Fermented milk product is traditionally included in the human diet. The pet also often asks to try it. And then the owners wonder whether cats can be given kefir or whether it could be harmful. The product is made by adding a starter consisting of yeast fungi to milk. It includes:
- lactic acid streptococci, which are active lactic acid enzymes;
- acetic acid bacteria that synthesize vitamin B32;
- living elements and yeast feeding on lactose and lactic acid bacteria;
- vitamins, primarily A, D, E, K.
When entering the gastrointestinal tract, lactic acid bacteria have a probiotic effect, ensuring the formation of beneficial microflora. Micro- and macroelements are useful to any living organism. It also contains calcium, which promotes the formation of bone tissue, stimulates the functioning of the circulatory system, fluoride, and iron, which is useful for the formation of blood. A rich set of microelements ensures that the answer to the question of whether kefir can be given to cats will be positive.
About the product kefir
Kefir is a fermented milk product that is obtained from milk after fermentation. To prepare the drink, a special starter is added to the milk, which is a combination of beneficial bacteria and yeast. The starter contains:
- lactic acid streptococci - a source of active digestive enzymes;
- acetic acid bacteria - actively develop in milk and are capable of synthesizing vitamin B32;
- yeast and other living elements that feed on lactose, lactic acid sugar;
- vitamins A, D, E, K.
Important!
There are more B vitamins in kefir than in milk.
Live lactic acid cultures enter the pet’s body when consuming kefir. When moving through the digestive tract, some of them die from the aggressive effects of gastric juice, but the other part penetrates the intestines and has a probiotic effect, promoting the active development of beneficial microflora. In addition, kefir:
- stimulates appetite well;
- quenches thirst (but cannot and should not replace fresh water, which should always be in the cat’s bowl);
- activates intestinal motility;
- tones the nervous system and blood vessels;
- has an immunomodulatory effect.
Feeding a kitten food according to age
From the day they are born until they are one month old, kittens feed exclusively on their mother's milk. If for some reason the kitten is fed artificially, cat's milk replacer, infant formula, goat's or cow's milk can be used as the main food. For kittens who have not had the opportunity to drink colostrum, special mixtures containing egg yolk, white, yeast and glucose are prepared.
Until the age of one month, until the kittens open their eyes and become interested in the smells of other food, supplementary feeding is strictly not recommended. Even at 4 weeks, when babies have baby teeth, they are not able to chew hard food.
Remember! Any supplementary food introduced into the diet of a one-month-old kitten must be soft and have a protein base.
Feeding a kitten with food at 1–2 months
If you are firmly convinced that you will feed your kitten commercial food, you should use the following as the first supplementary food:
- Cat milk replacer or formula that is diluted thicker than usual. The mixture is poured into a saucer so that the kitten learns to lap.
- By 1–1.5 months of age, pates are introduced into the kitten’s diet. To stimulate your pet's appetite, the pate needs to be warmed up a little or diluted with hot water.
Important! Any food that a kitten receives between 1 and 2 months of age should be soft or liquid.
2–4 months – start of complementary feeding with soaked food
At 2-3 months of age, the kitten begins to eat more complementary foods and gradually refuses mother's milk or pacifiers. You will understand that you can introduce soaked dry food into your baby’s diet when the kitten:
- Learn to lap with confidence.
- Will begin to drink water - until about 3 months of age, kittens drink very reluctantly, since they get enough water with milk.
- He will begin to chew on toys, which indicates that the gums need stress.
Dry food is soaked according to the following scheme:
- We measure out the required portion of food.
- Fill with hot water or low-fat broth.
- We wait 10–15 minutes for the granules to absorb moisture and become soft.
- Grind the warm, soaked granules with a fork.
- Mix soaked dry food with canned food or wet food.
Note! The addition of soaked dry food at the age of 3–4 months should be minimal, no more than 10–30% of the total food portion
Feeding a kitten with food at 5–6 months
In the process of mixing soaked dry food over the course of a month, its proportion increases to 50% of the total daily requirement. If the kitten is formed within the framework of the standards, from 4 to 5 months it will begin to change teeth. During this period, it is strictly not recommended to start complementary feeding with dry food without soaking.
By the age of six months, when the kitten’s primary incisors and fangs change, the diet can be divided into wet and dry. The primary proportion of admixture is reduced to a minimum (10–30%). Dry food is given at one of the feedings, usually during the day. During the first stages of transfer, it is necessary to strictly ensure that the kitten drinks water.
6–7 months – start of transition to dry food
As your pet grows and gets used to dry food, increase its mass share in the daily food intake to 50%. If you leave dry food in a bowl, your baby will be more willing to snack on it when he gets hungry.
Closely monitor the quality of the coat and the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract with each increase in the mass fraction of dry food in the diet. You should be alert to any symptoms of indigestion and constipation.
By 7 months of age, kittens on a natural diet significantly expand their taste range. Owners who decide to keep their pet on a commercial diet need to decide on the brand of food and the subsequent feeding strategy.
Feeding a kitten with food at 8–12 months
From 8 to 15 months of age, cats become adults. Such a wide range is due to the characteristics of the breeds and individual factors associated with the formation of kittens. When your pet is 8–9 months old, you must finally decide on the type of feeding and class of food.
If you decide to follow the general recommendations and continue to feed your kitten dry and wet food at the same time, there is no need to change anything. With mixed feeding, the kitten should receive 70–80% dry and 20–30% wet norm per day. If you decide to switch your pet to exclusively dry food, the mass fraction of wet food gradually decreases and is reduced to zero.
Features of use
Kefir contains a large number of micro- and macroelements necessary for every living organism, including pets:
- calcium is a material for the “construction” of the skeleton, ensures the functioning of the nervous system and heart;
- fluoride – stimulates the functioning of the hematopoietic system;
- iron is one of the most important elements of blood and other components.
Considering the rich composition of nutrients in the fermented milk drink, we can say with confidence: kefir can be given to cats. And, since it is not whole milk, even with lactase deficiency, cats can drink kefir.
Important!
Some cats have an allergic reaction to cow's milk protein. Since the basis of kefir is whole milk, kefir can also have a negative effect on the pet’s body, manifested by skin reactions and itching.
Benefits for weight loss
Ryazhenka can be used as one of the main products for fasting days. If you think that cleansing will not harm your body, then build your menu on small portions of vegetables and fish, and also add 3-5 glasses of fermented baked milk per day. Try to choose a drink with low fat content.
Personally, I prefer gradual weight loss, which is gentler on the body than intense fasting. Just drink a glass of sour milk as a snack, or instead of a heavy dinner. This will speed up metabolism, remove toxins, and the energy value of fermented baked milk will help satisfy hunger.
How to properly include kefir in a cat's menu
Kefir is a food, not a drink. It contains many nutrients, which strengthen the immune system and slow down the aging of the body. Thanks to the calcium contained in the drink, your cat will have beautiful fur, strong teeth and claws. However, you need to give your cat kefir correctly.
When choosing milk products for your cat, you should pay attention to their fat content. Pets should not be given fermented milk products with a fat content of more than 9%: not all animals tolerate them well. In sensitive cats, high-fat kefir and sour cream can cause loose stools. For the same reason, it is not recommended to give cats sour cream, cream and yoghurts with sugar and fruit. The optimal product is kefir with a fat content of 3.5%.
You should not give your pet fresh kefir just brought from the store. It contains ethyl alcohol, which is very harmful to the animal's body. It takes at least 48-72 hours for it to evaporate, so the purchased package must be opened and kept in this form for at least two days.
Kefir contains a lot of carbohydrates (4 g per 100 g of product), so it is not recommended to give it often to animals prone to obesity. This is a complete food, but giving kefir often is also not worth it. 2-3 times a week is enough, and your pet’s body will receive the required amount of beneficial microorganisms and nutrients.
Cats often do not know when to stop when it comes to their favorite treat. But for an adult animal, a serving of 50 g is enough, otherwise intestinal upset is possible. You cannot replace a cat’s complete diet with kefir or other fermented milk products: they should only be useful additions to a balanced diet.
Important!
Do not add salt or sugar to kefir. These products are strictly prohibited for cats.
Older animals digest dairy and fermented milk products less well. Consuming kefir can cause diarrhea or flatulence in your cat. In these cases, it is better not to give her fermented milk products.
How to properly plan your pet's diet
It is better to entrust such a troublesome task to professionals and opt for high-quality ready-made cat food. In them, manufacturers monitor the balance of all components. Four-legged pets need not only meat rich in proteins, carbohydrates and fats on their menu, but also vegetables, vitamins and microelements.
If breeders prefer home-produced food, then you need to know some subtleties:
- Only dietary meat or offal can be given.
- Fish, such as halibut, must be cooked; You can pour boiling water over the chicken.
- It is not recommended to give pasteurized milk to small kittens. High lactose content will cause indigestion. But natural goat milk is very healthy.
- Cabbage, carrots, and pumpkin are desirable in the diet in raw form. But eggplants can lead to death.
- It is strictly forbidden to feed cats potatoes. The starch contained in the culture will lead to serious illnesses.
Monitoring your pet's diet is not at all difficult. Cats quickly get used to a certain menu and will happily eat the same foods. Fresh water must be constantly available.
The effect of “young” and “old” kefir
Depending on the age of the fermented milk product, it affects the body in different ways. If no more than three days have passed since production, it is called young and can have a laxative effect on the body and normalize intestinal function. "Old" kefir - more than three days old - has the opposite effect and may be useful for ongoing diarrhea.
Important!
Two-day kefir should not be given to a cat with a peptic ulcer during an exacerbation, and three-day kefir should not be given to a cat with increased acidity of gastric juice and chronic kidney disease.
Important!
A mild laxative medicine can be made from kefir by adding 1 teaspoon of any odorless vegetable oil to half a glass of the drink.
Another important point is that three-day kefir accumulates a huge number of different microorganisms, some of which will be dangerous for pets. And if the cat has not finished eating it, leaving kefir in the bowl is prohibited - within a few hours pathogenic microflora will actively develop in it. Therefore, you should make it a rule: give it a little at a time, and if the cat has not eaten the kefir, you need to remove it.
Stages of the disease
Stage one. Initial.
At this stage, the symptoms of renal failure appear blurred and dim. The main place is occupied by the symptoms of the disease that caused PN.
Stage two. Oligoanuric.
Characterized by complete or partial cessation of urination. The animal is depressed, refuses food, and drinks large amounts of liquid.
The general body temperature may slightly increase by 0.5-1 degrees or be decreased.
Blood pressure is increased. Uremia develops, which is why the pet experiences vomiting, drowsiness, weakness, tachycardia, impaired inhalation and exhalation (shortness of breath), edema, anemia and general intoxication of the body.
Stage three. Restoration of diuresis.
Occurs in sick animals whose treatment was started in a timely manner. Urination is gradually restored, traces of blood are still visible in the urine, and the pet continues to feel weak and consume excess fluid.
Stage four. Recovery.
Complete recovery is observed 2-4 months after the start of treatment, after 2-3 weeks the symptomatic manifestation of the disease goes away.
Guarantee of health
The gastrointestinal tract of animals is more sensitive than that of people, and they definitely need to choose a balanced diet, because the pet’s health, mood, and appearance depend on it. In specialized stores you can find a lot of healthy treats, nutritional supplements and complementary foods for cats, as well as balanced formulations. To choose the right food based on breed, age and health status, many turn to specialists for help.
As a rule, only dry food in a cat’s diet is quite enough. You can pamper your pet with canned cat food and other treats, but it is not advisable to give your cat natural products.
