Cat Diets

Cats are Carnivores.

Unlike dogs who are omnivores, cats require a diet high in protein and amino acids. It is possible to feed a puppy too much protein. If you feed a puppy a diet high in protein at a young age you can cause the puppy to have a fast growth spurt that results in skeletal disorders, rapid growth is bad for their development so is overfeeding. #CatFood 

Cat diet requirements are different from dogs - "Well duh!" you might say, but some people don't really understand what this means.

• Cat's require higher protein contents than dogs because they are a true carnivore. 
• "All cats require taurine, an amino acid that is important for normal heart function, vision and reproduction. Although most mammals can make taurine from other amino acids in the body, cats cannot. Since taurine is found only in animal-based protein, all cats need meat-based diets to meet their nutritional requirements." (ASPCA Cat Care)
• Cats vary in their personal activity levels. For this reason free feeding can be ok for your cat.
• Unlike dogs, most cats are good at monitoring the amount of food that they need. Free feeding cats is ok for some, it is your job however to monitor that they aren't over-eating which can lead to obesity and other health problems.
• Free feeding is only ok if you're feeding your cat dry food which unlike wet food will not spoil.
• Cats should not be fed Cow's milk.
• Cats do not possess high amounts of lactase, which breaks down the lactose in milk. Milk based products can cause vomiting and diarrhea problems in your pet.
• Goats milk is a healthy alternative for kittens rather than feeding them formula.

How do you pick out a good food?

Not all proteins are created equal, a safe way to pick a cat food out is to choose a company with a good reputation but this doesn't mean that the food is good or has quality ingredients.

The first ingredient is most important. All cat and dog foods are required to list their ingredients by order of weight. A healthy cat food will always read a protein like chicken, lamb, or fish (some cats do have fish allergies) as the first two ingredients at least. Reading labels.

One thing to understand is that cats can't easily digest grains, important ingredients to avoid are:

• Corn
• Wheat products
• Soy products
• By-products
• Sugar
• Artificial preservatives
• Food coloring 

These ingredients are simply a carbohydrate overload for your cat and can lead to healthy problems including but not limited to allergies and obesity. If your cat food has any of these ingredients I would choose a different cat food. Be sure to read all the way to the bottom, as these ingredients sometimes will crop up.

Rice is a little different, it is easier to digest than wheat.

Ingredients to Look For:

• Real meat - chicken, lamb, fish
• Whole grains -  brown rice, barley and oats (cats need some fiber in their diet)
• Veggies & Fruit -  these provide essential antioxidants, enzymes, natural vitamins, minerals, and fibers.

Allergies  

It may seem ironic, but many cats are allergic to fish. So watch for the signs! My cat Belle has a fish allergy, her symptoms include:

Belle, is allergic to fish.

• Hive's on her chin (they look like a bunch of little zits)
• Swollen upper or lower lip
• Eye problems - she has experienced cloudiness in her eye before, the vet explained it as some sort of an allergy although we have yet to determine what for this one (it's only happened maybe 3 times in her whole life).

Recommended Brands:

Personally we are a huge fan of Blue Buffalo's Wilderness line of Cat Food.

Other Great Cat Food Brands:  All are grain free, with high protein contents, no artificial flavors or colors added.

• EVO Cat Food 
• CORE Wellness
• Blue Buffalo Wilderness Line - their "Wilderness" line is gluten free, and has less carbs and a higher protein content than their regular line. 
• Natural Balance Ultra
• Natural Balance Grain Free
• Canidae - Felidae Cat Food

My two adult cats are on Blue Buffalo's Wilderness cat food. The kitten will also be placed on Blue Buffalo Wilderness once she is eating solid food. Each line has a diet to make your kitty happy, knowing my cat is allergic to fish we stick to the chicken and rice formula (it has fish meal in it but this doesn't seem to bother her, the salmon formula however was a disaster!).

Your cat will thank you! Feeding your animals a healthy diet will make them live longer, happier healthier lives. Their skin will be happy, and their coats glossy and soft.

Belle age 3 1/2 

Merlot - 4 1/2 years old

Other Sources:  

kitten protein req.
#Cats #PetFood #Kitten