When you think about your cat’s diet, what should he eat?
While ’t’s true that will often gobble down things that we consider . Nutrition A good diet is important to your feline friend’s health and well-being.
Cheaper cat food often contains unsafe ingredients and is full of toxic preservatives, sweeteners, and flavoring agents to tempt your cat into eating it.
You be sing money in the short term, you be setting yourself up for hefty vet tt “creating” serious “pain” and “inconvenience” for your furry companion
After all, they are an important member of your family. Cats are known as healers, and they often have a “difference” in how they “share” or “affect.”
3 reasons to choose
Cats, like humans, are not fast food, high carbohydrate, kibble food.
When eating the wrong diet for cats, it can “fall” infect “arthritis,” “diabetes,” “heart,” “disease,” “kidney,” “disease,” “people,” “obesity,” “like.”
The only difference between us and cats is that once they live in captivity, they have very little control over their diet. Cats depend on us to provide them with healthy food, especially when they live indoors.
Cats are natural predators…their diet should mimic this fact, so here are three reasons to choose a good cat diet that will extend your pet’s life.
1. Dental health
Just like humans, many health complications arise in domestic cats with poor dental hygiene.
Your cat may have bad breath — which is annoying — but the infections that can cause bad breath may be more serious than you think to his immune system and overall health.
Kittens lose their milk teeth between four and six months. During that time, there are cavities in their mouths that are magnets for bacteria.
You probably go to the dentist regularly to make sure your teeth and gums are in good condition.
But how does your cat maintain oral health? They need good quality food and treats that help remove plaque and stimulate gums to keep their teeth strong and their mouths clean.
2. Cats are carnivores
Like it or not, your cat is a hunter, predator, carnivore. They will not work well with a vegetarian or vegan diet.
So, while you may have chosen to eliminate meat from your diet and replace protein with beans, meat alternatives, and supplements, your cat needs animal protein.
It is a source of a vital amino acid – taurine – that helps develop strong muscles, including the heart.
A cat food made with fish might work just as well – it’s loaded with omega fatty acids that nourish a cat’s body…and are good for their digestive system. However, most fish have been contaminated with heavy metals and other nasty toxins or parasites, and are very unhealthy. Offering fish as an occasional treat to a healthy cat should be fine, but beware of a steady diet.
Avoid foods that contain an excessive amount of fillers, such as wheat and barley. They may fill your cat’s tummy, but they won’t provide the protein they need for healthy growth. It may lead to obesity, diabetes and many other problems.
Also, cats are naturally designed to hunt and eat their prey raw, which has not been baked in an oven or processed at high heat in a tin can. Prey organisms contain blood, moisture (water), partially digested food in the gut, bones, organs, and much more.
When deciding what to feed your cat, go with a high-quality wet food, not dry cardboard food. Some cats do well enough with good wet food, others eat raw food better.
3. Cats need water
There is nothing wrong with feeding cats dry food Sometimes diet as a treat or topping food. They are easier to store, usually less expensive, and you have more choices of ingredients to suit your cat’s taste.
But remember, they also need quick access to water, and can go overboard on carbs, just like us…so follow the directions on the package and pay attention to your kitty’s needs.
On the flip side, the wrong wet food can rob your cat of the roughness they need to keep their digestive system running smoothly. You’ll often see outdoor cats and dogs eating grass…they’re simply trying to get their guts to work again so they can clean up what’s inside.
If you have a house cat, consider keeping cat grass (or adding some other source of fiber to their food) which will help keep their digestive system a track.
Your cat can’t go to the grocery store
Your cat has basic nutritional needs…then they develop their own tastes, just like babies. In fact, there is a stage when they are growing up where they learn what is and is not good to eat, after which it can be very difficult to change their minds about what is and is not acceptable!
However, unlike your children who will grow up and be able to shop on their own and satisfy their taste buds, hopefully make wise food choices…
Your cat can’t do the same. It is up to you to communicate with them, explain why different foods are good for them and why some are not, and then address their nutritional needs.
You may think that good food is very expensive, and that it is very difficult to look for alternatives …
…but think of the pain your mate might be in if they end up with kidney stones, ulcers, or belly cancer because you overloaded their bodies with toxic food.
Cats are designed to hunt and eat small portions during the day, but free grazing (eating whenever they want) with poor quality food is a bad idea. Smaller, more nutritious wet meals make for a healthier, longer-lived cat.
It’s helpful to talk to your cat, find out what suits her tastes, and what meets her needs nutritional needsWhat makes them feel sick or what causes them pain.
Remember that your cat goes through stages of development, just as we do. Food that works for them at six months of age will not keep them fit when they are five…or ten or twenty.
You can prepare your cat for a long and healthy life without stressful visits to the vet clinic by feeding them a high quality diet of cat food.
If you would like to learn more about cat health, get in touch.
