Himalayans eat meat. Never forget that when you’re trying to decide what foods to feed your new Himalayan. That may explain why the Himalayan seems like a picky eater. You can have trouble getting the Himalayan to eat if you’re giving him non-meat based foods like fruits, vegetables, dairy, nuts, seeds, etc.
What to feed your Himalayan?
You must always remember Himalayans share much of their dna with the fiercest of felines — tigers, lions,and leopards, etc. — so take that to heart when feeding the Himalayan. You will not see an adult tiger on Animal Planet eating an apple, drinking milk or chewing grass in the wild. You also would never observe a puma cub in the wild drinking milk from a cow, or any other animal that wasn’t his mother. As outrageous as these examples seem, that’s how many owners feed their Himalayans. So you should not act surprised if your Himalayan goes hungry. Himalayans are not like us and unlike dogs. With respect to their nutrition, they are very inflexible, and owners must always keep this in mind. Himalayans eat almost exclusively proteins and fats as opposed to omnivores like humans who also need fruits and vegetables. If we ate like Himalayans, we’d have serious health issues at a young age. Even Though they’re a member of your family, does not mean they should eat what you and the dogs eat. Quite often, you’ll find owners who feed their Himalayans just like they feed themselves and their dog, even though the Himalayans diet is much more specific. In fact, dog food is fatal to Himalayans over time because it fails to meet their dietary needs and it’s often loaded with carbohydrates, which Himalayans can’t process healthily. Himalayans get extreme obesity problems by eating carbs, which can eventually lead to diabetes. The long and short of it is that Himalayans must avoid carbohydrates at all cost.
important Himalayan care tips
Pleasing Your Himalayan’s Appetite
Be sure any food you purchase for the Himalayan satisifies the requirements prescribed by the American Association of Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). That guarantees that the food meets at least the basic dietary needs of your Himalayan. Pay no attention to marketing “hype” terms like “natural”, ” premium”, ” super-premium”, and “gourmet”, as there is no standard that defines them. You can always ask the doctor what food she recommends as well. Once you’ve decided on the best food, it’s time to let your Himalayan give the go ahead. If the Himalayan eats it with no issues and seems to relish it, it is a good pick. If your Himalayan does not seem to tolerate it, however, it’s time to go back to square 1. Himalayans would sometimes prefer to go on a hunger strike as opposed to eat food they don’t tolerate, and such strikes are truly harmful. If she ever decides to a hunger strike, the Himalayan runs a high risk of liver failure at a minimum and at worst death. If you ever decide to switch foods, replace the old food a little at a time, in small amounts over about a week. This helps prevent your Himalayan from rejecting the new food outright and lessens the risk of upsetting your kitty’s stomach.
Himalayan Feeding Time, Snacks, and Portion Size
How much should you feed your Himalayan? It depends on some elements you might not expect. As an example, is your Himalayan an indoor or outdoor cat? Has your Himalayan had sterilization surgery? These both play a role in nutritional requirements. The solution is to seek a recommendation from the veterinarian, who will help you define your Himalayan’s best weight and daily dietary requirements. Once you find out how much food your Himalayan needs, stick to the plan. Although it seems like it’s not enough, your Himalayan will get used to it and settle at his healthy weight. For Himalayans, it’s hard to shed extra weight once they get overweight. Once you’ve gotten this info from the vet, it’s time to set up your Himalayan’s meals. Himalayans like to eat small meals or snacks during the day, so plan to leave bowls out so she can eat whenever hunger strikes. You can put out half in the am before leaving for work and the other half when you return. Keep snacks to a minimum. The more treats they eat, the less room they’ll have for their real dietary requirements.
Don’t forget to check out these other articles about Himalayans
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