How to force feed a cat?

(November 7, 2011)

How much food to feed a cat?

Food for a cat needs to be nutritive and healthy. The best bet for pet owners today is to choose from the variety available in pre-packaged cat food. The thumb rule on how much food to feed a cat is age-based. If it is an adult cat, usually two meals or three smaller meals are usually enough for a cat. A cat, unlike a dog, will stop eating once it is full. If the food is accessible, it will return once it is hungry again. The amount of food to feed is counted based on the weight of the cat. Younger cats tend to need more meals and meals with a higher nutritive content.

The most popular cat food is usually dry kibble and there are different theories on whether it is adequate to only feed your cat that dry food as it does not satisfy its water requirement. Canned cat food is also an option. The pre-packaged canned varieties of cat food usually are single portions for a meal. Cats cannot be sustained on a vegetarian diet or a grain-based diet. They need some amount of healthy omega fats which are found in fatty fish. Milk, especially cow milk, is not advised.

What is the best food to feed a cat?
 
There are many kinds of food today available include dry kibble, canned food and even the option to cook for your pet. The best food to feed a cat is what suits your cat the best. Some schools of thought say canned food is most effective but it is important to see what the main ingredients are. Dry food is also a great option as it helps clean the cat’s teeth. Cat owners often choose one meal of dry food and another of canned food.

There is no specific brand that can be categorized as best cat food. So what is the best food for a cat, you may wonder. It can be a combination of canned and dry food. If you have access to fresh fish, occasional raw fish or even just parboiled fish can also work for cat meals.

Cats need protein and if you insist on vegetarian diets, your cat might not get enough protein. It is also a misnomer that cats need milk. Dairy is often not recommended for cats and can even cause digestive issues. Cat food can also vary if your cat is young or very old. The nutritional content and quantity usually changes.

It is very common for cats to stop eating when they are ill. In such cases, it may be necessary to force-feed your cat. There may be several reasons for your cat’s illness and lack of appetite. For instance, respiratory illnesses often make cats lose their appetite. This is because cats will not eat food that they cannot smell and when they lose their sense of smell on account of a respiratory illness then they may have to be force fed. Other common causes for cats refusing food include a sore throat or a bad tooth.

A sore throat may make swallowing difficult for your pet and he/she may thus refuse to eat. Similarly, a bad tooth may cause discomfort while eating, thus discouraging your cat from eating. If your cat is refusing to eat, he/she should be attended to immediately. Not eating for long periods of time may be harmful for your cat. In addition, if your cat is under treatment for some kind of ailment, then he/she may not derive any benefit from medications if not fed well. In such instances therefore, you may have to force feed your cat. Force-feeding your cat does not have to be a difficult and traumatic process. With the help of a few simple tips, you can get your cat to start eating normally again.

Before attempting to force feed your cat, it is important to remember that you need to be calm so that your cat does not put up much resistance. Speak to your cat in a calm and gentle voice before you begin the force-feeding. While restraining him/her in order to feed, ensure that you exercise very little force. Holding your cat too hard may cause him/her to become afraid and uncontrollable. The trick is to hold your cat gently, with your fingers wrapped around the back of the neck skin. You can then place your thumb and index finger on either side of his/her jaw to coax it open. This is more effective than attempting to pry your cat’s mouth open.

Once you have managed to keep your cat’s mouth open, you can easily feed him/her fluids with the help of a dropper or syringe without a needle. Allow your cat some time to breathe in between the feeding and insert small quantities in his/her mouth at a time. This may be a slow process and owners have to be patient while force-feeding their cat.