The aim of the B-Sc. Thesis is to present the advantages and disadvantages of raw cat food, as more and more cat owners are opting for raw meals. The first part of the thesis deals with the nutritional needs of cats and their digestion. It is well known that cats are carnivores that require a high proportion of animal proteins and fats and few carbohydrates in their diet. They are unable to synthesize certain amino acids and are particularly sensitive to the lack of taurine and arginine, so they need to obtain these from their diet. Raw food consists of animal products — meat, bones and organs that are not heat-treated. We can feed different types of meat to provide variety at mealtimes. It is better to cook carbohydrate sources and fiber. Among the advantages of raw feeding, we observe effects such as good appetite, shiny coat, cleaner teeth, good digestion, and smaller amounts of feces. These advantages are primarily based on the opinions of pet owners and are not scientifically proven.The most common mistakes in raw feeding are mainly unbalanced meals and the lack of individual nutrients. The most common are an incorrect ratio of calcium to phosphorus, excessive amounts of vitamins A and D and a lack of minerals. Since raw meat is used, good hygiene must also be ensured, as pathogenic microorganisms can infect both the cat and members of our household. The best known infections are those caused by salmonella and E. coli bacteria. In the last part of the paper, we briefly described and presented examples of raw meals for healthy adult cats.
|
