Every second owner of a purring pet prefers ready-made food. When choosing a cat food, owners are interested in how it is made. Why does the cat not want to eat other food besides this type of food?
The market is replete with an assortment of ready-made cat food. The owner needs to know the cooking technology and the raw materials used. There are three types of prepared food: dry, wet, canned.
Basic cooking processes
Dry food is the main part of a cat's diet.
Selection of raw materials. At industrial enterprises, the process of preparing dry food begins with determining the composition of the required raw materials. These are mainly grains, meat, fats, vitamins and minerals. In cheap feed, the raw materials are veins, skin and bones.
Grinding process. Raw materials are crushed using special hammer mills to the consistency of flour. Small particles have better nutrient availability.
Mixing. After grinding, the mass is thoroughly mixed, otherwise all the necessary nutrients will be unevenly distributed, which can lead to poisoning of the animal. In production, the mixing process takes place in huge blenders.
Extrusion. It is a multi-step process: mixing, kneading, ripening, shaping, lifting and slicing again.
Drying and cooling. The granulated product obtained as a result of extrusion is dried. This process removes residual moisture from the mass. Further cooling is mandatory, otherwise mold may form.
Glazing. The final stage, during which fats and flavors are applied to the formed granules. That is why the animal refuses homemade food when the owner wants to wean the cat from dry food.
Wet and canned food
The process is similar to the preparation of dry food. A slight difference is the replacement of drying and cooling by saturating the granules with a large amount of moisture and substances that help to retain it. Wet and canned food is packed in airtight packaging.
Selection of raw materials. In most cases, fresh or frozen meat, vitamins and minerals are used, sometimes grain is added. There is always information on the feed packaging which type of raw material was used.
Mixing. Mixing takes place in a large production mixer.
Cooking. During mixing, the temperature is deliberately increased in order for the starch to gelatinize and the proteins to change their properties. During this period of the process, the palatability improves. Hot feed is packed in containers and sealed.
Sterilization. The last and very important step, sterilization takes place at a high temperature in order to kill the remaining bacteria. Then the canned food is cooled.
When choosing food in pet stores, you should pay attention to the shelf life. Do not buy feed by weight, as it can be contaminated with various intestinal bacteria. Eating such food, the cat can be poisoned.
