你喂貓的方法可能是錯(cuò)的

你喂貓的方法可能是錯(cuò)的

Feeding time for most cat owners occurs in a few ways. The first involves cracking open a bag or container of food, and the cat you couldn't find comes running, ready to chow down. The second is an automated feeder that dispenses the food at a preset time, and your cat has learned the time and sits next to it, waiting. The last one is your cat meowing endlessly in your ear on a Saturday morning when all you want to do is sleep an extra hour.

對(duì)大多數(shù)貓主人來(lái)說(shuō)，喂食時(shí)間有幾種方式。第一種是打開(kāi)一個(gè)裝食物的袋子或容器，你找不到的那只貓跑過(guò)來(lái)準(zhǔn)備吃東西。第二種是自動(dòng)喂食器，它可以在預(yù)設(shè)的時(shí)間分發(fā)食物，你的貓已經(jīng)知道了時(shí)間，就坐在它旁邊等待。最后一個(gè)是，在周六的早晨你的貓無(wú)休止地在你耳邊喵喵叫，而你最想做的就是多睡一個(gè)小時(shí)。

None of these methods, however, are all that good for your feline friend — at least that's the word from the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP). This group of veterinarians focused on cats' medical needs has released a consensus statement in the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery that explains exactly how we should be feeding our cats, particularly with an emphasis on managing behavioral issues.

然而，所有這些方法對(duì)你的貓朋友都沒(méi)有那么好-至少這是美國(guó)女性從業(yè)者協(xié)會(huì)(AAFP)的說(shuō)法。這個(gè)專門關(guān)注貓的醫(yī)療需求的獸醫(yī)小組在“菲林醫(yī)學(xué)與外科雜志”上發(fā)表了一份共識(shí)聲明，解釋了我們應(yīng)該如何喂養(yǎng)我們的貓，還特別強(qiáng)調(diào)了管理行為問(wèn)題。

"Appropriate feeding programs need to be customized for each household," Tammy Sadek, the statement's chairperson, said in a press release, "and should incorporate the needs of all cats for play, predation and a location to eat and drink where they feel safe."

該聲明的主席塔米薩德克(Tammy Sadek)在一份新聞稿中說(shuō)：“需要為每個(gè)家庭量身定制合適的喂養(yǎng)方案，并應(yīng)考慮到所有貓咪對(duì)玩耍、捕食，以及它們覺(jué)得安全的吃喝場(chǎng)所的需要。”

The AAFP explains that most indoor cats receive one or two large meals a day, often without consideration of the cat's actual energy requirements, and normally only at the same spot in the household. Pile on the fact that "modern pet food is highly palatable and easy to eat rapidly," and you have a recipe for an obese cat who stress eats only to run back to a safe space to vomit.

AAFP解釋說(shuō)，大多數(shù)室內(nèi)貓每天吃一到兩頓大餐，通常不考慮貓的實(shí)際能量需求，通常只在家里的同一地點(diǎn)吃。再加上“現(xiàn)代寵物食品非常美味，而且容易快速食用”這一事實(shí)，你就有了一個(gè)結(jié)論，一只在壓力下進(jìn)食的肥貓，只會(huì)跑回安全的地方嘔吐。

So what is a cat owner to do to make for a happier, fitter and less-stressed kitty? The AAFP has a few recommendations.

那么，養(yǎng)貓的主人要做些什么才能讓貓咪更快樂(lè)、更健康、壓力更小呢?AAFP有一些建議。

1. Puzzle feeders and foraging.

益智喂食和覓食。

2. Break up meal time.

分開(kāi)用餐時(shí)間。

3. Know what your cat needs.

了解你的貓需要什么。

If you have an outdoor cat, they may face similar issues as indoor cats, especially if you're feeding them. It "leaves a void in the 'time budget'" of cats that could otherwise be spending their time actually hunting for critter snack on over the course of the day.

如果你有一只戶外貓，它們可能面臨與室內(nèi)貓相似的問(wèn)題，尤其是當(dāng)你喂它們的時(shí)候。它在貓的‘時(shí)間預(yù)算’中留下了一個(gè)空白，否則這些貓可能會(huì)把它們一天的時(shí)間花在尋找動(dòng)物零食上。