian.

The best way to feed

Experts are still arguing about which food is best for sterilized cats. But still, most veterinarians agree that ready-made mixtures specifically designed for neutered pets are preferable to natural food.

After all, with a natural diet, the owner will have to calculate the optimal proportions of carbohydrates, fats and proteins in the diet. In addition, he will have to additionally give the cat minerals and vitamins that are not found in natural food. At the same time, manufacturers of ready-made food offer to buy mixtures with an impeccably balanced composition, which contains everything necessary for the animal’s body. And from the presented assortment, the owner can easily choose the food that his pet will like.

Review of food for sterilized cats

Various classes of food are sold for neutered cats. However, when choosing food, you should remember that the higher the class of food, the better the composition of the product.

Holistic foods include foods that have a completely balanced composition and do not contain dyes or other harmful substances. Holistic products should also be free of gluten, a plant protein that can cause allergies and impair the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.

Table: specialized feeds and their characteristics

All foods reviewed are indicated for adult neutered cats aged one to six years. However, some manufacturers produce food for various age categories. Such companies include:

• Royal Canin;
• Hill's;
• Purina.

Photo gallery: some foods for spayed and neutered animals

Farmina N&D Cat Adult dry food (grain-free with chicken and pomegranate) is a low-allergenic product of the highest quality.

Dry food Almo Nature Functional Adult Sterilized Salmon and Rice (with salmon and rice) is rich in vitamin E and other beneficial substances

Dry food Grandorf 4meat brown rice adult sterilized (with 4 types of meat) - holistic with a high content of probiotics

Dry food 1st Choice WEIGHT CONTROL for ADULT CATS (with chicken) can be used to feed overweight cats

Royal Canin Sterilized canned foods contain omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids

Dry cat food Brit Premium Sterilized dry (with chicken) contains fish oil and probiotics

Feedback from cat owners

Review: Dry food for sterilized cats Almo Nature.
It is useful to diversify your cat's diet with this food, especially with fish. Pros: good composition. The main component is meat (meat or fish), the plant component is rice. Inexpensive. Disadvantages: there are few flavors in the dry food line (fish, chicken and beef). I have been buying food from this brand for a long time (more than a year) and am quite satisfied. Alma can be considered one of the leaders in the quantity of food with fish and seafood, especially in cans. It's a pity my cats don't like canned fish. But they eat dry food of this brand with fish. Previously, I bought mostly Royal, but the cat began to comb the hair on its neck, and the hair on its back generally looked kind of greasy, despite bathing. The cat is long-haired, so it looked ugly. I thought about a possible reaction to the food and changed it to Almo, which had just appeared. What I liked was that there was no corn or wheat in the composition, which is Royal’s fault. After I switched to Alma from the series for sterilized cats, my cat stopped itching, and her fur changed and became softer. The cat eats Alma with fish, chicken, and beef, although she does not like to eat fish in its usual form. The only thing that confuses us is that for the full effect of the nutritional benefits of the food, as written on the packaging, you also need to give “wet” food of this brand, and this is not always possible. Ixadora
https://otzovik.com/review_6041275.html

Until two years old, out of ignorance, the cat was fed whiskey (dry + wet), after suffering from calcivirosis and visiting the clinic, they decided to transfer it to the premium class.
We tried the food for a long time and persistently. He didn’t like anything (they mostly picked up wet food, since he only licked off the liquid in them, and had to throw the rest away). After a month and a half, they found a proplan, he happily eats both dry (digestion for castrated) and wet. Very happy with the food. Di
https://zooshef.ru/products/pro_plan_sterilised_dlja_kastrirovannih_koshek_krolik.htm

Review of Hill's SP Sterilized Cat Young Adult dry food with chicken.

A two year old Siamese was transferred to Hills after problems with weight.
At first we took a therapeutic diet for weight loss, and now, as the weight has more or less returned to normal, we eat this one. In six months, we haven’t gained an extra ounce, which is encouraging, considering that the cat is neutered and had problems with weight. Pretty
https://zooshef.ru/products/hills_sp_sterilised_cat_young_adult_dlja_sterilizovannih_koshek.htm

Comparison table of characteristics

A wide range of dry and wet food for sterilized cats makes it difficult to choose the right product. Information from the comparison table will help you buy the right product.

All food presented in this top consists of natural ingredients, so they are suitable even for cats prone to digestive disorders and allergies.

How to feed pets during the rehabilitation period after surgery

After surgery, pets are weakened and need special care, including gentle nutrition. For 5–7 days after castration, you can feed cats the following foods:

• low-fat dairy products: milk, yogurt, cottage cheese;
• infant formula;
• broth from dietary meats without salt;
• boiled egg.

It is prohibited to feed animals with products containing coarse fiber; fatty, salty and spicy foods.

Cats can be switched to specialized food 1–3 weeks after surgery. Your veterinarian should provide more detailed instructions.

Be responsible when choosing food for your pet after castration. If you cannot choose the right diet on your own, be sure to seek help from a specialist.

What are the benefits of holistic people?

You need to be careful when choosing food for a sterilized pet in this segment. Holistic foods are the best foods that exist, but not all of them are suitable for neutered cats. Most manufacturers produce universal mixtures suitable for all breeds and ages. According to veterinarians, in the case of holistic practitioners, it is important to simply choose the right dosage.

All foods in this category contain large amounts of protein. They are completely free of harmful additives. In addition, the composition contains many vitamins and minerals. What is the best holistic food for sterilized cats? You can choose the best option in our review.