What Is The Best Food For Cats?

I didn’t like it much when I was young, but as I got older I genuinely started to appreciate my mom’s interest in eating healthy. I know having a healthy diet has helped keep me at a healthy weight and I also believe it helps me avoid getting sick. In general I just feel better. I’ve had my times, like college, when I wasn’t as conscientious and I can definitely tell the difference.

Over the years my belief in a healthy diet started to include my cats so I started to look more closely at what they’re eating. It’s important to me that they have a good quality of life and a good lifespan. Of course none of us like unplanned visits to the vet either. Annual check ups are important, but by feeding them a healthier diet I hope to decrease the chances of them getting one of those common cat health problems that occur too often.

After trying to decipher a few cat food labels I decided it was time to start doing some research. I started reading more about the biology of a cat to find out what their nutritional needs are. Cats are obligate carnivores meaning they require a high percentage of protein for their bodies to function properly. For example if they don’t have proper levels of taurine, found in meats, cats can experience a wide range of health problems including loss of vision. Because it’s so essential a quality source of protein should be the first and main ingredient in a healthy cat food.

Although we’ve domesticated them, by nature they hunt their food and eat it raw. As unpleasant as it may sound to us it’s natural for them. Because of this they have a low thirst drive; they were meant to get moisture in their food. Many cats that are on an all dry food diet don’t get enough liquids which can cause a problem with feline urinary tract infections. It’s good to give your cat at least some moist food, whether it’s canned or raw or frozen. As part of a healthy feline diet it’s also good to encourage your cat to drink by having clean, fresh water in a couple areas of your house.

Unfortunately a lot of our food these days is processed and too full of junk. Cat food is somewhat the same. Cat food companies can make cat food a lot cheaper by using fillers. Cats don’t always respond well to these fillers though. Cats seem to be developing more health problems like allergies and sensitive stomachs which can make them throw up often after eating. It’s hard for them to retain nutrition when this keeps happening.

When looking for a healthy cat food make sure the first ingredient is a quality protein. In addition watch for whole foods and grains like carrots, peas and brown rice, and good fats like chicken fat or flaxseed oil. Stay away from cat foods with artificial colors and preservatives. Cats are sometimes sensitive to these artificial ingredients too.

In the long run I’ve saved money by spending a little more on higher quality cat foods. Helping to keep the immune system strong goes a long way towards keeping my cats happy and healthy. One of my cats is 19+ and still going strong.