Somalis, like all cats, eat meat. Never forget that when you’re trying to decide which food your Somali should eat. If you stray from her natural diet, your Somali may seem like a picky eater. If you’re giving your her food that is not meat or formulated from meat products, you will have difficulty getting your Somali to eat.
What food you should give to your Somali.
Always keep in mind Somalis share recent ancestry with the largest of cats — cheetahs, lions and tigers — so take that to heart when feeding your Somali. You won’t ever see an adult puma on Animal Planet chewing grass, drinking milk, or eating an apple in the wild. Nor would you see a young tiger cub in the wild drinking the milk of a cow, or any other animal. As outrageous as these examples sound, that’s what many owners feed their Somalis. Don’t act surprised when your Somali goes hungry. Somalis are different from us and different from dogs. As far as their nutrition goes, they rarely mix it up, and you must realize that. Somalis take in almost exclusively proteins and fats in contrast to to omnivores like humans who also need vegetables and fruits. If we ate like Somalis, we’d develop serious health issues at a young age. Although they’re a part of your family, that does not mean they should eat what you and the dogs eat. Unfortunately, it’s common for owners to feed their Somalis the same way they treat dogs, who can eat a variety of foods and remain healthy. Because dog food is mainly carbs, a dog’s diet can be deadly to your Somali if fed continuously. Somalis are not meant to eat carbs because they can’t process them well. Somalis will develop severe obesity issues from carbohydrates, which can eventually lead to diabetes. The long and short of it is that Somalis must avoid carbohydrates at all cost.
care tips for young Somali owners
Satisfying Your Somali’s Appetite
Prior to deciding on a specific food for your Somali make sure it is deemed acceptable by the American Association of Feed Control Officials. Meeting these minimum requirements guarantees that the Somali is getting the required nutrition. Feel free to pay no attention to terms such as “natural”, ” premium”, ” gourmet”, and “super-premium” which have no set definition. Always feel free to ask the veterinarian what food he recommends as well. After you’ve made a choice, give your Somali a taste test. If your Somali enjoys the food and doesn’t have any gastrointestinal issues (such as nausea) afterward, you’ve made a good choice. In contrast, if the Somali doesn’t tolerate the food, you need to be ready to provide a different choice. If your Somali does not tolerate the food you have fed him, a dangerous hunger strike may be imminent. If he decides to a hunger strike, your Somali runs a high risk of death or liver failure at the least. If you ever need to swap foods, bring in the new food gradually, in small amounts over a week. This prevents the Somali from rejecting the new food outright and lessens the risk of upsetting your kitty’s stomach.
Somali Feeding Time, Portion Size, and Snacks
Just how much food will the Somali need? The answer may surprise you. For instance, is your Somali a house cat or a yard cat or both? Has your Somali been sterilized? Answers to both of these questions affect your Somali’s dietary requirements. Your best bet is to consult your doctor, who will determine your Somalis ideal weight and daily nutritional requirements. Take initiative about asking your vet about your Somali’s food and weight. Once you know how much your Somali needs, don’t deviate. Although it seems like it’s not enough, your Somali will get used to it and stay at his healthy weight. For Somalis, it’s hard to lose it once they get fat. Once you’ve gotten this info from your veterinarian, it’s time to plan your Somali’s meals. Somalis like to eat all throughout the day, so it’s just best to leave food 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. Although you may like to give your Somali snacks, do so infrequently. The more snacks they get, the more they might deviate from their core nutrition.
Don’t forget to check out these other articles about Somalis
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