你喂猫的方法可能是错的
你喂猫的方法可能是错的
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.
对大多数猫主人来说，喂食时间有几种方式。第一种是打开一个装食物的袋子或容器，你找不到的那只猫跑过来准备吃东西。第二种是自动喂食器，它可以在预设的时间分发食物，你的猫已经知道了时间，就坐在它旁边等待。最后一个是，在周六的早晨你的猫无休止地在你耳边喵喵叫，而你最想做的就是多睡一个小时。
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，所有这些方法对你的猫朋友都没有那么好-至少这是美国女性从业者协会(AAFP)的说法。这个专门关注猫的医疗需求的兽医小组在“菲林医学与外科杂志”上发表了一份共识声明，解释了我们应该如何喂养我们的猫，还特别强调了管理行为问题。
"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."
该声明的主席塔米萨德克(Tammy Sadek)在一份新闻稿中说：“需要为每个家庭量身定制合适的喂养方案，并应考虑到所有猫咪对玩耍、捕食，以及它们觉得安全的吃喝场所的需要。”
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解释说，大多数室内猫每天吃一到两顿大餐，通常不考虑猫的实际能量需求，通常只在家里的同一地点吃。再加上“现代宠物食品非常美味，而且容易快速食用”这一事实，你就有了一个结论，一只在压力下进食的肥猫，只会跑回安全的地方呕吐。
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，养猫的主人要做些什么才能让猫咪更快乐、更健康、压力更小呢?AAFP有一些建议。
1. Puzzle feeders and foraging.
益智喂食和觅食。
2. Break up meal time.
分开用餐时间。
3. Know what your cat needs.
了解你的猫需要什么。
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.
如果你有一只户外猫，它们可能面临与室内猫相似的问题，尤其是当你喂它们的时候。它在猫的‘时间预算’中留下了一个空白，否则这些猫可能会把它们一天的时间花在寻找动物零食上。
