Science Picture Challenge #2 : Food 貓的食物算不算呢？

這篇文章是要參加 @mcw舉辦的科學照片挑戰#2，主題是食物，不知道貓咪的食物有沒有符合資格呢？

This article is the entry of the Science Picture Challenge #2 - Food.

This photo is the hairball remedy which is bitten by my cat Er-Ding. It is not difficult to imagine the popularity of the hairball remedy when it is bitten like this.

What is the ingredient of the hairball remedy? Why do cats like to eat them? What principles does it use to help cats solve the problem of hairball?

First of all, let's understand why cats need to eat hairball remedy?

Cat looks really cute when they bath themselves. When they lick their hair at such a high frequency, they will swallow the hair into its stomach.

If these hairs enter the esophagus and stomach, they will gradually accumulate into hairballs, which will cause the cat to vomit as time passes. The feed and water they eat will be spit out, leading to a shortage of nutrients and chronic hepatitis. It is also possible that the trachea is stimulated by frequent vomiting and causes asthma and coughing.

To help cats get rid of their hair, it is important to regularly feed cat grass or hairball remedy.

In general, long-haired cats should be fed about 3 to 5 days once, short-haired cats should be fed about once a week, and more frequent feeding is required during the period of changing season.

The main ingredient of the hair remedy is mineral oil, which is used to lubricate the intestines so that the hair can be discharged smoothly with the feces.

Mineral oil, also known as paraffin oil, is a colorless and odorless alkane extracted from petroleum fractionation. It is used in a wide range of applications, such as industry, medicine, cosmetics and food.

Unrefined or low-refined mineral oils contain carcinogenicity and should be used with particular care according to their use.
In addition to mineral oil, the har remedy usually adds preservatives, emulsifiers and flavoring essence, but also will add some malt syrup and other sugar to increase the palatability. It may cause problems like obesity or diabetes.

If you worry about these additives harmful to your pet's health, cat grass is a more natural choice.

這張照片是被我們家貪吃貓二叮咬爛的化毛膏。看到化毛膏被咬成這樣，不難想像這條化毛膏受貓咪歡迎的程度。

化毛膏到底成分為何？為什麼貓咪喜歡吃？它又是利用什麼原理來幫助貓咪解決貓球堆積的問題呢？

首先先來了解一下，貓咪為什麼需要使用化毛膏？

大家一定常常看到愛乾淨的貓咪一天到晚都在舔身體整理毛髮，貓咪自己洗澡看起來真的可愛極了！可是其實這麼高頻率的舔毛，所造成的隱憂就是貓咪會將掉下來的廢毛吞到肚子裡。這些毛髮進入食道及腸胃之後若是沒有順利排出，會逐漸累積結成毛球，久而久之會造成貓咪經常嘔吐，吃進去的飼料及水被吐出來，導致營養短缺，形成慢性肝炎。也有可能因為氣管受到經常嘔吐的刺激而造成氣喘咳嗽。

為了幫助貓咪順利的把毛髮排出，定期餵食貓草或化毛膏是很重要的。

一般來說，長毛貓大約3~5天餵一次，短毛貓大約一星期餵一次，換季掉毛期間則需要比較頻繁的餵食。

化毛膏的主要成分是礦物油，作用是利用礦物油來潤滑腸道，讓毛髮能夠順利跟著糞便排出，可不是像它的名稱一樣，可以將毛髮化掉，這樣也挺嚇人的。

礦物油又稱石蠟油，是從石油分餾提煉出來的一種無色無臭的高級烷烴，使用範圍非常廣，如工業用、醫藥用、化妝品用、食品用，未精製或低度精製的礦物油含有致癌性，使用時要特別注意根據用途選擇。

化毛膏中除了礦物油之外，通常都添加了防腐劑、乳化劑及調味香精，還會添加一些麥芽糖漿等糖分增加嗜口性，毛孩子們吃太多容易造成肥胖或糖尿病等問題。

若是擔心這些添加物對毛寶貝的身體有害，貓草是比較天然的選擇。

grass
Source: Pixabay

You can also plant the wheat grass, or mix the pumpkin mud and sweet potato mud with canned cat food to replenish fiber and increase gastrointestinal peristalsis. It is another good way to help cats get rid of hairballs.

Just as feeding the hair remedy, too much on cats is not good, twice a week, each 5g is enough.

Raising cats should be as responsible to them as raising children. Be aware of their physical and mental health, they can certainly become a close member of your family that you love very much. Wish you have a nice cat!