Food choices for cats can have a dramatic impact on their wellbeing and should always provide complete and balanced nutrition. When selecting canned wet or dry kibble varieties, aim for quality nutrition.
Cats are carnivorous animals and must consume animal protein in their diets for optimal health. Meat provides taurine and arginine that may protect against vision loss, heart failure from dilated cardiomyopathy and reproductive abnormalities.
Protein
As cats are obligate carnivores, they require high amounts of protein in their diet to stay healthy. Protein serves as the building block for muscle tissue while essential amino acids help build other proteins and cells within their bodies. Therefore, the ideal cat food will contain both high amounts of protein as well as animal-derived fats for optimal performance.
When selecting cat food, look for high-quality meats with few or no fillers and artificial ingredients, meeting AAFCO requirements for nutritional needs of your pet. Furthermore, take into account their life stage – as their dietary requirements change as they age.
Wet cat food often has higher moisture levels than dry kibble, providing essential hydration and helping prevent urinary tract issues. Furthermore, picky cats may find wet food easier to consume compared to its dry counterpart; however, wet foods tend to contain more calories and fat.
When selecting canned foods for cats, avoid those that contain dairy products as these may lead to stomach upset and diarrhea in felines. Also watch out for any that contain chemical preservatives such as butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), or ethoxyquin which could potentially harm them.
Carbohydrates
The best cat foods provide adequate carbohydrates to ensure cats get enough energy from their food, maintain normal blood glucose levels, improve digestive health and help control weight.
Carbohydrates provide essential vitamins. Vitamin A is crucial to eye and immune health, while B-complex vitamins support energy production, stress relief and mental well-being. Vitamin E protects cells against damage while aiding tissue growth. In addition, dietary fiber offers many health advantages including healthy cholesterol levels and improving bowel movements.
Cats require protein, fats and carbohydrates in various quantities depending on their age and life stage. An ideal cat food will have an optimal balance of these nutrients to meet AAFCO nutritional standards and meet these specific requirements. When searching for cat food that fits this category look for high quality animal protein sources such as fish or poultry protein sources as well as healthy fats such as olive oil. In addition it should contain essential vitamins and minerals formulated specifically to meet these specific requirements (like avocado, chocolate onions and xylitol).
Fat
Cats are obligate carnivores, meaning their diet should include plenty of animal proteins. Cats need taurine, arginine and arachidonic acid from animals for proper development – nutrients not readily available from plant-based proteins so when shopping for foods containing animal proteins first as ingredients it will be much healthier for your cat!
The best cat food will also offer a healthy fat source, providing both energy and fat-soluble vitamins like D and E. You should be able to identify which type of fat your food contains by reading its label; look out for words such as “chicken fat” and “salmon oil” rather than generic terms like ‘animal fat”
Make sure your cat gets enough protein, carbohydrates and fats through their food to meet his or her unique nutritional requirements. Bear in mind their age and life stage when selecting their diet; any allergies should also be addressed by opting for grain-free or limited filler food products.
When purchasing cat food, ensure it satisfies Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) nutritional standards by checking its guaranteed analysis on the packaging. A statement should state “complete and balanced for life stage of pet” which should specify your cat’s current life stage (kitten, adult or senior). Food that meets these standards by listing ingredients descending in weight order would also meet these criteria.
Vitamins
Provide your cat with an ideal blend of protein, fats, vitamins and minerals to ensure her overall wellbeing. As obligate carnivores, cats require specific nutrients from animal proteins only that cannot be obtained otherwise – taurine and arginine for example are only found within meat sources – therefore deficiency of such essential vitamins may lead to eye problems, heart failure from dilated cardiomyopathy and nervous system abnormalities if she does not receive them regularly in her diet. Homemade meals do not always deliver on all these components so many pet parents opt for commercial or semi-moist food to ensure all essential vitamins and minerals are being provided – an alternative would be providing homemade food full of moisture so all essential vitamins and minerals are receiving exactly what is necessary.
Protein should always be at the top of your list when searching for high-quality pet food, as cats require plenty of it for good health. Fats and essential fatty acids also play a key role in providing your cat with healthy skin and coat, transporting vitamins A, D and E around their bodies, supporting reproductive systems as well as metabolic processes.
Looking for food rich in vitamin A will benefit both vision and skin. Other essential vitamins for cats’ wellbeing are water-soluble B vitamins (biotin, riboflavin and niacin), which promote cell growth and function; potassium and magnesium help ensure strong bones and teeth.
