推 lavenderbeth:樓上 XDDD 61.62.245.72 09/11 12:54
→ FattyChin:哈哈哈 一樓XDDD 114.32.88.85 09/11 15:06
The Problems with Free Feeding View PDF
By Shane E. Somerville, All The Best Pet Care
Is your kitty overweight, lethargic and listless? Is he picky about new
foods, especially canned goodies? If your cat has a big bowl of dry food
available at all times, he may show some or all of these symptoms indicative
of improper feeding. Many people free-feed dry food to their cats due to its
convenience, or out of the worry that their kitty will be hungry while they’
re out and about. In fact, free-feeding can actually undermine your cat’s
health and impair his natural biological cycle.
Cats in the wild are biologically identical to our domesticated feline
friends, so we must look to Mother Nature to determine how to best feed our
own housecats. A feral or wild cat operates on a twelve hour hunting cycle,
give or take a few hours, with periods of rest in between each hunt. This
regular cycle allows the cat’s stomach to empty itself of food while
resting, and divert energy to the other parts of the body that need healing.
This can include areas of bruises and bumps, cuts and scrapes, or even
regenerative organs such as the liver which may be affected by disease. When
cats have continual access to food their body stays in the digesting stage,
and does not direct therapeutic energy to the rest of the body. This can
result in a cat that appears healthy on the outside, but may be suffering
from a depressed immune system, low white blood cell count or reduced organ
function.
Another drawback to free-feeding is pickiness. So often we hear of cats that
refuse to try new foods, usually canned options, and these cats are very
often accustomed to having a big bowl of their favorite dry food available at
all times. When their preferred meal choice is right in front of them, cats
have little incentive to try something unknown that they may not like as
much. Additionally, the grazing habit they have adopted has not allowed
their stomachs to properly empty in the natural gorge and fast cycle, and
they are lacking the important sensation of hunger. Ending the free-feeding
cycle is a major component in successfully transitioning cats to new foods,
and owners usually have a much easier time getting their cat to eat a new
food simply by switching to scheduled, metered feedings before rotating in
new food options. Our “Variety and Rotation” handout illustrates why
changing foods on a regular basis is so important for all pets.
Obesity and diabetes are two major health problems that have been linked with
free-feeding. All too many cats graze throughout the day when food is left
out, and eat more than their daily caloric requirement. With dry food-only
diets already being a major contributor to feline weight gain, this grazing
habit only serves to push cats further towards health-compromising levels of
obesity. Because of the known correlation between obesity and diabetes,
overweight cats become at risk for developing this condition which is also
brought on or aggravated by an abundance of dry foods. These carbohydrates
turn to sugar in the body and cause spikes in the blood sugar levels which
can increase the need for sugar-regulating insulin. The good news is that
both of these serious and life-threatening conditions can quite often be
easily prevented or regulated through diet change. Please see our “Why We
Like Canned Food” handout for more information on why canned food is so
vital to your pet’s overall health and well-being -- and not just for chubby
kitties.
Worried about a day out of town? At times when you may be away overnight, a
larger bowlful of food is fine, but don’t let it dictate your day-to-day
feedings. Keep your cat’s best interests at heart and help him eat right,
stay fit, and live a longer and healthier life with regular twice-a-day
feedings.
以上這篇文章是在說為什麼要採取定時制...
有人要翻譯這篇文章麻??
--
※ 發信站: 批踢踢實業坊(ptt.cc)
◆ From: 67.168.72.187