Walking down the cat food isle in a pet store could leave you quiet confused as to what food is best for your cat. There are certain nutrients that a cat must have, knowing these nutrients and making sure the food you buy has them listed as ingredients can help make the choice easier.
Other factors to consider are your cat's lifestyle, age and health. Cats need meat-based food to survive and remain healthy. The reason being that certain substances essential to cats cannot be manufactured synthetically and are only found in meat.
Different types of Food:
• Dry
• Semi-moist
• Wet/Moist
Dry:
Contains little water, is hard and crunchy which helps keep your cats teeth tartar-free. This can be left out all day for your cat without going off. Choose a variety that is low in magnesium to prevent Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disorder (FLUTD), where stones or crystals develop causing painful urination for your cat. Usually dry food contains all your cats nutrient requirements, but do not take it for granted, always check the label.
Semi-Moist:
Contains less water than canned food and often contains vegetable protein. This can be left out for your cat to snack on. Not all semi-moist foods contain the nutrients a cat needs and supplementation may be necessary so that your cat gets a complete diet.
Wet/Moist:
Has a high water content, comes in many flavors and is the food type preferred by most cats. Wet food goes off very quickly and any left over by your cat should be removed and not left out. Wet food easily looses its meaty smell, so if you notice your cat turning up his nose to a meal, this could be the reason. Buying the smaller canned food or food that comes in pouches is often the better choice as there will be less wastage. To help prevent tartar formation you can add a few dry biscuits to the food. Or leave a bowl of dry food out for your cat to eat during the day and feed wet food once a day.
Serve food at room temperature, if you have canned food in the fridge bring it to room temperature before offering to your cat. Always provide fresh drinking water to your cat. Cats do not need to drink cows milk and in fact if you offer it to them, they will likely have an upset tummy as they are unable to digest the milk sugar (lactose). Instead offer a brand of cat milk found at your local pet store.
If you decide to feed your cat a home-made diet it is essential that you consult with your veterinarian as cats require many essential nutrients. These nutrients and requirements vary based on many factors, such as age and weight along with whether or not your cat will be indoors or outdoors.
Guide to Cats. Get information on buying, owning and caring for your cat, learn more about Cat Feeders.
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