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What Is The Best Food For Cats?
By Emma Lawson on February 20, 2009 |
Total Viewed: 331 |
| Post by : Nataliya Piterova |
| Category: House |
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Thanks to mom I've adopted a healthy diet in my adult life. I always read the labels and I'm careful about not eating too many processed foods or artificial flavors and preservatives. I have a good understanding of what kinds of foods are healthy for me, but what is the best food for my cats? How can I be sure the food I'm buying my cats is healthy cat food? I tried looking at cat food labels, but I didn't know exactly what I should be looking for the way I did with my own food.
I'm a firm believer that nutrition is the foundation of health and I wanted good nutrition for my cats too. I want them to have a good quality of life, to be with me for a long time, and none of us are fans of unnecessary visits to the vet. Regular check ups are essential, of course, but by feeding them a healthy diet I hope to lower the risk of them contracting some of the common cat health problems that seem to occur all 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.
A good deal of people food is processed and has a lot of junk in it. The same thing is also true for cat food. By using fillers cat food manufacturers can produce cat food at a much lower cost, unfortunately cats don't always respond so well to these fillers. Many cats develop allergies, sensitive stomachs (meaning they may vomit too often for reasons other than trying to get rid of a hairball), or other cat health problems.
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. |
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About the Author:
Emma loves kitties and she loves to feed them well. She's experimented with a lot of different ways to feed her beloved http://organic-catfood.net/">organic cat. Now you can glean wisdom from her experience with her site http://organic-catfood.net/wellness-cat-food/">Wellness Catfood |
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