There are so many stray cats in Korea. Although the exact number is unknown, it is estimated that there are about 1 million stray cats nationwide. In the past, they were not well-perceived, even called "thief cats". However, the perception of stray cats has been improving recently. This is due to the spread of pet culture, animal welfare improvement activities by animal protection organizations, and the influence of the media.

The number of "cat moms" who feed stray cats is also increasing. Nowadays, even if they don't regularly feed stray cats, many people carry churu in their bags and give it to stray cats. Churu is a liquid cat food snack manufactured by Inaba Pet Food, a pet food company in Japan. In Korea, similar types of snacks are commonly called churu. Giving churu allows you to bond with cats for a moment while giving them a treat. But did you know that giving churu to stray cats can be harmful to their health?

Churu is highly palatable to cats, to the point where it's called a drug for cats. However, it's high in salt and calories, and it doesn't contain all the necessary nutrients. Foods with high salt content are not good for cats, and stray cats are already likely to eat foods with high salt content, such as food scraps. If a cat that regularly eats food is given churu, it won't be a problem. However, if a cat that doesn't eat properly only eats churu, it can lead to health problems due to nutritional deficiencies or excesses.

So what can you give stray cats instead of churu? Dry food and clean water are the best. Wet food that can provide moisture is also good. If you want to give snacks rather than food, freeze-dried snacks are also fine. You might think, "There's nothing as easy as churu...". Of course, giving churu once in a while isn't a problem. It's better for them to eat something than nothing at all! However, since stray cats don't know who is giving them how much snacks, I wanted to say that it would be better to give them healthy food if you're going to give them anything. If you do give churu, try to give them only one a day and give them some water.

When you see stray cats, you feel drawn to their cuteness and mystery. I understand why many people use churu, as it's almost the only way to disarm wary cats. It's also heartwarming to see people wanting to give them something to eat, just in case they're hungry. I hope that stray cats will soon be able to live in a safe and harmonious environment. Thank you for reading, as always. :)