Is dry cat food harmful: reviews from veterinarians

Dry food has become a part of the daily lives of busy cat owners. They are easy to use and animals love them. Manufacturers assure the benefits of this product, but numerous reviews claim the negative impact of such a diet. Therefore, before purchasing, you should find out whether dry food is harmful for cats. Veterinarians do not give a definite answer, because much depends on the composition of the food and the characteristics of the animal itself. This article will help answer this and other questions related to cat nutrition.

Benefit or harm?

This method of feeding is in great demand among animal owners. The advantages of feed are its long-term storage and balance. You can add food for a day and not be afraid that the animal will be hungry in the absence of the owner. Cats eat food with pleasure, and this is not surprising.

But is dry cat food harmful? Many well-known brands of products contain components that stimulate appetite and improve taste. Thanks to modern technology, low-quality feed appears attractive to animals. Eating such a product becomes addictive, and the cat begins to refuse other food.

Many foods are oversaturated with carbohydrates, which are harmful to animals. Such a diet can negatively affect the condition of the stomach and kidneys. 24/7 access to food causes obesity in cats, which is unnatural for animals. It is better to use two meals a day.

Dry food is the main cause of urolithiasis in cats. The reason is insufficient saturation of the body with fluid. Also, high carbohydrate content in food increases sugar levels and can lead to diabetes. To avoid this, you should choose meat-based food.

Possible side effects

Among opponents of dry food, the opinion has become stronger that such food can provoke the development of diseases. Some pathologies may indeed arise from pelleted foods, but most of the problems attributed to ready-made diets have nothing to do with the real state of affairs.

Urolithiasis disease

In the case of dry food, the development of urolithiasis can actually be triggered by fluid deficiency, oversaturation of urine and excessive alkalization or oxidation of urine. In practice, urolithiasis occurs more often when eating economy-class foods. This is due to non-compliance with the drinking regime and the lack of preventive supplements.

With ICD, animals experience problems with urination, blood is found in the urine, and pets begin to defecate on furniture, clothes and carpets

High-quality dry food itself prevents the development of urolithiasis due to ingredients that regulate the acidity of urine. Most often, cranberries, blueberries and other berries act as such components. Medicinal feeds fight pathology even more actively by reducing the proportion of certain minerals (calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, etc.), but they should not be prescribed unnecessarily, as this can provoke a deficiency of nutrients and the development of other diseases.

During exacerbations, feeding with wet food is preferable, but granules help prevent the formation of stones during remission

In rare cases, even high-quality dry food can cause the development of urolithiasis. This is due to the violation of the animal’s drinking regime: it does not consume even the required minimum of liquid. However, in this case, the culprit is, rather, an individual characteristic that needs to be adjusted to, rather than food.

Dental diseases

Many manufacturers claim that their food helps clean teeth. In fact, only granules with a special texture are able to remove plaque from the entire surface: they are pressed inward with point pressure on them. This mechanically cleans the canines. In all other cases, dry food can actually provoke the development of oral pathologies.

There are toothbrushes that you can put on your finger; This usually helps reduce anxiety in cats.

The main danger lies in the cat's chewing habits. Animals are more prone to tearing off whole pieces of meat. At best, pets break the granules into several parts, at worst, they swallow them whole. As a result, the plaque is cleaned only from the ends. Most of it moves to the roots; later, tartar forms, which can cause the loss of fangs. The granules do not have a massage effect, so blood circulation in the gums worsens. In addition, hard pieces inevitably lead to accelerated wear of teeth.

Accumulations of tartar provoke gum inflammation

Proper care and toys help partially neutralize the harmful effects of dry food. It is recommended to brush cats' teeth using special brushes and pastes. The latter may have the smell of meat, fish or liver, which makes the procedure easier. Such pastes are less prone to foaming and therefore do not cause rejection. In extreme cases, cleaning with gauze or a cloth wrapped around a finger is allowed.

It is advisable for cats to purchase chewing toys that can massage their gums. A good option is balls with small spikes, but in most cases pets do not show interest in them. An alternative is soft catnip toys. Animals readily chew on them, cleaning their teeth in the process.

Obesity

Dry food can cause obesity, but this also applies to the natural menu. Most often, with proper eating habits and quality diets, problems do not arise. Excess weight appears when eating economy and premium food, since they contain too many carbohydrates and few nutrients. As a result, the cat does not get enough and eats more than normal. Gradually this leads to an increase in body weight.

Obesity is just as dangerous a disease for cats as it is for people; it undermines the health of joints, causes poor circulation and can provoke the development of other pathologies of internal organs

Another problem is instinctive overeating. Owners of cats picked up from the street often encounter this: the animals remember the stress they experienced and try to eat as much as possible at each feeding. Such disorders also occur in humans, so this phenomenon is in no way connected with granules. In this case, owners need to limit portions and feed their pets on a schedule.

On the contrary, high-quality foods with proper diet help maintain normal body weight. There are special diets that help cope with the problem when it occurs. You can choose the right food for an animal of any size.

Diabetes

Diabetes is relatively rare in cats, but can still occur due to an excess of carbohydrates in the menu. This is a typical picture for economy and premium food. They consist of low-quality grains, which are sources of fast carbohydrates.

If dry food alone caused diabetes, it wouldn't be treated with pelleted diets.

To prevent the development of diabetes, it is recommended to purchase high-quality food that contains 50–70% meat components. Products with grains and an excess of vegetables should be avoided.

If the problem has already appeared, you can purchase special medicated food. They contain ingredients containing slow carbohydrates. For example, oatmeal. This allows the condition to stabilize.

Gastrointestinal disorders

In this regard, dry food is not much different from natural products. If you eat improperly, the risk of digestive upset is high on any menu. If done correctly, it also exists, but the likelihood of disruption of the gastrointestinal tract is lower.

In case of acute attacks, it is recommended to temporarily switch to wet food; in some cases, chronic constipation is an individual reaction, due to which it is necessary to completely abandon pelleted diets

Most often, cats suffer from constipation when eating dry food. This can be prevented by changing the diet: depending on the nature of the disorder, you should either purchase a product with a high concentration of plant fibers, or normalize the drinking regime and choose a diet with preventive additives. Aloe and flax seeds can improve digestion and prevent damage to the walls of the gastrointestinal tract. If the disorder is chronic, you should consult a veterinarian, as constipation may be associated with other diseases.

High-quality dry food does not worsen, but improves digestion. It contains pro- and prebiotics, which strengthen local immunity and prevent rotting. Plant fibers stimulate peristalsis and the movement of feces.

Allergy

Low-quality feed often causes allergies. This is due to the presence of questionable protein sources, corn, wheat and soy. They become the culprits of a negative reaction from the immune system.

The area between the toes, eyebrows and ears are the most sensitive places in cats, so when allergies appear, scratches, spots and bald patches are most often found there

High-quality food causes allergies less often because it does not contain grains. Their production uses clean meat or whole carcasses without questionable by-products. It is fair to note that any product can cause an allergy, so in this case the claims against dry food are unfounded.

Breathing disorders

It is believed that pesticides, insects and their larvae that may enter the feed along with raw materials can cause respiratory problems. In reality, this can only happen in factories producing budget products. Such cases are known: during research, traces of hazardous substances were repeatedly discovered. However, food can cause side effects only with prolonged use and accumulation of compounds in the body or individual intolerance.

Bacterial infection

Bacterial contamination is a very real threat, but more typical of natural products. However, this can also happen when feeding dry food, so it is important not to offer cats spoiled granules, carefully inspect the packaging before purchasing and not to purchase diets in bulk. Air can enter through a hole in the bag, causing premature oxidation.

Recommendations for using dry food

When using this food you need to follow some rules. First of all, you cannot mix ready-made food with natural food, since the imbalance of nutrients is disrupted. If a problem occurs, it will be difficult to understand the real reason. Also, do not change the brand of food often. This leads to poor absorption of substances and causes disturbances in the body. If you need to change food, you should do this gradually over 1-2 weeks, adding a new product and increasing its quantity.

Cats by nature drink little water, and dry food is recommended to be washed down with plenty of liquid. Therefore, for better absorption, you need to ensure that there is always water next to your food bowl. Veterinarians recommend diluting the diet with wet food. When feeding kittens, you should pay attention to the packaging labeling, which should indicate the age at which the product can be consumed.

Preservatives, flavors, vitamins and minerals

Dry food may well contain flavoring additives, because the food should not only be healthy, but also appeal to cats. Modern foods often contain various hydrolysates obtained from natural products, such as liver; they are completely safe for cats and give the food an attractive aroma.

In order for dry food to be stored for a long time, preservatives are added to it, and high-quality dry food uses natural antioxidant complexes based on rosemary, which are absolutely safe for animals. But it is better to avoid synthesized chemical compounds, because the individual reaction to them is quite unpredictable.

Since dry food is produced using high temperatures, some of the beneficial substances from the raw materials are inevitably destroyed, so vitamin and mineral complexes are added to the diet. It is important that the product packaging contains a complete list of substances with dosage information.

Which food is better to choose?

When choosing a diet for a cat, you should focus on the composition, which will make it clear whether feeding your cat dry food of this brand is harmful. The highest quality food is made from animal meat and ocean fish. They contain all the necessary nutrients and do not contain harmful components.

A high-quality product will not cause allergies and other unpleasant consequences, but, on the contrary, will help prevent them. Often, special dry food is used to treat diseases. Many are put off by the price of such “cat joy”, but considering the cost of fresh food, it is quite justified. And if you calculate the effort and time that will be required to prepare a balanced menu for your pet, then dry food will be a priority.

Supplements

Dry food must contain sources of fiber - plant fibers that are not absorbed by the body, but are necessary for intestinal motility. Supplements in the form of vegetables, fruits and berries are good sources of fiber, although some foods also contain cheap cellulose, which is too rough for a cat's intestines.

An important and useful addition to the diet are probiotics and prebiotics, which have a beneficial effect on digestion, Yucca Schidigera extract, which reduces the odor of excrement, and fennel, which reduces gas formation.

Is Kitekat and Whiskas dry cat food harmful?

Since cats are carnivores, their digestive system is not adapted to food of plant origin. Meat products completely lack carbohydrates and other vitamins that animals need. But wild cats get the necessary substances from the stomachs of the herbivores that they feed on. At the same time, they arrive to predators already in a processed form, which allows them to absorb some of the carbohydrates. The resulting dietary fiber helps cleanse the intestines. But apartment residents can only rely on a person. The owner takes responsibility and must know whether the dry cat food he feeds his pet is harmful.

“Kitekat” and “Whiskas” are unbalanced or poorly balanced feeds and do not contain all the necessary nutrients. Their use often leads to various disorders in the cat’s body. These feeds belong to the economy class and contain meat waste: skin, intestines, heads, as well as offal with low nutritional value. They contain too much corn, wheat and rice flour. In this case, you can answer the question positively: is dry food harmful for cats and kittens? Daily consumption of such food leads to gastrointestinal disorders, kidney and liver diseases, as well as hair loss. This product negatively affects the growth and development of kittens. Carbohydrates are not digested and disrupt intestinal function.

Carbohydrates

It is impossible to make dry food without using carbohydrate components, because without them it will not be possible to create the dense mince that makes up each granule of food. Another question is that technologically there are not so many sources of carbohydrates required, and if the feed consists mainly of them, then the manufacturer simply decided to save money. Most often, wheat is used for this purpose, which is the most difficult for cats to digest and in large quantities contributes to excess weight gain and can even cause the development of diabetes. It is best to avoid this component in feed.

Is Royal Canin and Proplan dry cat food harmful?

If they want to save money, manufacturers often add moldy products to the feed, which causes irreparable harm to the animal. Is this dry food harmful for cats? Reviews from veterinarians say that it is better to give preference to medium or premium products. These include feed produced by Royal Canin. They are made from muscle meat tissue, without the use of flavor enhancers and flavoring agents. This food is rich in all the essential nutrients that an animal needs for its daily diet. It helps improve immunity and makes the animal more resistant to stressful situations. Many people are also interested in whether Proplan dry cat food is harmful? No, since all foods are developed taking into account the age characteristics of the cat and its activity. But even premium food can be harmful to the animal if it is not chosen correctly. Any expired product will also negatively affect your pet’s health, so you should pay attention to expiration dates.

Premium food

Any owner of a mustachioed furry animal wants to choose the best food for his pet. But there is a situation when purchasing holistic food is not available due to its high cost. Then premium food comes to the rescue.

Premium class food is quite popular on the one hand, and on the other hand it is represented by a large assortment, the presence of most varieties and a relatively low price.

Also among the feeds of this class are types of medicinal purposes. They are intended both for the treatment of individual diseases and for their prevention.

This food is made from environmentally friendly raw materials according to specially developed standards. They do not contain soy, grains, various dyes and preservatives. And it contains vitamins and minerals that are responsible for the full development of the animal.

List of premium food:

1. Innova EVO
2. Orijen
3. Acana
4. Eukanuba
5. Pro Plan
6. Bosch
7. Hill's

How to feed a cat correctly?

It is important to take into account the physiological characteristics of the animal and adhere to certain rules when forming a daily diet.

• A healthy cat eats no more than twice a day. For a pregnant and lactating pet, 4-6 meals a day are suitable.
• It is important to monitor drinking; the animal needs to drink 20-30 ml per 1 kg of weight if the diet consists of natural products or wet food. 3 times more liquid when eating dry food.

• The water bowl should have wide edges because cats don't like their whiskers touching the edges. Liquids should always be available to your pet, especially if their diet consists of dry food.

Carnivores (cats, dogs, wolves, tigers and others).

The main anatomical features of carnivores include:

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• teeth structure - the presence of sharp fangs designed for tearing meat. The molars are also not suitable for chewing plants; they have a triangular shape and jagged edges, which allows them to make cutting movements like scissors.
• the movement of the lower jaw when chewing is vertical (up and down), which allows the mouth to open wide when swallowing large pieces of meat
• a short digestive tract in which, due to the acidic environment, animal products (proteins and fats) are easily and quickly digested. The pH of the gastric environment in cats and dogs is maintained at about 1-2, which allows not only to quickly break down proteins, but also to destroy bacteria present in spoiled meat. That is why, if you feed a dog meat that has already smelled spoiled, in most cases this will not lead to any negative consequences. But if you feed spoiled porridge, indigestion or even poisoning to the animal is guaranteed.
• lack of amylase in saliva. Enzymes that break down carbohydrates are produced by the pancreas in carnivores.

Natural food

If the owners decide not to use food, but to prepare food for their pet themselves, then they need to know that it differs from “human food”. It should not contain spices, salt, oils and other components familiar to people. Self-preparing food for your animal, rich in vitamins, increases your pet’s life expectancy by 30% when compared with cats eating dry food. The main disadvantage of the method is the complexity of preparation and the fragility of the feed.

To prepare natural food for cats, use: beef, poultry, oatmeal, vegetables. Soups are prepared using meat broth. By-products can be given raw, but they should be pre-treated with boiling water and chopped. To prevent your cat from becoming constipated from natural food, you need to dilute the diet with vegetables and cereals. You should not feed your animal fish, especially if you have urolithiasis. It is better to mix milk with water or remove it from the cat's menu, as it can cause diarrhea. Also, you should not give foods that contain bones; they can get stuck in the throat or injure the mucous membrane. Chicken skin has a bad effect on the stomach; it can stay in it for a long time without being digested, and fatty pork can cause upset. Feeding an animal warm food irritates the mucous membrane less than cold food.

Herbivores (cows, horses, sheep, antelopes and others)

Their body is maximally adapted to digest carbohydrates and other nutrients obtained from plants.

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All herbivores are characterized by common anatomical features:

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• the structure of molars (flat and rectangular), ideally suited for grinding and crushing coarse plant stems. The lateral mobility of the lower jaw (from side to side) is clearly expressed, facilitating chewing movements that promote chewing of plants
• long digestive tract - the length of the intestines can be almost 10 times the length of your own body, which ensures better absorption of indigestible fiber, which is rich in plant foods
• Saliva contains the enzyme amylase, which helps digest carbohydrates. Therefore, herbivores chew vegetation thoroughly to ensure that it is mixed with amylase.

How to plan a diet correctly?

The cat can be fed mixed, using natural food and food at the same time. But this method is considered the worst. You should not mix natural food with wet or dry food, except in cases of transferring the animal to another type of food. The animal’s body gets used to a certain feeding option and produces the necessary enzymes for breakdown. You can mix dry and wet food, but preferably the same brand.

So, whether dry cat food is harmful for cats depends on the brand and its composition. For your animal’s diet, it is better to use premium products that contain meat rather than food waste, or prepare natural food yourself. You can combine meals, but with extreme caution. In any case, you should not save, as this affects the cat’s health.

The best holistic food

The most suitable cat food is holistic food. It is distinguished by a high content of animal proteins and fats, and is as close as possible to the diet of an animal in the wild.

Holistic dry food contains natural meat or fish with a mass fraction of more than fifty percent. Also contains natural proteins in the amount of thirty percent.

Brown rice, peas and lentils provide healthy plant protein. And berries, fruits and vegetables make up for the fiber deficiency in such a product.

This product is very loved by animals precisely for its quality, since the list of ingredients does not contain dyes, flavors, preservatives, or flavor enhancers.

By consuming holistic food, the cat receives the substances necessary for health. Thanks to this product, the animal is active, cheerful, has regular bowel movements, and waste products have almost no odor.

Holistic class food:

• Acana
• Pronature Holistic
• Innova Evo
• Holistic Blend
• Almo Nature Holistic

Omnivores (humans, pigs, bears)

Omnivores can eat both animal and plant foods.

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Common anatomical features of omnivores are:

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• sharp fangs and flat molars, which makes it possible to tear and subsequently chew (grind) food
• the average length of the digestive tract, which allows you to adapt to the digestion of both animal and plant proteins
• Saliva contains amylase, an enzyme for digesting carbohydrates. We dwelled on all this in such detail that owners of dogs and cats themselves could draw conclusions that the anatomical features of our domestic predators clearly classify them as carnivores, adapted for feeding almost exclusively on meat
• teeth and jaws are adapted to tearing meat and swallowing it in large pieces, without chewing
• simple and short gastrointestinal tract, not adapted for digesting plants
• high acidity of gastric juice (in carnivores pH=1, and in humans pH 4-5)
• There is no amylase in saliva, since there is no need for primary food processing for better digestion of carbohydrates
• In humans, food retention in the gastrointestinal tract occurs for approximately 45 hours, in dogs – about 20, in cats – 13-15. This means that the microflora of the digestive tract of cats and dogs is significantly different from the microflora of humans

But the diet of predators consists not only of animal products. After a successful hunt, wild animals eat the carcass almost completely, along with the contents of the stomach and intestines, so, although in small quantities, plant foods are also present in the diet. Now answer, does traditional porridge with meat or fish meet the needs of a predator that are inherent in your cat or dog by nature? In addition, I would like to note that high-quality meat is not always bought for animals; in most cases it is “meat for animals”, it is much cheaper. But behind this cheapness are most often sick or forcedly slaughtered animals, the meat of which is not suitable for human consumption, or offal that has low nutritional value.

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In this case, the general benefits of such meat are very doubtful. Yes, filling the stomach and intestines with cereals suppresses the feeling of hunger for a while, but cannot provide the animal with the necessary amount of minerals and vitamins.

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In addition, it is very difficult to calculate the required amount of vitamins, macro- and microelements needed for an animal at this stage of life (pregnancy, old age, post-operative recovery) at home.

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Here, dry industrial food has undeniable advantages, because they are developed by professionals, and entire research institutes with laboratories are created to calculate the required amount of nutrients and calories needed by animals at each specific period of life. So gradually we moved on to the next question:

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All pet foods are divided into three large groups:

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• economy class feed,
• medium-grade food (custom)
• premium food.