The influence of food on cat behavior

CATS (Felis), a genus of predatory mammals of the cat family; includes 30 species: lynx, manul, house, caracal, wild cat, ocelot, puma, as well as all types of domestic cats. Body length 46–197 cm, tail 15–91 cm. Body weight 2.5–105 kg. The body is moderately elongated, sloping from the sacrum to the shoulders, less often the back line is straight. The head is round and large. The braincase is large, the facial region is short. The zygomatic arches are weak, the eye sockets are large. The bony auditory tympani are very large. The ears are large, sometimes very large (in the serval), rounded or with sharp peaks, sometimes with a tuft of hair on them (in the lynx, caracal). The ears may be set far apart or meet at the inner edges. The eyes are large, sometimes very large, the pupil is vertical, sometimes round. The limbs are short or medium length, sometimes high (in the lynx). Most have small paws. The claws are fully retractable (except for the Sumatran cat). The fur is tall, thick, soft. Most are spotted or striped in color.

Widely distributed on all continents except Australia, Madagascar, the West Indies and a number of oceanic islands. They inhabit various landscapes. Active at night, solitary, very secretive. Cats are the most adapted of all carnivores to obtain animal food. Forest cats climb trees well and can swim. Hollow trees, rock crevices, caves, dense thickets, and burrows of other animals serve as shelter for cats. They feed on animal food. Mating usually occurs in the spring and is accompanied by screams and fights between cats. There are usually 2–4 kittens in a litter. Lactation 2 months.

The most famous homeland of the oldest cats is Ancient Egypt. We can learn about this from the inscriptions on the walls of the tombs and from the totems dedicated to these wonderful animals. The cat was considered a sacred animal, so killing a cat was punishable by death, and if the cat died, then mourning was declared in the house (even to the point of shaving off the eyebrows). The cat’s body was immediately embalmed and wrapped in colored scraps of fabric, and a wooden mask was put on its face; for some cats, small coffins (by size) were specially ordered. Therefore, archaeologists often found a cat mummy or remains from its burial. The thing is that the cat brought great benefits to humans, it caught snakes and mice, and they also took cats with them on hunts. And also in Ancient Egypt there was a goddess of cats named Bast or Basta, she was named so in honor of the city of Bast in which the famous temple of cats was located.

Then the Phoenicians brought cats from Ancient Egypt, thereby forcing them to wander along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. Here, lucky cats have black skin color. Their color allowed them to camouflage well during the day and hunt brilliantly at night. Thanks to this, the population of black cats has increased. As a result, black cats could be found throughout Europe until the color of their camouflage became associated with magic and witchcraft. Cats have been persecuted for centuries. They were declared to be the “spawn of Satan”, they were searched for everywhere and thrown into the fire alive. But it was believed that the servants of hell should be purely black and at least one white hair played a very important role in the Cat’s plans for the future, so now cats with white areas on their skin are often found. If your cat shows these signs, it means that your cat population has had a difficult past.

Then the cats had many more adventures, after which she ended up in old Russia to live in a cellar, catch mice and drink milk.

Nutrition Features

Like humans, cats need proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals to survive.

Proteins (proteins) are a vital substance necessary for the growth and normal functioning of the body. In their absence, the body cannot absorb other nutrients. That is why proteins are an extremely important nutritional material.

Proteins are found in chicken eggs, milk, soybeans, and yeast. In an adult cat, for proper metabolism, protein in food should be about 24%.

Fats are also an essential part of a cat’s diet, as they are a source of energy. Young cats that receive enough fats develop and grow faster and better than those that do not have enough fats.

Carbohydrates (sugar, starch, cellulose) are also sources of energy. In addition, they contribute to normal metabolism in the body. It is better if your cat receives carbohydrates (especially boiled) - wheat flour products, potatoes and other vegetables.

A cat needs about 60 ml of water per 1 kg of live weight. She receives water with food and in the form of liquid. The need for fluid is individual for each animal, and also depends on many factors, on the ambient temperature and body temperature, on the cat’s mobility, its state of health, etc.

To avoid a lack or excess of vitamins, it is better to use ready-made food for cats, which contains the required amount of vitamins.

Several types of cat food:

Dry food - this type of food is one of the most expensive, but the most balanced. Most cats readily eat these foods, especially if they are accustomed to it from an early age. The main disadvantage of this type of food is the low amount of fat. Therefore, if your cat receives dry food, then it is necessary to add fats.
Soft food - does not contain enough fat. Therefore, this type of nutrition can only be recommended as an addition to the main one.
Canned food is the most expensive, but most nutritious type of food. Canned food is usually made from meat and meat products, or from cereals with the addition of vitamins and mineral salts and allows you to create a complete and balanced diet.

If your cat receives canned food or dry food, carefully study the box or can for how to use it.

You can give your cat: cheese, curdled milk, sour cream, milk, boiled vegetables, soups, boiled flour products, baby food, yeast, boiled fish, raw meat, and some types of raw fish. All of the listed products should occupy a small part of the cat’s diet.

From an early age, you need to accustom your cat to a varied diet, adhere to a balanced diet, and do not feed it the same food for a long time.

Each cat's calorie needs are different. By its appearance you can always determine whether your animal is receiving enough food. If a cat has shiny, healthy fur, normal weight for its age and gender, good physical health and well-being, this means that it receives enough food.