A balanced diet is the key to the health and full development of kittens. The digestive organs are just beginning to develop, so you should pay attention to the correct transition to adult food. Sour-milk products, including cheese, help solve many important issues of intensive growth of a pet.
The health benefits of cheese for kittens
Cheese is a fermented milk product rich in vitamin and minerals, is well absorbed by the digestive system, and is useful for an intensively growing kitten's body. The fermented milk product contains high-grade protein, which is necessary for the development of muscle mass of the “predator in miniature”. Milk fat not only serves as a source of energy for moving kittens, but also preserves fat-soluble vitamins, and also improves the condition of the coat.
Calcium, which is rich in any kind of cheese, is responsible for the formation of strong bones and a moving spine, healthy teeth and sharp claws. An important macrocell is absorbed worse from cheese than from cottage cheese. Should we give kittens cheese for lure or can we limit ourselves to cottage cheese? Compared to cottage cheese or chicken eggs, cheese is more balanced in minerals and vitamins, which compensates for reduced absorption of calcium.
In the first weeks of life, the immunity of furry babies is supported by the protective properties of colostrum. Turning to adult nutrition, care should be taken about the intake of vitamins and minerals into the body of the animal. Regular feeding of cheese will provide kittens with vitamins C, A, E and choline, which will support the development of their own immunity. Phosphorus, potassium and other minerals will ensure the normal development of the organs and nervous system of the pet.
How to check a kitten for lactose tolerance
Kittens like the taste of milk and cheese, but can they be included in complementary foods? In the first months of life, feeding the kittens with milk and dairy products does not create any serious problems. As you grow older, difficulties arise with the absorption of lactose, which leads to an upset stomach or diarrhea. Therefore, in the diet of adult cats leave only sour-milk products containing less milk sugar.
Complete lactose intolerance in cats is rare. Therefore, problems with feeding kittens with cheese arise in case of insufficient amount of enzymes necessary for the absorption of milk sugar. So that after the eaten goodies, the pet does not have difficulties with digestion, and he does not spend time in the toilet tray, you should make sure in advance that there is no lactose intolerance.
To check, it is enough to feed the kitten with a small amount of cheese, and look at the response of the body. If he does not show signs of discomfort and visits the toilet tray no more often than usual, then his digestive system successfully copes with lactose. Only in this case can cheese and other dairy products be included in the diet of complementary foods.
When can I use cheese to feed kittens?
In the second month of life, mustachioed babies begin to gradually accustom to adult food. In this regard, veterinarians are often asked the question: “Is it possible to give little kittens cheese?”. In addition to meat or fish, pets in the form of complementary foods should receive fermented milk products, at the rate of 20-60 gr. per kilogram of own weight. Soft cheese is allowed to be added to feeding from the first feeding, but not more than twice a week and in limited quantities.
When the kittens turn one and a half months old, hard cheeses should be added to the diet of complementary foods. A piece of the delicacy should be grated on a coarse grater so that there are no difficulties during feeding. Starting from 4 months of life, you can feed low-fat dairy products:
sour cream;
cottage cheese;
kefir;
yogurt;
yogurt;
low-fat varieties of cheese.
Cheese cannot serve as the main source of nutrition for kittens, even if the digestive system copes well with it. The stomach of a growing pet is sensitive to large amounts of fat. Excess cheese in the diet causes diarrhea or constipation. To avoid severe digestive disorders, add Suluguni, Edam or other low-fat cheeses to kittens.
To increase shelf life and enhance palatability, a significant amount of salt is added to cheeses. Excessive intake of sodium in the body leads to a violation of the water balance, which is fraught with harmful consequences for the health of the pet. Adding cheese to the kitten’s diet should give preference to the Adyghe or Swiss cheese. It is less likely to feed with curd cheeses or feta cheese, which, despite the soft texture, are rich in salt content.
To add flavor to cheese, manufacturing technology involves the addition of spices and herbs. Among the seasonings, onions and garlic are the most popular. Once in the body of a small kitten, these plants can provoke the death of red blood cells, which poses a threat to healthy development. In addition, popular condiments are extremely toxic. The developing digestive organs of kittens are very tender, so it is necessary to ensure that the cheese is not expired or of poor quality.
Adding a cheap sort of cheese to your food can harm kittens. Almost all cheeses of a low price category contain various preservatives and stabilizers, as well as dyes. All these additives cause serious harm to the intestines and liver of kittens, in addition, chemicals form carcinogens and heavy metals. Using cheese as a complementary food, you should make sure that the delicacy will be clean from various additives and will not cause the disease of a beloved pet.
Despite all the useful qualities of cheese, its share in feeding kittens should be minimal. When giving a pet a serving of cheese as a treat or as a reward for training, it is necessary to observe a measure so as not to harm the health of the kitten.
