I need to give my cat a bit of courgette to help with his digestion.
The vet gave me a factsheet that says the veg should be frozen first and then given to him. So raw, basically.
But on some websites, I've read that it's not recommended to feed it raw.
I'm not really sure what's best now!
What's your take on this?
Thanks in advance
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Hi everyone,
I’ve been giving my kitty courgette for a while now after reading a reply on a thread... I’d called my vet practice to get some advice and the vet nurse I spoke to told me to serve it well-cooked... She did say there are some cases where you should give it raw... but I stick to cooked...
Cut it into rounds, not too thin and not too thick... Then cut each round the same way into strips, again not too thin or thick... Boil some water in a saucepan and pop them in for ten minutes... Well, that’s how I do it anyway... Ideally, you want to give about 50g (nearly 2oz) of courgette with every meal, but you can also just give a portion roughly equal to the amount of wet food or pouches you'd usually give...
Your cat might not eat it all, which is what happens with mine... I think I’ve found a trick to keep the waste down though... I give him a tiny bit of a pouch (about a teaspoon or half a teaspoon’s worth) and only half the amount of courgette... Then I give him another portion like that if he finishes the first one, and then another... Anyway, that’s just what I’ve found helps to stop it being wasted...
Courgettes should definitely be cooked! No salt, as you mentioned, but you can cook them with little bits of chicken or fish to tempt your cat. You can also add a bit of butter or olive oil; it makes it much more palatable.
Surprisingly, you can also add a bit of rice or rice water to their food. We often think it causes constipation, but it actually helps settle their stomach and firm up their stools.
On the list of things you should never give to cats—and definitely not raw—are tomatoes, onions, garlic, chocolate, and grapes or raisins (extremely dangerous, risk of CKD/kidney failure). There are others, of course.
If you come back, use the username @poule2 (the sequel! 😂). I hope your cat’s health improves. All the best!
Well, why fibre? Cats aren't omnivores like us who need fibre. And why water? I know the answer – it's because you're feeding dry food with zero moisture, which is the exact opposite of a cat's natural diet. Feeding dry food is like giving a human powdered mash without rehydrating it. No wonder things like Microlax become necessary then.
I'd give him the Microlax at the end of the day when you get back from work instead. That way it'll have time to take effect before you head out again the next morning, so you'll be at home to keep an eye on him.
Thanks for your replies.
I'm really hoping this helps my boy. His digestive issues are so complicated—considering his diet and the daily laxatives, the vet I saw on Saturday can't understand how he's still having trouble. That’s why I'm trying the courgettes...
Because he feels so poorly after 24 hours without pooing, he gets really aggressive with my other cat.
I’ve got some Microlax I can give him, but I'm not sure when the best time would be. He hasn't been since midday yesterday (following a 2-3 day gap). My partner and I are both working tomorrow and I'm worried he'll be unwell while we're out. Should I do it tonight? Or very early tomorrow morning? I'm just concerned about no one being around if something goes wrong.
If anyone happens to see this and has any ideas...
Thanks
Cooked courgette is the best option. You should first chop it into very small pieces and then boil it in water without adding anything (especially not salt!). After that, you can either serve it once it has cooled down completely, or save it for another day. If you want to save time, you can pre-chop the courgettes and freeze them (or just buy a bag of frozen pre-chopped courgettes) so they are ready to be cooked. You can also defrost them in the microwave.
Finally, you can give them to your cat mixed in with their wet or dry food.
Green beans also work really well as an alternative.
I've always heard that you should cook them and mash them into their wet food; it must be easier for them, as I highly doubt they'd actually enjoy chunks of raw courgette.
