READ THE INGREDIENTS

Before you purchase any cat food formula, it’s essential that you first read the ingredients. Be cautious of any cat food formulas that include artificial flavors, artificial preservatives or chemical coloring. Identifying these ingredients can be a bit difficult, though here are some that you should definitely avoid:

• Ethoxyquin
• BHA
• BHT

In general, the first five ingredients of a cat food formula make up the bulk of the food. Though it’s still important to read the complete ingredients list, you can gain a general idea of the quality of a food formula from the first five ingredients. Since cats are obligate carnivores, they require a high amount of protein in order to remain healthy. In a high quality cat food formula, three or four of the first five ingredients will be protein-based.

THE CORN DEBATE

Many low-quality or inexpensive cat food formulas contain a high amount of corn. In some formulas, two or three of the first five ingredients may be derived from corn. Though some companies will market corn as being a “whole, nourishing source of nutrition”, don’t be fooled! Corn is a cheap filler ingredient, and may cause serious health problems in your cat. Corn has a high glycemic index effect, and can severely irritate your cat’s digestive system. In addition to this, many cats have an allergic reaction to corn ingredients, especially over a prolonged period of consuming a corn-based food.

GRAIN-FREE CAT FOOD

In order to pick the best food for your cat, you may want to look in to purchasing a grain-free cat food formula. Though these formulas may sometimes be a bit more expensive, they are usually free of high-carbohydrate ingredients that can be damaging to your cat’s health. A diet high in carbohydrate can promote health problems such as obesity, heart problems and diabetes in your cat. With a grain-free formula, you can also avoid the allergic reactions that some cats have to high-carbohydrate cat food formulas.

CHOCOLATE

Most pet owners are familiar with the fact that chocolate is bad for dogs, but it is actually fairly harmful for cats as well, although its effects on each cat vary in intensity. Chocolate can cause health symptoms such as rapid heartbeat, loss of fluids (due to chocolate being a diuretic), gastrointestinal problems (such as diarrhea, gas, and vomiting). In more severe cases, it can cause damage to the nervous system.  These symptoms are very similar to the symptoms of a caffeine overdose in humans. The active ingredient in chocolate harmful to cats is a methylxanthine called theobromine. Though consumption of chocolate is not always fatal to a cat, it can still be very harmful to a cat’s health. If you are aware that your cat has ingested chocolate or caffeine-containing substances, it’s very important to seek veterinary attention immediately. Failure to do so could be very dangerous to your cat’s health.

GARLIC/ONIONS

The fact that garlic and onions contain substances that are potentially harmful to cats is not very well-known among pet owners. Onions are slightly more toxic than garlic, though both garlic and onions present a serious health hazard to cats. Although dogs are sometimes affected by consuming garlic or onions, cats are much more susceptible to experiencing serious health problems from these substances. It’s very important to keep your cat from consuming onions, which is all the more true if you are feeding your cat a raw-food diet. Some pet owners will use onions or garlic when preparing a raw food meal for their cat, which can have serious adverse health reactions. The toxic substance contained in both garlic and onions is called methylcysteine sulfoxide. Once ingested, this substance causes symptoms such as asthma attacks, vomiting, diarrhea, general weakness, and anemia.

CITRIS OILS

Another cat food ingredient to avoid is citrus oils, commonly found in insecticidal treatments, shampoos, fragrances, and some food additives. It is particularly important that you never use dog products on cats with citrus oils, because there can be enough in the dosage to cause serious harm to your cat.  The active ingredients include Limonene and Linalool, and can cause trembling, drooling, depression, general weakness, and may be accompanied by a strong citrus smell. If your cat comes into contact with any citrus oils via the skin, bathe the pet immediately with liquid dish soap and warm water. Be sure to dry your cat well, and do not let them become cold. Afterwards, or in the event of an oral exposure, immediately take your cat to the veterinarian.

DIABETES IN CATS

Diabetes is most commonly seen in overweight cats, though may also be caused by several other facors. Once a cat has diabetes, it becomes the constant responsibility of their owner to aid in managing their condition. Diet is a very important part of caring for a diabetic cat, since there are many aspects of a diabetic cat’s diet that can either cause or prevent potential problems. In most cases, a cat that is given insulin is fed half of their portion of food before the insulin dose, and half of their food portion when the insulin is fully active. As the time between when an insulin dosage is given and the highest level of activity is different for each cat, it is always best to follow the advice of your veterinarian.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT DIABETIC CAT FOOD

When choosing the right type of cat food for a diabetic cat, there are several different factors that you need to take into consideration. If you are concerned about price, you may need to restructure your budget so that you can afford a diabetic cat food formula. Remember, fulfilling your cat’s nutritional needs is one of the most important things that you can do to give your cat the best care possible. Though a diabetic cat may need specialized nutrition, it is easy to choose the right diabetic cat food if you follow a few simple tips.

Since many cats with diabetes are overweight, you may have to choose a cat food formula that has approximately 25% fewer calories than a regular cat food formula. The majority of diabetic cats will do very well with a high-fiber cat food formula, since fiber slows the absorption of glucose in the digestive system. However, high-fiber cat food can create instestinal gas, which may not make these types of foods as suitable for cats that already have digestive problems. Also, recent medical research has suggested that a high-protein and high-fat diet may be just as effective as managing diabetes as a high-fiber diet.

HEALTH CONDITIONS THAT MAY REQUIRE LOW PROTEIN CAT FOOD

Given the research surrounding the use of low-protein diets for cats, it has been identified that a low-protein diet may be beneficial for cats with certain health conditions. One of the most common health conditions in a cat that may require a low-protein diet is renal failure, or kidney disease. However, this is not definitive. It is true that protein in a cat’s diet is converted to BUN (Blood Urea Nitrogen), which is one way of measuring how well a cat’s kidneys are functioning. It could be surmised that minimizing a cat’s consumption of protein could also minimize the production of BUN. However, the effectiveness with which a low-protein diet is able to be used to treat kidney problems is fairly inconclusive. Though some veterinarians will still recommend that a cat with renal failure be put on a low-protein diet, many veterinarians admit that the actual benefits of a low-protein diet for a cat with weak kidneys are not very helpful in managing this condition. Kidney failure is a fairly common problem among older cats, and usually requires extensive veterinary care. Though diet may be used as one part of treatment, it is always best to first seek the advice of your veterinarian.

POTENTIAL NEGATIVE ASPECTS OF LOW-PROTEIN CAT FOOD

Since cats are classified as “obligate carnivores”, they need to consume a diet consisting mainly of animal products. Cats in the wild survive off of an extremely high-protein diet, mostly eating caught animals as their sole source of sustenance. Though wild cats do consume some fruits, vegetables and grains, they only consume this type of nutrition from the stomach contents of their ingested prey. Some cat food formulas are marketed as being a “balanced” blend of grains, fruits, vegetables and protein. However, the word “balanced” can be slightly misleading when referring to cat food formulas. Most cats require a high level of protein in their diet, unless they have specific health needs that require them to consume less protein. As such, the marketing of lower-protein cat food formulas for a cat’s complete diet are still subject to much debate, both among veterinarians and pet nutritional experts. As of current research, there are minimal health benefits that have been associated with consuming a low-protein diet.

BENEFITS OF HIGH PROTEIN CAT FOOD

In most cases, many cat owners are firm believers in the fact that a high-protein diet is best for domesticated cats. This theory is based on the diet of cats in the wild, which contains a large amount of protein-based nutrition. Though cats do consume some vegetables and fruits from the contents of their “prey” in the wild, they are classified as “obligate carnivores”. The term “obligate carnivores” basically means that a cat will need to consume a large amount of protein in order to enjoy good health. Protein is very important for cats, which is a fact that is agreed upon by most cat nutritional experts.

Certain cat food companies add ingredients such as wild herbs to their cat food formulas. The concept behind this practice is that the health benefits of these specific herbs are commonly enjoyed by cats in the wild, through ingestion of their herb-consuming prey. The research on this subject is still slightly controversial, as some pet nutritionalists agree that cats only need a small amount of fruits and vegetables.

POTENTIAL NEGATIVE ASPECTS

A high-protein cat food is designed to give a cat the best possible nutrition, based around the diet of cats in the wild. Because of this, some high-protein cat food formulas can contain from 40-60% protein. Though most cat owners believe this is the best possible diet for a cat, there is some conflicting research that may make this concept slightly confusing. In theory any excess protein should be converted to fat, or passed through your cat’s urine. However, many believe that a chronic intake of excess protein can stress out the kidneys, causing irreversible damage. In addition to this, high-protein cat food formulas tend to be relatively expensive, since they contain a higher level of protein-based ingredients. A higher protein content means that there is less room for filler ingredients, which may sometimes be used to artificially raise the nutrition statistics of a cat food formula. Many pet owners argue against high-protein diets due to their cost, stating that you shouldn’t need to pay extra for something your cat may not need.

Despite this, however, most cats seem to thrive when given a high protein diet.

GENERAL NUTRITION

For the most part, the nutritional content of semi-moist cat food is fairly similar to that of other cat food formulas. The ingredients of semi-moist cat food are listed in descending order of content, so it is very important to read the ingredients label. As a general rule, the first five listed ingredients in a semi-moist cat food formula make up the bulk of the food.

HOW SEMI-MOIST CAT FOOD IS MADE

The process used to create semi-moist cat food is relatively similar to the process used to . However, the main difference in semi-moist cat food formulas is the drying process. Instead of being dried, semi-moist cat food is allowed to “cool”. This creates  a skin on the outside of the food pieces, and an additional layer of animal fat is added to make the food more appealing. Since semi-moist cat food formulas must be acidic to discourage growth of bacteria, special ingredients are added (such as hydrochloric acid or phosphoric acid). To help semi-moist cat food to remain soft, humectant ingredients are added to preserve moisture.

BENEFITS OF SEMI-MOIST CAT FOOD

Semi-moist cat food has a moisture content of approximately 35%. Because of this, it gives a cat a portion of their moisture needs. Even though additional water must be provided in order to prevent a cat from becoming dehydrated, a semi-moist cat food formula does give a cat some hydration.

POTENTIAL NEGATIVE ASPECTS OF SEMI-MOIST CAT FOOD

A commonly accepted potential negative trait of semi-moist cat food is that it tends to be relatively high in sugar. Sugar is used in semi-moist cat food formulas in order to bind the moisture to the food in a way which makes it unavailable to certain bacterias. Ingredients such as high fructose corn syrup and molasses are among the most commonly added sugars that are contained in semi-moist cat food formulas. Because of this, many cat owners choose not to feed their cats a semi-moist cat food formula. A cat’s digestive system does not efficiently process the simple carbohydrates found in these high carbohydrate ingredients, and too much sugar may very well interfere with a cat’s overall good health.

The first thing you may want to take into consideration when choosing the right type of food for your pet cat is price. While it’s very important that you feed your cat the highest quality food that you can afford, you may have to set a specific budget for your cat’s food. Depending on your budget, you may have to make a compromise between price and quality. While it may be tempting to purchase dry food, many wet food formulas are more condensed, and may not contain as many filler ingredients. However, canned cat food may be more expensive in some cases, since it contains a higher price compensation for the packaging materials used to make the can. While price is important, try to remember that your cat’s overall health is your responsibility, and can be directly affected by the quality of the food that you purchase.

Another thing to take into consideration when choosing a cat food formula is your cat’s life stage. Depending on how old your cat is, you may have to purchase different types of cat food formulas. In general, formulas labeled as being suitable for the “Kitten” life stage are for cats up to one year of age. An “Adult” cat food formula is suitable for cats from 1-7 years of age, and a “Senior” cat food formula is usually designed for cats that are over seven years of age.

If your cat has a specific medical condition, you may be able to choose a cat food formula that is specifically designed for cats with that condition. For example, there are cat food formulas designed to help cats that have problems with their urinary tract. In addition to this, there are many different specific formulas that are available for certain medical conditions that may affect cats. If your cat has special health needs, you may need to purchase a specially formulated cat food.

There are several different cat food formulas that are designed for cats that are overweight, or who are in danger of becoming overweight. These cat food formulas are usually much lower in calories than regular cat food formulas, and may even contain ingredients to boost your cat’s metabolism. The fat content of formulas designed for overweight cats is often much lower as well, usually around 9%. This is compared to regular cat food formulas, which can contain up to 20% fat in their guaranteed analysis.

AGE

Your cat’s age is a relatively important factor in determining how much you need to feed your cat. Depending on your cat’s age, they may need to eat a smaller or larger portion of cat food. In addition to this, a cat’s age also determines how often per day they will need to be fed. Cats in their “kitten” stage (which is defined as cats that are one year of age or younger) will usually require a specific cat food formula, proportionally different amounts of cat food, and more frequent feeding. An average adult cat will usually need to be fed twice per day, though some cat owners choose to only feed their cat once per day. In general, most commercial cat food companies will include a guided feeding chart on the packaging of their product. This chart is usually fairly accurate, and should be used as a general reference when trying to decide how much to feed your cat. However, this chart should not be used as a replacement for the advice of your veterinarian. If your veterinarian instructs you to only feed your cat a specific amount, you should refer to this advice when deciding how much to feed your cat.

WEIGHT

A cat’s weight plays an important part in deciding how much, how often and which type of cat food formula they need for optimum health. Because of the many commercial cat food companies who “bulk up” their cat food formulas with high-carbohydrate filler ingredients, more and more cats are becoming overweight when fed lower-quality food. Because of this, it may be necessary to adjust how much you feed your cat if they are overweight. It is general knowledge that it may be beneficial to feed an overweight cat slightly less than a cat of average weight. However, it may also be easier to split an overweight cat’s food portion up into smaller meals throughout the day. This will allow a pet cat’s metabolism to remain constantly active, and may help an overweight cat to become much healthier.

BREED

In certain cases, it may be necessary to adjust your cat’s food portions based on their breed. Just as all humans have different metabolic rates, this is also true for cats. Some cats may gain or lose weight when fed a specific portion, so it may be necessary to adjust how much they are fed. In general, being observant about your cat’s health is the best way of ensuring that they are receiving the proper nutrition.

A cat is technically classified as a kitten when they are one year of age or younger. Kittens are usually taken from their mother at six to eight weeks of age, at which time they can usually begin the transition to solid kitten food. However, if you have an orphaned kitten that is younger than six weeks of age, you will have to adopt a different type of nutritional plan in order to provide a younger kitten with the best possible nutrition. Some pet supply stores offer “kitten formula”, which is usually either available as a mixable powder, or a pre-mixed liquid solution. Kittens are also very vulnerable to disease when they have been orphaned, since a mother cat’s milk contains antibodies that help their immune system to develop. If you are caring for an orphaned kitten, it is always best to immediately seek the advice of your veterinarian. Depending on your kitten’s condition, a veterinarian may be able to provide your younger kitten with a nutritional plan, as well as advanced care.

If you are looking to feed a normal, healthy kitten, there are several different options available for a kitten food formula. Depending on your kitten’s preference, you may want to choose either a canned or dry kitten food formula. Most kittens have a much easier time consuming canned kitten food formulas, since their teeth are still developing. However, it is possible to mix dry and wet kitten food together, especially if you plan to switch your kitten to a strictly dry food diet. If your kitten is having trouble eating dry food, you can always mix it with a bit of milk, kitten formula or water. This will make the dry kibble much softer, and help a kitten to be able to chew it more effectively. If you notice that your kitten is passing dry food kibble through their system undigested, you should most likely make the switch to a canned kitten formula.

When feeding a kitten, you also have to keep in mind that kittens usually have different nutritional needs than adult cats. While some cat food formulas are labeled as being appropriate for “all life stages”, it is usually recommended that you purchase a food that is designed specifically for kittens. Growing kittens require some extra nutrients in order to develop properly, so try to research the general nutritional needs of cats in the kitten life stage. Most kittens have a slightly higher protein requirement than adult cats, and will require a specialized food formula. In most cases, canned kitten formulas are higher in many important nutrients, and are much less likely to contain filler ingredients. However, this is largely dependent on the brand, quality and standards of the kitten formula.

GRAIN-FREE

Since so many commercial cat food brands contain a high level of grain ingredients, more cats are developing food allergies to grains. As this has been rapidly increasing, many cat food companies have developed “grain-free” cat food formulas that can be fed to cats who have problems digesting grain ingredients. In addition to this, grain-free cat food formulas are said to provide overall health benefits for cats, since a cat’s diet does not require grain ingredients. Because cats are classified as “obligate carnivores”, their digestive system can’t properly digest a diet that contains a high level of carbohydrates. Grain-based cat food formulas are usually also very high in carbohydrates, and this can create certain problems for a cat’s gastrointestinal health. Many cats develop food allergies to wheat, soy, and other grains that are commonly used as fillers in commercial cat food formulas. Because of the growing popularity of grain-free diets, they have become more affordable and accessible for cat owners.

ALTERNATE PROTEIN SOURCES

Some cats may develop allergies to specific sources of protein, such as chicken, beef or eggs. If this happens, it is best to begin searching for cat food formulas that contain alternate protein sources. A commonly used protein source in hypoallergenic cat food is lamb, though some cats may be allergic to lamb as well. Chicken is a fairly common source of protein-based food allergies in cats, since it is contained in the majority of commercial cat food formulas. Some cat food companies incorporate exotic protein sources into their formulas, such as kangaroo or bison. Choosing a pet cat food formula that contains an exotic protein source is usually a good way to feed a cat who has protein-based food allergies. However, these types of cat food formulas are usually relatively expensive, since the protein sources are much more difficult to obtain. When looking for an alternate source of protein to feed your cat, it is very important to read the ingredients label extremely carefully. For example, if your cat is allergic to chicken, it is possible that a cat food formula may contain ingredients that are directly derived from chicken, though they may not be listed as “chicken-based”.