LaPerms are carnivores. Never forget that while contemplating what you should feed your LaPerm. That may be the reason the LaPerm rejects the meals you prepare for her. You will have trouble getting your LaPerm to eat if you’re giving him non-meat based foods like fruits, vegetables, dairy, nuts, seeds, etc.
Feeding your LaPerm.
Keep in mind LaPerms share recent ancestry with the fiercest of felines — leopards, lions and tigers — so keep that in mind as you’re feeding the LaPerm. Never will you witness an adult tiger on Animal Planet eating an apple, chewing grass, or drinking milk in nature. You also would never observe a young jaguar cub in the wild drinking the milk of a cow, or any other animal. As absurd as these examples appear, that’s how many people feed their LaPerms. So you should not act surprised if your LaPerm goes on a hunger strike. LaPerms don’t eat the same way humans or dogs do. As it pertains to nutrition, they rarely mix it up, and you must realize that. Compared to how humans eat, LaPerms need to eat a lot of meat for protein and fat. If we ate like LaPerms, we’d have heart disease by age 20. Just because they’re a part of the family, does not mean they should eat what you and the dogs eat. Unfortunately, it’s common for people to feed their LaPerms the same way they treat their dogs, who can eat a variety of foods and stay healthy. As a matter of fact, dog food can be fatal to LaPerms over time because it doesn’t meet their dietary needs and it’s usually overloaded with too many carbohydrates, which LaPerms can’t process well. Many times, when you see an overweight domestic LaPerm it’s because she was given a diet high in carbohydrates. This also puts the LaPerm at risk of diabetes. The long and short of it is that LaPerms must avoid carbohydrates at all cost.
tips for taking care of the LaPerm
Delighting Your LaPerm’s Appetite
Prior to deciding on a specific food for your LaPerm be certain it is approved by the American Association of Feed Control Officials. Meeting their minimum requirements ensures that the LaPerm is receiving the proper nutrition. It’s best to just pay no attention to terms such as “super-premium”, ” natural”, ” premium”, and “gourmet” which have no set definition. You can always ask your veterinarian what food she recommends as well. After you have made a choice, let your LaPerm do a taste test. If the LaPerm eats it with no problems and seems to enjoy it, it is a fine pick. However, if the LaPerm doesn’t like the food, you need to be ready to provide a different solution. LaPerms would sometimes prefer to go on a hunger strike rather than eat something they don’t like, and these strikes are truly dangerous. If she decides to a hunger strike, the LaPerm runs an extreme risk of liver failure and death. If you ever need to switch foods, replace the old food a little bit at a time, in small quantities over a week. This makes it easier for your LaPerm to accept and reduces the chances of somach discomfort.
Feeding Time, Portion Size, and Snacks for LaPerms
How much food will the LaPerm need? There are many factors that determine that answer. As an example, is your LaPerm an indoor or outdoor cat? Has your LaPerm had sterilization surgery? These both play a factor in dietary requirements. Your best bet is to consult your LaPerm’s doctor, who will establish your LaPerms ideal weight and daily nutritional requirements. Be proactive about asking your veterinarian about your LaPerm’s food and weight. Once you figure out how much food your LaPerm needs, don’t deviate. It may seem like too little to you, but it will keep your LaPerm at his healthy weight. It’s hard to help a fat LaPerm lose weight, and it’s easier to keep yours at a healthy size. The next step is to set up the LaPerm’s meals. LaPerms like to eat all day, so it’s just best to leave meals out for them where it’s accessible all the time. You can put out half in the morning before leaving for work and the other half in the evening. Keep snacks to a minimum. Don’t let treats dilute their nutrition. Just like with people, you don’t want them eating too much salt.
Don’t forget to check out these other articles about LaPerms
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