When you think about your cat’s diet, do you think that whatever food they eat has to be “good” food?
While it’s true that cats will often gobble down things that we consider junk food, it doesn’t mean you should feed them scraps or bargain food. Feeding a good cat diet is important for your feline friend’s health and well-being .
Often cheaper cat food contains ingredients that are unsafe, full of toxic preservatives, humectants and flavorings to entice the cat to eat.
You might be saving money in the short term, but you’ll be setting yourself up for hefty vet bills in the long run, and also creating serious pain and discomfort for your furry companion.
After all, they are an important member of your family. Cats are known to be healers and often have different ways to share their affection.
3 reasons tochooseahealthycat diet
Cats, like humans, will not thrive on a fast food, high carbohydrate, dry food diet
Eating the Wrong Cat Diet, they can Victim To Arthritis, heart heart kidney disease, liver disease, and Obesity, <
The only difference between us and cats is that once in captivity, they have very little control over their diet. Cats rely on us to provide them with healthy food, especially when they live indoors.
Cats are natural predators… their diet must mimic this fact. Here are three reasons why you should choose good cat nutrition that will extend your pet’s life.
1. Dental health
Just like humans, pet cats experience many health complications with poor dental hygiene.
Your cat may have bad breath – which is uncomfortable – but the infections that can cause bad breath can be a lot more serious to their immune system and overall health than you think.
Kittens lose their milk teeth between four and six months. During this time, there are gaps in their mouths that are bacteria magnets.
You probably visit the dentist regularly to make sure your teeth and gums are in good condition.
But how does your cat maintain its oral health? They need quality food and treats that will help remove plaque and stimulate their gums to maintain the strength of their teeth and the cleanliness of their mouth.
2. Cats are carnivores
Like it or not, your cat is a hunter, a predator, a carnivore. You will never do well on a vegetarian or vegan diet.
Even if you’ve decided to eliminate meat from your diet and replaced the protein with beans, meat alternatives and supplements, your cat still needs animal protein.
It’s a source of an essential amino acid – taurine – that helps develop strong muscles, including the heart.
Fish-based cat food can work well — it’s loaded with omega fatty acids, which fuel your cat’s body… and support their digestive system. However, most fish are 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 make sure it’s a regular diet.
Avoid foods with an excess of fillers like wheat and barley. They can fill your cat’s tummy, but they don’t provide the protein they need for healthy development. And they can lead to obesity and diabetes and many other problems.
Also, cats are naturally designed to hunt and eat raw prey that hasn’t been baked in an oven or processed in a tin can over high heat. Prey items have blood, moisture (water), and partially digested food in their guts, bones, and organs, and more.
When deciding what to feed your kitten, opt for good quality wet food rather than cardboard dry food. Some cats do well on high-quality wet food, while others do better on raw food.
3. Cats need liquid
There’s nothing wrong with feeding your cat dried animal food Diet occasionally as a treat or topping. It’s easier to store, usually cheaper, and you have more choices of ingredients to suit your cat’s taste buds.
But remember, they also need access to water and, just like us, they can become overloaded with carbohydrates. So follow the directions on the packaging and be mindful of your kitten’s needs.
On the other hand, the wrong type of wet food can rob your cat of the roughage she needs for her digestive system to function properly. You’ll often see cats and dogs eating grass outdoors… they’re just trying to get their bowels working again so they can cleanse their insides.
If you have an indoor cat, consider keeping cat grass (or adding another source of fiber to their diet) to help keep their digestive tract on track.
Your cat is not allowed to go to the supermarket
Your cat has basic nutritional needs… and then they develop their own tastes, just like children do. In fact, there is a phase in which they learn what is and isn’t good food to eat, and after that it can be quite difficult to change their minds about what’s acceptable and what’s not!
Unlike your kids, who will grow up and be able to shop independently and satisfy their taste buds and – hopefully – make wise food choices…
Your cat can’t do that. It’s up to you to communicate with them, explain why different foods are good for them and why some aren’t, and then meet their dietary needs.
You may think that quality food is too expensive, that it’s too much trouble to look for alternatives…
… but think of the pain you could inflict on your feline companion if he develops kidney stones, ulcers or stomach cancer from overloading his body with toxic food.
Cats are designed to hunt and eat small pieces during the day, but free grazing (eating whenever they want) with poor quality dry food is a bad idea. Smaller, more nutritious wet food meals make for a healthier, longer-lived kitten.
It helps if you can talk to your cat and find out what suits their taste buds and what hits them dietary needsand what is making them ill or causing pain.
Remember, just like us, your cat goes through growth phases. Food they like at six months won’t keep them fit when they’re five…or ten or twenty.
You can ensure your cat a long, healthy life without stressful visits to a veterinary clinic by feeding them good quality cat food.
If you are interested in learning more about cat health, please contact us.
Thanks to Val Heart
