Your cat needs high-quality ingredients that meet AAFCO standards for nutrition – this includes protein, fats, vitamins and minerals.
Seek food with few ingredients to reduce the chances of allergies in your cat, and inquire as to its digestibility as well.
Protein
Cats are obligate carnivores and require plenty of protein. Additionally, they require meat-based fats for energy and essential amino acids like taurine, arginine and arachidonic acid as an energy source.
When purchasing food, read through its ingredients list carefully. Items are listed according to weight proportionality with heavy items being listed first; if an animal source such as poultry or eggs are among these first ingredients that’s an indicator that this food might contain high quality protein sources.
Search for organic pet foods that don’t contain chemicals like propylene glycol and sodium metabisulfite that are commonly used as preservatives in kibble to keep it fresh for your cat, such as skin irritations and urinary tract infections. Raw diets incorporating ingredients like beef organ meat and bones similar to what wild cats eat might also provide additional nutrition – products like Instinct Raw Boost Mixers can add even more nutrition by topping their daily kibble meals with raw morsels for extra protein boost.
Fat
The optimal cat food contains high concentrations of animal proteins and low levels of fats, in addition to essential vitamins, minerals and enzymes for overall good health. Aim for short ingredient lists in order to minimize risk of allergies; long, chemical-sounding names like gums and carrageenan may trigger allergies in some cats.
Since cats are obligate carnivores, they need protein from meat in order to thrive. Look for high-protein foods that meet AAFCO guidelines with protein as the first ingredient and a variety of meat sources such as chicken, lamb and venison. Stella & Chewy’s Chick Chick Dinner Morsels made with 98 percent cage free chicken organs and bone plus prebiotics and probiotics as well as vegetables and fruit can provide balanced nutrition for your cat.
Carbohydrates
Carbs often get a bad rap as they can lead to weight gain; however, they’re actually essential sources of energy and should be included in a quality cat food product for maximum effectiveness in digesting hairballs and maintaining an ideal weight.
Cats, being obligate carnivores, require animal protein for optimal health. Taurine and arginine can only come from animal sources, while plant-based proteins don’t supply all of the essential amino acids your cat requires. A good quality pet food should contain enough animal proteins to meet all their dietary requirements – usually listed by total weight with the heaviest ingredient listed first on its label.
Fiber
Cats, unlike humans, cannot survive on a vegetarian diet and need meat as their source of protein, vitamins & minerals (like taurine, arginine & arachidonic acid ) & fatty acids to survive.
Wild cats consume whole animals including bones, organs and skin for nourishment; to ensure your cat receives these essential vitamins and minerals look for food which lists meat first on its ingredients list.
Commercially prepared cat food should provide your cat with the appropriate combination of nutrition and calories based on his life stage, activity level, breed type and health issues. Kibbles designed specifically to support dental health or wet food for overweight cats may be available.
Amino Acids
With so many cat food brands and styles on the market, it is crucial that you select one which provides essential nutrients to promote optimal health in your feline companion. When looking for wet or dry formulas developed by qualified nutritionists for feeding purposes.
Ingredient lists provide an invaluable measure of quality. Look for meat products such as chicken, beef, turkey or fish to appear near the top of this list; and try to avoid ingredients with long and complicated names like artificial sweeteners and chemical solvents.
Consider feeding your cat a raw diet consisting of meat and bone meals to recreate their prey-based diet in the wild. Look for foods featuring raw morsels such as tomato pomace to aid with digestion or flaxseed or salmon oil for increased omega-3 fatty acid consumption to support their skin and coat health.
Minerals
Cats may be considered carnivores, but they still require other nutrients like trace minerals and vitamins in order to remain healthy.
The highest quality cat foods will contain adequate quantities of minerals to meet nutritional recommendations, including both macrominerals like calcium, magnesium, potassium and phosphorus as well as microminerals like iron.
When selecting canned or dry cat food, look for recipes with low carbohydrates and high water content to aid with any issues related to hydration in older cats. This may help them maintain proper hydration.
When reviewing pet food ingredient lists, look for short lists without chemical preservatives such as propylene glycol and butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), or ethoxyquin; these chemicals have been shown to cause liver, kidney, and skin issues in cats.
By-Products
As it’s essential for cats to consume protein-rich meat sources, it is crucial that the food you select contains an abundance of meat sources such as beef. Furthermore, try to steer clear of cheap chemical preservatives (rosemary extract, ethoxyquin, BHA/BHT etc), carbohydrates or fat fillers that could cause potential issues with health.
When choosing food products, the first few ingredients should provide an accurate indicator of its quality. Avoid purchasing anything containing by-products containing unnamed by-products which could include anything from sick animals in slaughterhouses to road kill.
Keep an eye out for wheat middlings and corn gluten meal, which are often used as protein sources and could replace higher quality fresh proteins in recipes.
