Vegetables help digest food, increase the absorption of protein, deliver the necessary vitamins and minerals to the body. But not all vegetables are good for a cat, some are dangerous and toxic. So that the animal does not have an eating disorder, you need to choose the right vegetable menu for it, as well as properly prepare vegetables for consumption.
HOW TO GIVE VEGETABLES TO CATS?
The most valuable vegetable for a pet is fiber. It has no nutrients and is not digested, but without it it is almost impossible to remove swallowed wool from the stomach, improves digestion, and establishes regular stools. Also, vegetables are a source of moisture, which is especially important, because not all cats like to drink clean water.
A healthy animal eats about 10 percent of vegetables, if the animal is overweight, then it is worth increasing the proportion of vegetables in the diet to 20 percent. Due to the high content of plant fibers, the feeling of fullness comes much faster. Cats can be given fresh vegetables, or frozen ones can be used in the diet.
Proper processing means:
- Rinsing with cold water, peeling, removing seeds;
cooking. In this case, seasonings and salt should not be added, as they can knock down the metabolism. Fresh vegetables can be cooked in meat broth, frozen ones are best not boiled, but steamed; - Grinding. If the vegetables are given fresh, then they need to be grated, if boiled, then they can be
- Rubbed through a sieve or chopped with a blender;
- Cooking. Broth, meat, and olive oil are added to vegetables so that fat-soluble vitamins are absorbed.
- Cats will not eat vegetables alone, but if this happened, it is also not useful for the animal, just like not eating vegetables at all.
WHAT VEGETABLES ARE GOOD FOR CATS?
In the diet of a cat, you can include:
- Carrot. It contains beta-carotene, which synthesizes vitamin A. It is not destroyed by heat treatment, so carrots can be given boiled;
- Zucchini. It contains iron and antioxidants, as well as soft fiber, which, without irritating the intestines, promotes the digestion of food;
- Pumpkin. Contains carnitine, which burns fat, builds muscle mass, renews the mucous membranes of the gastrointestinal tract;
- Beet. Thanks to dietary fiber, it improves the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, contains many vitamins that are not destroyed after cooking;
- Broccoli. Contains vitamins B, C, K and others;
- Cucumber. Promotes the absorption of protein;
- Green bean. Low-calorie, contains a whole complex of minerals;
- Cauliflower. Contains many vitamins, easy to digest;
- Salad. It has a lot of calcium, it also improves liver function;
- Greens. Improves the functioning of the genitourinary system.
- If the cat refuses to eat vegetables, you can add bran to the diet, as well as grow wheat, barley or oats for her right on the windowsill.
RULES OF VEGETABLE FEEDING
Vegetable food does not interfere with fermented milk products and is not given in large pieces. Do not feed your pet with off-season vegetables, as well as pickled, salted or fried. If you feed the animal with ready-made store-bought food, then he does not need vegetables.
Not all vegetables are healthy for cats, so if you are used to preparing vegetable mixture for your pet, be sure to read its composition.
Cats should not be given white cabbage, onions, garlic, avocados, raw or boiled potatoes, eggplants and tomatoes, any legumes, rhubarb and sorrel. The ingress of these vegetables into animal feed can not only cause digestive problems, but also real poisoning.