Healthiest Cat Food
considering the fact the inappropriate nutrition is very harmful to a cat, it is very important to go for the best when it comes to your cat’s food. This will further help reduce the numerous health problems attached to inappropriate nutrition like kidney and liver problems.
Given the variety of commercial cat foods in the market ranging from dry, canned, to homemade food it becomes very difficult to choose the best for your cat. Nearly all of these food prove to be the healthiest of all cat food this make it harder to choose the right and most important cat for your cat to make it stay healthy and free from any diseases. If you are having such challenges, then keep reading to have a good idea about the best nutrition and recipes for your cat.
Healthiest Cat Food Reviews and Considerations
It is important to have a clear understanding about cat nutrition before dwelling on best food options for cat.
⇒ Cats are strictly carnivorous which entails they need animal proteins, considerate amounts of fat and minimal carbohydrates to meet their nutritional needs.
⇒ Different from dogs, cats lack the capacity to utilize the energy gotten from carbohydrates. Their energy requirements are met by the glucose that is released from animal proteins that they consume
⇒ Cats also need essential nutrients like vitamins, amino acids, minerals like calcium and phosphorus and also fats like Omega-3 fatty acids.
⇒ If the cat suffers from certain food allergies or medical conditions like urinary tract or kidney disorders then the nutrition needs of the cat will differ. In such a case, it is best to consult a doctor.
⇒ Cat needs water. Especially cats with kidney problems, diabetes and constipation.
Healthy Homemade Cat Food
When it comes to homemade food the challenging question most cat owners face is whether they should go for raw or in in order kill back cooked homemade cat food?
Raw Cat Food
Many cat owners love to go for raw cat food because it a natural diet and has all the vital nutrients needed by a cat. Examples of raw cat food include
Raw organ meat
Raw bones, ground
Raw liver, gizzards and meat entrails
Egg yolks
In order to derive nutritional needs supplements like Vitamin E, Vitamin B complex, powdered taurine, salmon oil and psyllium can also be used. The raw meat can be cut into small chunks or ground.
Things to Note:
⇒ Watch out for allergic reactions when feeding raw eggs.
⇒ Fish, a popular cat food, contains too much thiaminase, which breaks down thiamine, a vital vitamin. Uncooked freshwater fish may contain tapeworm, while diets rich in tuna can lead to a reduction of vitamin E, as a result of the excess of polyunsaturated fatty acids in the food.
⇒ Watch out for bacterial contamination in raw cat food.
Cooked Cat Food
Many cat owners get worried with the fact that bacterial in frozen meat is unhealthy to their cat so they take to semi-cooking of the food. This is done by backing chicken thigh, to kill surface bacterial and make it healthy for the cat. Other examples of homemade foods are scrambled or hard-boiled eggs and boiled chicken gizzards, hearts, and livers. However, here are good recipes for making cooked cat food at home.
Recipe #1: Get a bowl and add 2 cups of cooked ground chicken, ⅓ cup of cooked brown rice and ¼ cup of cooked sweet potato and some fish oil or vegetable oil. Blend all the ingredients properly and add some chicken stock in it. Serve this food to your cats, at room temperature preferably.
Recipe #2: Mix 3 wt-ounces of protein source like cooked beef, pork or lamb and mix ⅓cup of oatmeal and some olive oil. Grind all these ingredients and serve it to your cat.
Recipe #3: Get a bowl and add 2 tbsp Bisque, 1 tbsp chopped liver, ⅓ tbsp cottage cheese, 1 tbsp vegetable oil (corn oil) and a pinch of salt to it. Mix all these ingredients properly and serve as a healthy and homemade cat food!
Remember to keep these homemade foods refrigerated or frozen between meals. Contact your veterinarian before switching to homemade cat food especially raw cat food.
Healthy Wet Cat Food
For cat owners who lack the time or find it difficult to prepare homemade food for their cat, canned wet food could be of great replacement. Apart from the fact that canned wet food contains very minimal preservatives and more protein, it also contains water and is less in carbohydrate. It is also advised not to go for vegetables as well as common ingredients such as rice, wheat gluten, soy, meat byproducts and meat meals, bone meals etc.
Natural ingredients contained in human grade cat food are the best. However, ingredients and the right amount needed in a cat food will be examined on the label of cat food. This will make it very easy to make the right choices. Here are some common brands of canned cat food that that cab be given a try:
Natural Balance Canned Cat Food
Nature’s Logic Canned Cat Food
Dr Foster and Smith Canned Cat Food
Weruva Paw Lickin’ Chicken Canned Cat Food
Wellness Chicken Canned Cat Food
Evolve Natural Canned Chicken Formula
Newman’s Own Chicken and Brown Rice
Things to Note
⇒ Avoid canned food with gravy and sauces as they contain carbohydrate thickeners like soy which can lead to thyroid problems in cats.
⇒ be mindful for preservatives like BHA, BHT, and ethoxyquin.
⇒ Avoid buying cat food by reading labels like “wholesome’, ‘natural’ and ‘healthy’. Read the ingredients before buying.
Is Dry Cat Food Healthy?
Every cat owner is faced with this question. Though cheap and easily accessible, dry kibble does not provide adequate nutrition for the cat. This is as a result of the fact that dry cat foods have plenty of carbohydrate and preservatives as opposed to water and protein. Dry food can cause chronic renal failure in cat considering the fact that, dry cat foods only 10% water whereas wet canned foods contains 78% of water.
Furthermore, dry foods are also connected to obesity and diabetes in cats. So, if you are feeding the cat kibble, it is necessary to supplement it with water and other nutritional foods. If you are going for kibble, then choose premium ones that contain ingredients that meet the standards set by AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials). Although the initial costs might be high, visiting the vet from time to time will be avoided
Avoid making drastic and sudden changes in a cat’s diet for it can lead to digestive disorders. Instead initiate high quality foods in small quantities. Every cat owner must consult a veterinarian before making any sort of dietary changes for cats.