Top 10 Fruits and Vegetables to Feed Dogs and Cats

What vegetables can a cat eat?

Carrot

Contains vitamin A, carotene, minerals. Can be given both raw and boiled. Raw carrots are too hard; it is best to grate them. It is not recommended to give your cat carrots in large pieces; the cat may choke, which will cause suffocation. Boiled carrots can be finely chopped.

Cucumber

Many cats love raw cucumbers. You can only give it fresh to your cat. Contains vitamins B, C, PP, iodine, potassium, magnesium, iron, amino acids. Normalizes the functioning of the endocrine glands.

Potato

Many cats beg and love to eat raw potatoes. It contains solanine, which is poisonous to cats. Boiled potatoes contain less solanine. If you do give your cat potatoes, do so only in small quantities. Carefully monitor the amount of food you eat.

Zucchini

Contains iron, magnesium, potassium. Give the cat raw, first finely chop or grate it.

Beet

Many premium foods contain beet pulp. Rich in fiber, vitamins, microelements. It is best to give your cat boiled beets. Fresh beets have a laxative effect on the body. Contains large amounts of sugar, which is harmful to cats. Therefore, beets should not be added frequently to a cat’s diet.

Pumpkin

Contains carnitine. Carnitine promotes fat burning. Pumpkin is often given to overweight cats.

Broccoli, cauliflower

Contains vitamins B, C, carotene. They are well digested and absorbed in the body.

Asparagus

Contains a large amount of fiber. A good supplement for overweight cats.

Leaf salad

Contains calcium. Finely chop and feed to the cat.

Spinach, parsley, dill, celery

Rich in microelements. Prevents the development of urolithiasis.

How to stop a cat from eating cucumbers in the garden?

Noble gardeners are trying in every way to keep the cat away from the garden, so options for solving the problem are offered. Each housewife chooses the more preferable and convenient one from the list:

• Dense planting of vegetables. This reduces the area where the animal can move. This method is also useful in weaning your pet from defecating in the garden.
• Spraying the crop with sprays that are unpleasant to the cat's sense of smell. Options for treating plants with liquids that are contrary to the pet’s taste preferences cannot be ruled out. Often, summer residents also water the soil next to the vegetables that the pet is encroaching on.
• Using agrofilm or mesh. Fence the beds or cover the plants separately. Sometimes even a low fence is enough; it needs to be made at a level slightly higher than the cat’s height.
• Electrical devices for repelling animals. When choosing, it is important to consider the area of ​​action of the ultrasonic repeller.
• Irrigation systems. Thus, the garden is always wet, and the cat will never succumb to water procedures due to temptation.
• Citrus repellents. Pieces or citrus peels placed next to cucumbers do a great job of scaring away cats. You can replace them with napkins or rags sprinkled with vinegar or ammonia. If not available, it is recommended to use water infused with onions, hot peppers or garlic.

By paying attention to the problem in a timely manner by replenishing the lack of vitamins with special complexes or changing the feed, many owners manage to eliminate the problem without using additional measures to protect the garden bed. Good nutrition will help prevent your cat from wanting to eat fresh cucumbers, especially looking for them in the garden away from her plate.

How to give vegetables to a cat

It is best to use vegetables for your cat that are grown on your property rather than purchased in a store. Store-bought vegetables are treated with chemicals. If you use them, you need to wash them thoroughly before giving them to your cat.

The average daily intake of vegetables in a cat's diet should be no more than 20%.

• In raw form. Wash, peel if necessary, then grate or finely chop.
• Boiled vegetables. You cannot add salt or seasonings. Finely chop or mash the vegetables in a container with a spoon. You can make puree using a blender.
• For a couple. Also no additives are required. Give in the same form as boiled vegetables.
• Greens and leafy plants must be washed and finely chopped. If you give dill to your cat, you will need to remove the stems.

Can you give vegetables to your cat?

as a separate dish, mixed with porridge, meat broth, and meat.

Under no circumstances should you mix vegetables with fermented milk products. The functioning of the gastrointestinal tract is disrupted, there may be bloating, constipation, poisoning.

Why does the cat eat cucumbers?

Often, felines prefer vegetables if their diet is too monotonous or, especially with a natural diet, the food does not have enough vitamins and microelements. Such options cannot be excluded when feeding an animal with cheap food, which may lack most of the important minerals and nutrients. Therefore, it is important to pay attention to your pet’s preferences or sudden changes in them. With this behavior, the cat tries to supplement the diet with a complex of vitamins and amino acids, as well as fiber.

Vegetable menu for your pet

Owners who feed their pets with ready-made diets do not need to create a full menu that includes healthy and necessary ingredients. When feeding naturally, the owner needs to balance the components when choosing foods that can be given to cats. The useful category includes:

1. Zucchini - goes well with meat ingredients; they can be served raw, boiled or steamed.
2. Beets - can be given in small quantities, after boiling, chopping and mixing with meat or offal. Large amounts can cause diarrhea in the animal.
3. Broccoli – a little of this vegetable in your pet’s menu will provide his body with valuable bioflavonoids. But a large dose to a cat is dangerous because broccoli contains the toxin isothiocyanate.
4. Cauliflower - a cat can be fed this product only after it has been heat treated.
5. Carrots are rich in vitamins; pets can eat them raw or boiled. Suitable as an addition to almost any dish.
6. Cucumber - a little raw vegetable will not harm your pet, unless we are talking about a nursing cat or an animal suffering from an intestinal disorder. It is not recommended to give canned and lightly salted cucumbers to cats.
7. Spinach – finely chopped greens will enrich any dish with valuable microelements.
8. Pumpkin – 1-2 tbsp. l. It is recommended to add pumpkin puree to your furry pet’s dishes. But it is better to avoid large amounts of this product, since excess fiber in the body can lead to upset of the animal’s digestive tract.

When including vegetables in your pet’s menu, we must not forget that they can make up no more than 20% of the total diet.

Questions and answers on natural feeding of cats

• Is it possible to feed cats cereal?

No you can not. Not in any quantity. The cat is an obligate predator with protein-fat metabolism. Her body lacks an enzyme that breaks down carbohydrates. In the best case, the cereal will pass through in transit, significantly impairing the absorption of nutrients from other foods, and at worst, it will cause intestinal upset. As for the popular question “What about the grains in the stomach of a mouse?”, then, firstly, rare mice feed exclusively on grain, and secondly, the contents of the mouse’s stomach are already fermented (but not cooked!) and make up a tiny part of its volume.

• To cook or not to cook?

Do not cook. The cat should eat only raw foods. Even with slight cooking, the meat is depleted in the composition of useful elements, and the protein turns into a difficult-to-digest form. Boiled or fried bones are not only indigestible by the cat, but are also likely to cause intestinal obstruction.

• Meat with or without bones?

Bones are a necessary product in a cat's diet. This is a source of calcium. In addition, when a cat chews bones, it cleans its teeth and trains its jaw apparatus. The necks, backs and heads of small birds (duck, chicken) are quite suitable for a cat. Small birds such as quail can be given whole. A cat cannot deal with the bones in a turkey neck. Tubular bones, as well as bones that have undergone heat treatment, are strictly prohibited.

• Do cats need bird necks and heads in their diet?

Yes, we do. Along with the bones. Necks are mainly a source of calcium and collagen; in heads, the brain and eyes are valuable. The brain contains B vitamins, amino acids, phosphorus and other useful elements. The eyes are so-called liquid cartilage, an excellent source of collagen. The cat cannot be injured by the sharp, at first glance, bones in the bird's head, nor will it be injured or choked by the bones in the neck; it is advisable to beat the neck with a meat hammer to crush the bones. Nature has it this way that the prey is eaten by the cat along with the bones. The necks and heads can be given whole or chopped into pieces.

• Chunks or minced meat?

Only pieces. The cat's gastrointestinal tract, as well as its jaw apparatus, are designed in such a way that it tears off pieces of prey, kneads them a little with its teeth and swallows. The aggressive environment of the cat’s stomach and intestines is also designed to digest meat in this form. Minced meat fundamentally changes the proper digestion process, passing through the gastrointestinal tract too quickly, which interferes with the proper absorption of nutrients. For mixes, you can cut the food into pieces of at least 2x2 cm; chicken heads and necks can be fed whole, if the cat doesn’t mind.

• Mix or mono?

Mono-feeding refers to that option of natural feeding when the cat receives everything it needs not at the same time, but in the form of alternating meals with a variety of meat products. Constantly feeding only one type of meat, as a rule, cannot be considered a complete diet. A mix is ​​a meat mixture where all the meat products that make up the cat’s diet are cut into pieces and mixed. Both of these options have the right to exist, both are correct, and each owner is free to choose for himself and his animal what is more convenient and more pleasant. The advantage of mono-feeding is that it is always pleasant to watch a predator eat meat in one piece, tearing off parts that are convenient for swallowing, as predators do in the natural environment. The advantage of the mix is ​​the confidence that the cat receives all the elements at each meal that bring the food as close as possible to the composition of the cat’s natural prey.

• What meat is best for a cat?

To understand a cat's diet, you need to imagine its natural prey. These are mainly small rodents and birds. Less commonly, lizards and frogs. That is, the basis of nutrition should be meat and meat with bones. Meat refers to slaughterhouse products. This is not only pulp, it is also offal: heart, liver, kidneys, bird stomachs, lung, etc. Cats can eat almost any meat. This includes beef, pork, lamb, poultry, and rabbit. The only thing to consider is that the meat should not be fatty and red. That is, for example, a chicken breast has very little nutritional value for a cat. You also need to be very careful when handling wild meat. Very often it is infected with parasites.

• What vegetables can you eat and why?

Vegetables in a cat's diet perform a single function: they are a source of coarse fiber, help improve intestinal motility and are added to the cat's diet solely for these reasons, in very small quantities. Vegetables also serve as an addition to the diet of animals prone to obesity. The most suitable vegetables are zucchini, carrots and pumpkin - as practice shows, most cats do not protest against such additions to their diet (it should be noted here that taste preferences are individual for each cat). But there are cats that willingly eat other vegetables - cauliflower, broccoli, cucumbers, etc. It must be borne in mind that white cabbage and legumes can negatively affect digestion, causing gas formation in the intestines, and are therefore not recommended. You also need to be careful when handling beets. Vegetables containing starch, such as potatoes, are contraindicated for cats. Radish, radish, hot pepper, etc. - not food for cats. Onions and garlic are strictly prohibited as they can cause anemia. Vegetables can be added, either raw chopped or slightly heated in their own juice with the addition of vegetable (preferably olive) oil.

• How to start feeding kittens?

Kittens are able to eat the same food as their mother from the age of three weeks, when breastfeeding is still ongoing. In nature, a cat begins to carry prey to the nest long before the end of the lactation period. Moreover, the mother does not help the children, does not grind or chew the meat. Maximum - pluck a bird or remove the skin from a rat. That is, kittens immediately learn to eat the same as a cat. Kittens born at home also do not require grinding of meat, nor do they require additional fortification. There are two approaches to teaching a kitten to a natural diet. The first is that the cat feeds next to the nest without changing its diet. The kittens become interested in everything their mother does and try her food. Second, new products are introduced gradually, one after another. Whatever approach you choose, remember that kittens do not need additional crushed food or vitamins if they eat a complete natural diet. And under no circumstances should you try to force feed.

• How much to give per day?

The daily feed intake is 3-5% of the body weight of an adult animal. For growing kittens – up to 10%. It is worth considering that the less hair a cat has (this applies to some breeds), the greater the food should be as a percentage of its weight. In any case, the cat will not eat more than it needs to live a full life. The daily rate depends on the breed, age, activity and hormonal status of the animal. Therefore, for each animal, selection can be carried out experimentally.

• How often should I feed?

With a diet composed entirely of natural animal products, two times a day is enough. The daily norm is divided in half, portions are given in the morning and evening.

• Where to get taurine?

Taurine is an essential amino acid for cats. However, a cat can only get it from food. If the animal is on a completely natural diet, there is no need to worry about a lack of taurine. This substance is found in abundance in red meat and organ meats. For example, 100 grams of dark meat chicken contains 170 mg of taurine, chicken necks - 58.4 mg, and heart and liver - 117.9 mg. This will help you independently calculate how much taurine the animal receives and, if necessary, adjust the diet.

• What supplements are beneficial?

Additives to the meat and bone diet of cats include fermented milk products, bran, dried kelp, hard cheese, cottage cheese, unrefined olive and sesame oils, and quail eggs.

Cheese and cottage cheese are sources of calcium; in addition, hard cheese contains a large amount of vitamins and beneficial microorganisms. Cheese dosage – up to 15 grams per day.

Fermented milk products contain B vitamins and bacteria beneficial for digestion.

Oil is a source of valuable fatty acids and vitamins, dosage is 1 ml per day for an adult cat, about 5 ml for a kitten.

Bran improves intestinal motility and helps cleanse it.

Laminaria stimulates the digestive system, removes harmful substances, and has sorbing properties. Dosage – a pinch per serving.

Quail eggs are rich in vitamins A and B, potassium, calcium, magnesium and amino acids. They can be given along with the shell, one piece per day or two. Quail eggs are especially recommended for lactating cats.

It is worth noting that the listed products cannot be the basis of the diet, but only useful additives to it.

• What by-products are healthy?

Heart is a source of protein and taurine. Pork or turkey are the most useful. Beef is more difficult to digest, chicken is fatty. The share in the total diet can reach up to 40%.

Liver is a source of vitamin A and amino acids, but relaxes the stool. To avoid an overdose of vitamin A and/or intestinal upset, the proportion of liver in the total diet should be about 5%. It is better to mix with other types of meat.

Poultry stomachs are a source of protein, vitamins and beneficial microflora. The share in the total diet can be up to 40%. Beef or lamb tripe is good for digestion, as it contains healthy intestinal microflora, but it is high in fat and calorie content, so it is added to the diet in small quantities.

The spine (neck, back) and head of the bird is the main source of calcium. They also contain other microelements that cats need. Natural teeth cleaner and jaw trainer.

Pork knuckles, rooster combs, chicken cartilage are a source of collagen. The nutritional value of these products is low, but they can become building material for bones, cartilage and tendons.

Lung - has virtually no nutritional value, can be considered as a source of cartilage tissue. Good during active growth, but only as a small addition to the main menu due to the high phosphorus content.

Kidneys are a source of protein. Not all cats agree to eat this product because of the specific smell. In addition, the kidney is a filtering organ, therefore, like the liver, it is not suitable for mono-feeding.

The spleen is poor in nutritional value, contains a large amount of phosphorus and a small amount of calcium. Just like the liver, it can cause loose stools. Of course, a cat won’t get sick from a piece of spleen, but it won’t get anything particularly useful either.

The udder is a very fatty and high-calorie product. Suitable only as a small addition to the general menu.

• Can I have pork?

You can, but only without any fat at all. However, pork meat contains a large amount of fat, and therefore puts a strain on the liver and pancreas. Feeding lean pork is possible, but only in combination with other meat ingredients.

• How to avoid getting infected with worms?

Don't think that if a cat doesn't eat raw meat, it won't have parasites. With equal probability, they can enter her body from the floor, from fur, and there, in turn, from the street on your own shoes and clothes. Meat and offal that your cat will eat should be purchased only from places where strict veterinary control is ensured: these are products of poultry farms and meat processing plants. Products from spontaneous markets, from the “neighbor’s yard”, which have not passed veterinary control, can be dangerous not only for animals, but also for their owners. To minimize cat infestation with parasites, all products must be frozen at low temperatures for several days. In addition, do not forget about regular preventive deworming of animals and personal hygiene.

• Does it need to be frozen?

Need to. This minimizes the risk of parasite infection. If the purchased products have already been deep-frozen, then additional freezing is not required.

• How often do you need to deworm when feeding naturally?

Raw meat and offal cannot be considered a source of parasites. The methods of infection are different and depend on many factors, such as the availability of free range, the ability to catch mice and birds, the region of residence, the general epidemiological situation, etc. Therefore, regular deworming is mandatory for any type of diet. Parasitologists recommend treatment once every three to six months. However, in each specific case, the deworming regimen, drug and dosage must be determined by a veterinarian.

• Are indoor flowers dangerous?

Some houseplants are dangerous for cats. But only if the animal eats them. Thus, representatives of the aroid family are considered poisonous. These are aglaonema, alocasia, anthurium, dieffenbachia, zantedeschia, zamioculcas, caladium, colocasia, monstera, syngonium, spathiphyllum, philodendron, epipremnum. The juice causes swelling of the larynx and mucous membranes of the mouth, and if it gets into the eyes, it causes conjunctivitis and damage to the cornea. Scindapsus causes diarrhea.

Plants of the euphorbia family, such as euphorbia, croton, jatropha, akalipha, contain a substance that can cause serious poisoning, including blindness and disruption of nervous regulation.

Kutrovye (adenium, allamanda, mandevilla, catharanthus, oleander, pachypodium) contain alkaloids and glycosides. When eaten, a cat's heart function and nervous regulation may be disrupted.

Particularly poisonous to cats include arum, autumn crocus, euonymus, privet, wolfgrass, honeysuckle, golden shower, belladonna, spurge, purple and yellow foxglove, nadub, poinsettia.

Moderately dangerous - spring adonis, amaryllis, anemone, pansy, arisema, barberry, begonia, hogweed (causes burns), field bindweed, carnation, geranium, hyacinth, wisteria, hydrangea, delphinium, sweet clover, datura, oregano, St. John's wort, Jerusalem cherry , calendula (marigold), cacti, common viburnum, viburnum, dogwood, crocus, oleander, rush, buckthorn, kupena, cherry laurel, lily of the valley, buttercup, lupine, poppy, juniper, narcissus, dandelion (milky juice), mistletoe , nightshade, primrose, tansy, meadow lumbago, rhododendron, lilac, tobacco, yew, tricolor violet, hellebore, edelweiss.

Poinsettia (euphorbia spurge), ficus (dwarf, benjamina), chrysanthemum, fragrant rue, and hogweed can cause oral dermatitis.

Arizema three-leaved, biota (thuja orientalis), grapes (maiden three-pointed, acute-leaved), Dieffenbachia seguina, caladium bicolor, Ethiopian cala, lily (white, “Red Princess”), piperomia, tobacco, philodendron - plants that cause swelling of the oral cavity, violation coordination of movements and acute heart failure.

Vomiting, diarrhea, cramps, abdominal pain, cardiac, renal and pulmonary failure can be caused by apricot, azalea, amaralys, asparagus, or asparagus (dense-flowered, spragera), white acacia, wild grapes, delphinium, horse chestnut, ivy (holly, heart-shaped , ovoid, silvery), narcissus, foxglove, orange tree, physalis, chrysanthemum, cyperus, cyclamen.

• How to calculate the diet?

To independently calculate a cat’s diet, you need to imagine its natural prey. In nature, cats' main food is small rodents: mice, voles, etc. And the prey is eaten along with the bones. The mouse skeleton makes up 8-9% of the body weight, internal organs - about 10-15%, the rest is muscle meat, which is the main source of protein. This is roughly what the diet of a domestic cat should look like: about 10% bones, the rest is meat and offal. It is a mistake to believe that you can only replace mouse muscle meat in a domestic cat’s diet with meat itself (beef, pork, turkey, etc.), the heart is also a muscle, and poultry stomachs and other offal can also serve as a source of protein. It is worth noting that only half of bird necks consist of bones, the rest is red meat. When compiling a diet for a domestic cat, you should take into account the nutritional value and content of nutrients in certain products (can be easily found on the Internet) and the minimum standards for cats’ needs for proteins, fats, micro- and macroelements (see the group’s files). Also, one should not forget about the properties of a particular product, for example, that it weakens the liver.

• Can I fish and what kind?

Fish, especially fatty varieties, is a source of healthy Omega acids, complete protein, minerals and vitamins for cats. The predominant vitamins include A, D, B1 and B2, and the minerals include phosphorus. And this must be taken into account when creating a diet, since an excess of phosphorus is harmful. In addition, fish is a fattier product compared to meat. Fish cannot be considered a cat's natural food, but it can be given to pets. It is believed that you can become infected with parasites from raw fish. However, this is not quite true. First, fish raised in hatcheries are treated for parasites. Secondly, it is worth considering that sturgeon, sturgeon, mackerel, tuna, and catfish are the least susceptible to helminthiasis. In the middle group are salmon, trout and pollock. River fish, especially the carp family, as well as hake and herring, are most often infected. Freezing helps prevent helminths. The lower the temperature, the less time it takes to break down. So, at a temperature of minus 25, parasites in fish die within 72 hours. At minus 18 – in a week. In addition, you can boil the fish, only then be sure to remove all the bones. The content of Omega acids will remain virtually unchanged. Some types of fish contain thiaminase. This enzyme destroys vitamin B1 both in the cat's food and intestines. Fish from the cod family can cause iron deficiency anemia. From all that has been said, it follows that fish should not form the basis of a cat’s diet, and can only be used as a useful small addition to it.

• Day-old chicks: what is it and how to give it?

Day-old chicks are a cull from poultry farms that specialize in eggs. Therefore, cockerels are removed from production at one day of age. They are usually sold unplucked and frozen. Each chicken contains liver, heart and yolk. Instead of bones there are soft cartilages. High phosphorus content, calcium, iron, sodium, magnesium, chlorine and sulfur are also present. The yolk is rich in lipids, vitamins and contains lecithin. You can consider the yolk as a source of vitamin D, which, together with phosphorus, helps calcium to be absorbed in the body. Despite the seemingly rich composition, day-old chicks cannot be the basis of the diet, since mono-feeding in this case will not provide the cat with a complete balance of proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals. This is nothing more than a useful supplement. Important clarification: use products only from trusted suppliers with positive recommendations. Day-old chicks are not a mandatory part of the diet, but if the cat eats them with pleasure and you are satisfied with the state of her health, you can safely include chickens in her diet with a frequency of one carcass per week to one per day.

• Is it possible to have turkey, chicken, rabbit, lamb?

Any type of meat and offal can be used in cat food. The general condition for all is that the meat should not be very fatty and should be red. This is, for example, meat from the thigh of turkey or chicken. Chicken breast, loved by many, like meat tenderloin, due to its poor composition, is perhaps the worst thing you can think of for a cat. Lamb is a fatty meat and can only be used as an additive. Even a sheep's trachea, consisting of cartilage, can be valuable to a cat. Meat with veins, cartilage, and blood residues is healthier for pets. Therefore, all types of meat are good for cats. The only thing you need to pay attention to when creating a good diet is the nutritional value of a particular product. This data is easy to find on the Internet.

• Do you need additional vitamins?

If the diet is prepared correctly and does not consist of only one type of meat without bones, then the cat gets everything it needs from the food. Additional fortification is possible only if the cat’s diet for some reason lacks the necessary products.

• What to do if your cat doesn't eat well?

A cat's lack of appetite indicates health problems. In this case, you must contact your veterinarian. A healthy cat always eats with appetite and exactly as much as it needs. If the cat categorically refuses to eat one product, it can be replaced with another with a similar composition or mixed into another type of meat. Attractants (substances that attract food attention) can be a few drops of cod liver oil, “sauce” from liver and yogurt, ground dried lung, etc. In each specific case, the attractant is selected experimentally, but only from what is useful for the cat.

• What happens if a cat eats something other than meat (a treat)?

Some cats may eat and like things that are not good for them at all. For example, potatoes. If an animal eats a small piece of unhealthy food, then, as a rule, nothing bad will happen to it. And such products, with the exception of completely harmful ones, can even be treated to a cat occasionally. However, if for some reason the cat has eaten a large amount of unhealthy food, serious health problems may arise, including death. In this case, you need to consult a doctor as soon as possible. There are foods that are strictly prohibited for cats, even in the form of treats - for example, chocolate.

• Why does a cat on a natural diet drink little?

The moisture content of the natural diet is about 80%. This amount of water is quite enough for the normal functioning of the body. In addition, eating such food with high natural humidity is the prevention of diseases of the genitourinary system. Fresh water should be freely available to the cat. But its consumption will be extremely small. And that's absolutely normal.

• Why does a natural-fed cat rarely go to the toilet?

Rare bowel movements during natural feeding are normal. Moreover, the feces are well-formed and do not have a sharp putrefactive odor. This indicates the high digestibility of the natural diet. If the stool is very hard and light in color, we can talk about an excess of bones in the diet. If the litter box stays clean for too long, your cat is constipated. In this case, introducing more vegetables into the diet, as well as fresh kefir, can help. As a rule, outdoor cats walk most times a day. Sometimes less often - once every two or three days.

Yulia Brovko. Natural feeding for cats

Can I give it to a cat?

You should not give this product lightly salted to your animal.
In the absence of pathological processes, lactation period and other negative factors, cucumber can and is even recommended to be given to an animal. The product, rich in vitamin complex and beneficial substances, has a beneficial effect on the body and will also prevent the cat from feeling thirsty. The only contraindication is taking lightly salted or canned cucumbers for your pet. They contain much less minerals, there is an excessive amount of salt and sugar, which will not have the best effect on the condition of the body.

How to Grow Cat Grass at Home

It is quite possible to create a green lawn at home, on the windowsill. After all, domestic cats do not have the opportunity to go outside and “get caught.” It is preferable to choose cereals, lemongrass, and catnip.

Seeds are purchased at a pet store.

The green delicacy is grown hydroponically in the ground. The seeds are placed in a substrate and covered with film. When shoots appear, it is removed.

After 4-6 days, the grown-up “treat” is offered to the pet.

What to do with cats who love vegetables?

On the Internet you can find a large number of videos in which cats eat, and with pleasure, raw potatoes, cabbage, olives and other vegetables and fruits that are not suitable for them, and even in large quantities.

It is difficult to say what exactly is the reason for this behavior. Perhaps in an instinctively felt need, and perhaps in taste preferences. By the way, a cat tastes food about 18 times weaker than a human. And this despite the fact that cats have a very acute sense of smell.

The reason lies in the smaller number of taste buds, as well as in the method of feeding: a cat’s teeth are not intended for thoroughly chewing food; their main purpose is to tear off pieces of meat from game and immediately swallow them.

According to experts, a cat often bites cucumbers or raw potatoes because it feels discomfort in the oral cavity and thus tries to “massage” the gums or cope with tartar. Owners of pets with similar predilections should pay attention to this.

All cat owners who suddenly exhibit strange food preferences should carefully analyze their pet’s diet. Predilection for plant foods is not organically characteristic of predators and may be a sign of deviations in the state of their body.

In the wild, they eat the stomach and intestines of their herbivorous prey, which contain the necessary plant components in exactly the small quantities in which cats need them.

Benefits and harms

Cucumber is a rich complex of vitamins and nutrients. Thanks to its composition, the animal is able to replenish a sufficient amount of microelements, as well as replace a single use of water with a vegetable. After consuming an agricultural crop, the cat’s body receives the required amount of vitamins B, C and PP. In addition to the vitamin complex, the product is rich in such useful substances as:

Iron is one of the substances this product is rich in.

• zinc;
• sodium;
• potassium;
• chlorine;
• iodine;
• iron;
• copper;
• magnesium.

All elements, when replenished in the body, improve the condition in the absence of an excessive amount of the mineral, but an excess of even one of the substances can significantly worsen the cat’s well-being.

This factor should also be taken into account in the presence of pathological processes in the pet. Many diseases can significantly change the body's production of a particular substance or hormone, which will lead to additional side effects. So, in case of urolithiasis, kidney pathologies, or if the animal is disabled and cannot move, excessive consumption of cucumber can complicate the condition due to its diuretic effect. Cucumbers are also undesirable for a nursing cat - the kittens will develop diarrhea with dehydration. For the same reason, it is not recommended to let small kittens chew the product. The vegetable can complicate the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract in diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

What vegetables should a cat not eat?

Onion and garlic

Contain toxic substances, very dangerous for cats. Consumption of even small quantities can lead to the death of the animal.

Avocado

Contains toxic substances.

Tomatoes

Contains solanine, which is poisonous to cats.

Potato

As discussed above, potatoes contain solanine, which is harmful to cats. It is not advisable to give your cat potatoes, either raw or boiled. Causes constipation.

Legumes (peas, beans, soybeans), white cabbage

They cause fermentation in the intestines, bloating appears, and cause gas formation.

Pickled, pickled, fried, canned vegetables should never be given to a cat. They contain large amounts of salt, vinegar, fat, various seasonings, onions, garlic and pepper. They are deposited in the kidneys, contribute to the development of urolithiasis, and are harmful to the liver and pancreas.