IRRTUM 1: Dry food is bad for cats
Many people think that dry food is not as good for cats as wet food. One thing is clear: cats get much less water from dry food. Animals that are mainly fed dry food should therefore like to drink a lot. A plus point for dry food: cats have to chew more. They eat more slowly and therefore often find eating more satisfying.
IRRTUM 2: Cat food always freely available
Cats do not eat out of boredom. That's why the bowl can always be full. A popular prejudice that is not true. There are indeed cats that do not know how much food is good for them. The fact that they quickly become too fat is one thing. The fact that too much food cannot be digested well is another. More importantly, however, your cat's urine will become more alkaline as a result of a meal. Only by taking sufficiently long breaks from eating will it return to the acidic range. And this is important for dissolving urinary stones, which can lead to bladder infections. So if you only feed your cat at fixed mealtimes - preferably several times a day in small portions - you are making an important contribution to its health.
IRRTUM 3: Raw meat is species-appropriate for cats
Many cat lovers believe that "barfing" comes closest to a cat's natural diet. The fact is that there is a lot you can do wrong when putting it together if you are not a nutrition specialist. Cats need proteins, fats, carbohydrates, minerals, vitamins, micronutrients and trace elements to meet their nutritional requirements. The essential amino acid taurine is also extremely important for cats. All these ingredients must be precisely balanced in quantity when barfing or added when feeding raw meat. A science in itself. If something is forgotten or miscalculated, it can lead to deficiency symptoms. Better to give your cat high-quality cat food. Because it contains everything your cat needs for a healthy life.
IRRTUM 4: Cats can be fed a vegetarian/vegan diet
What works for dogs also works for cats? Not quite true. Dogs are omnivores. Cats, on the other hand, are carnivores. Both their digestive system and their metabolism are adapted to animal food as a source of nutrition. Of course, there is nothing wrong with vegan snacks or vegetarian meals for in-between meals if your cat likes them. However, experts agree that cats cannot utilize 100% of the protein from plants. This means that there is no basis for feeding cats a completely and exclusively plant-based diet.
IRRTUM 5: Supplementation is never a mistake
Food supplements are recommended in many cases. During coat changes, in winter, during stress. But caution is advised here. Food supplements are far less harmless than they sound. For example, when supplementing with calcium, you also need to take into account how much phosphorus your cat consumes. Vitamin A should not be given indefinitely. It can accumulate in the body and damage bones and joints. And even vitamin C, which is considered harmless, can be toxic in excess. As long as your cat is healthy and fit, has no allergies or other illnesses, it will get everything it needs from a high-quality food. Additives should not be given lightly and their dosage should always be agreed with your vet.
IRRTUM 6: Cats love fish
Fish is a typical cat meal. Fish adorn bowls and food trays. You could almost think that fish is the most natural of all cat foods. This is not quite the case. Fish actually contains very valuable and important nutrients. However, uncooked fish also contains thiaminase, an enzyme that destroys the B vitamin thiamine. In the long term, this leads to loss of appetite, seizures and much more in cats. Although thiamine can be inactivated by cooking, too much fish leads to an undersupply of minerals and vitamins. So if you want to spoil your cat with fish, ready-made wet food with fish content is the best option.
IRRTUM 7: Cat and dog food is the same thing
What seems absurd to a cat lover is not so unusual in a mixed household with cats and dogs. Why go to the trouble of buying two types of food? Yes, there are actually good reasons for this. Because: both types of food are optimally adapted to the respective species. Dog food contains less protein and fat than cat food. In addition, no additional taurine is added, which is needed to a greater extent for cats. Dog food therefore leads to deficiency symptoms in your velvet paw in the long term and can seriously damage its health.
Feeding cats a healthy diet is not rocket science. You can find everything your pet needs for a species-appropriate cat life in the shops. So there's no need to experiment. Just like the worst nutritional mistakes.