Basic nutritional needs of cats
Protein from designated meat, fish or poultry sources
Taurine, an essential amino acid
Certain others vitamins, mineral, enzymes and fatty acid
water
Cats do not need carbohydrates, although corn, wheat, and rice are used as fillers in canned and dry cat foods. Other ingredients such as binding agents, flavorings and colorings are added by cat food manufacturers to meet the aesthetic desires of consumers. Although preservatives are important in keeping food fresh for our cats, canned food should not be avoided under any circumstances.
Taurine, an essential amino acid
Certain others vitamins, mineral, enzymes and fatty acid
water
Cats do not need carbohydrates, although corn, wheat, and rice are used as fillers in canned and dry cat foods. Other ingredients such as binding agents, flavorings and colorings are added by cat food manufacturers to meet the aesthetic desires of consumers. Although preservatives are important in keeping food fresh for our cats, canned food should not be avoided under any circumstances.
Canned or Kibble?
Many nutritionists agree that cats should be fed a variety of dry and canned foods for several reasons:
While dry foods is convenient and can be left out for free feeding
Canned food contains waters and many cats do not drink water regular
So that your cat gets the right amount of nutrients. The "near-perfect" food you've picked may be too low (or too high) in certain minerals and vitamins.
Cats can get bored with the same food day after day and just stop eating. Be honest, would you enjoy pizza morning, noon and night for years? Not only would you get bored with your diet, but your health would suffer as well.
To prevent possible allergies to certain ingredients. Cats (like humans) develop allergies over time. Although food allergies are rare in cats, cat owners should exercise caution, especially if their cats have shown signs of allergies in the past.
To prevent "food addiction". The Whole Cat Journal, in its October 2001 issue, cites the case of a cat who was addicted to a specific flavor from a specific brand of cat food, down to a specific factory and batch number! This type of addiction can be difficult to overcome once the last can is gone, but it can be easily avoided by feeding a variety of foods from the start.
This doesn't mean that Fred should be fed a different food every day, but a variety of good quality canned foods, supplemented with kibble for cats that are left alone all day, will spices up his diets and keep him from becoming fussy Fred.
Canned food contains waters and many cats do not drink water regular
So that your cat gets the right amount of nutrients. The "near-perfect" food you've picked may be too low (or too high) in certain minerals and vitamins.
Cats can get bored with the same food day after day and just stop eating. Be honest, would you enjoy pizza morning, noon and night for years? Not only would you get bored with your diet, but your health would suffer as well.
To prevent possible allergies to certain ingredients. Cats (like humans) develop allergies over time. Although food allergies are rare in cats, cat owners should exercise caution, especially if their cats have shown signs of allergies in the past.
To prevent "food addiction". The Whole Cat Journal, in its October 2001 issue, cites the case of a cat who was addicted to a specific flavor from a specific brand of cat food, down to a specific factory and batch number! This type of addiction can be difficult to overcome once the last can is gone, but it can be easily avoided by feeding a variety of foods from the start.
This doesn't mean that Fred should be fed a different food every day, but a variety of good quality canned foods, supplemented with kibble for cats that are left alone all day, will spices up his diets and keep him from becoming fussy Fred.
Cheaper brands are false thrift
Many first-time cat owners buy the cheapest food they can find for their cat to keep costs down. First, studies have shown that cats eat as much as they need to get the nutrients they need. As such, they may be eating twice as much of this generously carb-loaded commercial brand to get the nutrients they need from a regular premium diet. Second, continued feeding of inferior food over a period of years will greatly contribute to or even lead to serious illnesses that require expensive veterinary care.
For these reasons, the old adage “you get what you pay for” is especially true when it comes to cat food.
For these reasons, the old adage “you get what you pay for” is especially true when it comes to cat food.