Can cats and cats be given potatoes?

Most owners consider their cats to be natural predators who prefer to eat meat or fish. Owners of thoroughbred animals are more careful in drawing up the ration of their pets, understanding the price of a possible fatal error of improper feeding. But often smaller friends themselves give clues as to what they would like to eat. Attentive and caring owners just need to monitor the behavior of their pets, timely and judiciously responding to their needs and wishes.

Raw potatoes

Many cats love to eat raw potatoes, but an exorbitant amount can be a source of problems that adversely affect the life of a domestic predator. A large amount of starch clogs the stomach and promotes bloating, in which the pet may need the help of a veterinary clinic professional due to an upset stomach or high fever due to disruption of the intestinal tract.

At the same time, clean and peeled potatoes contain potassium, fiber and copper, which favorably affects the condition of the animal’s coat, muscle mass and digestive system. All trace elements contained in potatoes are relevant for cats of all ages, because during the reproductive period they strengthen the muscular system, and at the age they improve the vision and scent of the animal.

Based on research by scientists, many feed manufacturers specifically add chopped potatoes to concentrated feed in order to diversify the diet of their potential consumers. Today, on the shelves of specialized stores you can even find food for animals suffering from gluten allergy. In such situations, potatoes are processed using a special technique that removes starch, while retaining other beneficial properties.

Cooked potatoes

Veterinarians urge cat owners to remember that the best option is to include cooked potatoes in moderate doses in the diet. The optimal norm is 1-2 tablespoons per week, while it is worth observing simple rules:

1. Young boiled or baked potatoes contain a minimal amount of starch, so it is ideal for feeding an animal.
2. Do not spice up the dish with salt or seasonings, because this is fraught with the development of urolithiasis in animals.
3. Old potatoes must be peeled, soaked in water and cut into small pieces or crushed to a homogeneous mass, after which it can be mixed with canned meat.
4. In no case should greening tubers or sprouts be given to the animal, because they contain solanine, which is poison for cats.
5. You can’t mix potatoes with balanced dry food, because it will upset the animal’s nutritional balance, and in addition, the additive will reduce the smell of the feed pellets, making them uninteresting for a predator accustomed to relying on their scent.

Why is the cat asking for potatoes?

Many pets can claim potatoes themselves, but in this case, the owners need to be extremely careful and attentive. Such impulses indicate a lack of certain microelements in the body of the beast, and only the help of a professional employee of the veterinary clinic will help to solve the problem.

If there is no opportunity to get a consultation, it is worth observing the behavior and condition of the animal after eating prohibited foods. Excess starch can cause flatulence, in which case it is worth revising the nutritional image of a little friend, protecting him from health problems.

In rare cases, when the use of potatoes is strictly prohibited, you can replace it with cereal crops. They are included in most dry foods, and fill the balance of fiber and other useful trace elements.

When compiling a diet for small kittens, it’s better not to improvise, taking the help of professionals, because the consequences of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract in babies can be fatal and inhibit the full development and growth of the animal.

Video: 10 foods that cats cannot be fed