If you have recently had your Maine Coon cat neutered and are wondering what type of food to choose for them, it’s important to consider the specific dietary needs of neutered cats. Neutering can lead to changes in a cat’s behavior and hormonal balance, often resulting in reduced calorie and energy requirements. Furthermore, neutered cats are at higher risk of obesity and may encounter heart problems and urinary tract issues due to reduced activity levels and altered eating habits.
There are three feeding options available for neutered cats: homemade food, dry balanced commercial diets, and wet balanced commercial diets.
Homemade food requires carefully balancing the nutrients and evaluating the nutritional content to ensure that your cat receives a well-rounded diet. Protein-rich foods like meat, fish, and cottage cheese should not exceed 30% of the overall diet, while “complex” carbohydrates such as wheat or buckwheat, pumpkin, and carrots should make up at least 70%. Fat content should not exceed 5%, as it is typically provided by the meat, fish, or cheese. Pay special attention to fats and “simple” carbohydrates like sugar and oats, as they may contribute to obesity in neutered cats.
However, it can be challenging to provide a varied and balanced homemade diet for cats. It requires combining multiple ingredients to ensure proper portions, which can be complicated and time-consuming. The advantages of homemade food include the ability to prepare it with love and care, but disadvantages include the difficulty of convincing cats to eat properly prepared meals, constant portion calculation, regular cooking, and making sure that remaining food doesn’t spoil in the bowl.
Dry balanced commercial diets, on the other hand, offer pre-formulated cat food with an ideal balance of protein, fat, and carbohydrates, as well as essential minerals and vitamins. These diets are specially designed to take into account the unique needs of neutered cats. Super premium brands often include added components to prevent obesity and urinary tract diseases, such as L-carnitine to suppress obesity and improve heart function, and taurine to prevent urinary stones in cats. The benefits of dry balanced commercial diets include the convenience of pre-portioned meals indicated on the packaging based on your cat’s weight and age, along with its ease of use for travel. However, it’s essential to purchase these diets on time to prevent the cat from going hungry and store them in airtight containers to maintain freshness.
Wet balanced commercial diets are a similar option to their dry counterparts, with the only difference being the moisture content in the portions. Cats generally enjoy wet food due to its softer texture, making it appealing for picky neutered cats. The benefits include its nutritional value while being convenient and tasty. However, any leftover wet food should be stored in a closed container in the refrigerator to maintain freshness.
It’s important to note that it’s best to feed your cat a combination of both dry and wet food from the same manufacturer. Mixing homemade food with commercial diets, whether dry or wet, can lead to imbalances in the cat’s digestive system, potentially resulting in chronic gastritis, pancreatitis, or enterocolitis.
When feeding your neutered Maine Coon with dry food, it’s crucial to follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for daily portion sizes based on the cat’s weight and age, which are often included on the packaging. Divide the daily portion into 2-3 meals throughout the day. Ensure that any open bags of dry food are properly stored in airtight containers, away from light and air. If transitioning from homemade food to dry food, do so gradually over the course of 7-10 days, gradually reducing the portion of homemade food and increasing the dry food portion until the complete switch is achieved.
When transitioning from natural to dry food, it is important to do so gradually over a period of 7-10 days. During this period, you should gradually decrease the portion of regular food and increase the portion of dry food.
If your neutered pet is already suffering from obesity, it is recommended to reduce the recommended food portion to the lower end of the normal range.
By following these guidelines, you will ensure the health and ideal weight of your sterilized pet!
Do not forget to engage your cat in various activities and games to promote physical activity.
Feed correctly and enjoy quality time with your beloved Maine Coon!