你喂貓的方法可能是錯的

你喂貓的方法可能是錯的

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.

對大多數貓主人來說，喂食時間有幾種方式。第一種是打開一個裝食物的袋子或容器，你找不到的那只貓跑過來準備吃東西。第二種是自動喂食器，它可以在預設的時間分發(fā)食物，你的貓已經知道了時間，就坐在它旁邊等待。最后一個是，在周六的早晨你的貓無休止地在你耳邊喵喵叫，而你最想做的就是多睡一個小時。

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，所有這些方法對你的貓朋友都沒有那么好-至少這是美國女性從業(yè)者協(xié)會(AAFP)的說法。這個專門關注貓的醫(yī)療需求的獸醫(yī)小組在“菲林醫(yī)學與外科雜志”上發(fā)表了一份共識聲明，解釋了我們應該如何喂養(yǎng)我們的貓，還特別強調了管理行為問題。

"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：“需要為每個家庭量身定制合適的喂養(yǎng)方案，并應考慮到所有貓咪對玩耍、捕食，以及它們覺得安全的吃喝場所的需要。”

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，大多數室內貓每天吃一到兩頓大餐，通常不考慮貓的實際能量需求，通常只在家里的同一地點吃。再加上“現代寵物食品非常美味，而且容易快速食用”這一事實，你就有了一個結論，一只在壓力下進食的肥貓，只會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、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.

分開用餐時間。

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貓相似的問題，尤其是當你喂它們的時候。它在貓的‘時間預算’中留下了一個空白，否則這些貓可能會把它們一天的時間花在尋找動物零食上。