Cat Food And Nutrition
Cat Nutrition Comes From What Cats Eat
Seems more than obvious that cat nutrition comes entirely from what cats eat, but sometimes people ignore the old adage that you are what you eat. Choosing a cat food that is the best for your feline companion is easy to do when you know these simple facts.
What Is An Obligate Carnivore? All felines, including our domesticated companions are classified as obligate carnivores. Simply put, they are meant to eat meat. When you supply a diet rich in animal protein, you are feeding the most natural source of nutrients in a way that is biologically appropriate. The difference in fur, eyes, health, and energy-level, with meat-rich cat food is dramatic!
Why Is Taurine So Important To Cat Nutrition? Keeping in mind that what cats eat is meat, it’s important to know that taurine is absolutely essential to their diet. Felines are unable to produce this acid themselves so they must eat food with it. Without it, they will lose their sight, permanently! When you look at any label you will see that it shows the percentage of this essential nutrient. Companies and regulations make sure that this is included in all products for feeding felines, but it can be a concern for people who make homemade cat food.
How Do You Read A Label? Knowing what cats eat can only come from learning to read the label. Look for meat to be listed first; the ingredients are listed in order of the heaviest amount first down to the lightest. For the best cat nutrition possible, it is best if the meat is named. What does that mean? Rather than chicken by-products, look for chicken, chicken liver, chicken fat, and so on. Keep in mind, that since it is in order by weight, if there are multiple listings of a named meat, you are getting a great product!
Who Makes The Best Cat Food? This is not just a personal choice, but about knowing what cats eat for long and healthy lives. You already know your way around a cat nutrition label, and that tells you so much about a company! When they care enough to list named meat, that’s a huge vote of confidence. Check out their reputation and their website. Do they provide calorie counts? This is not required, and it means quite a lot if they provide that information. Care, or lack of it, shows up very quickly once you know how to examine the label.
When Should You Make The Change In Diet? We humans have a tendency to change our diets dramatically and suddenly, and this NOT recommended for your feline companions. Take the time to phase in a new cat food over a week or 10 days. Mix a little of the new with the old to start, and bump up the mix a bit every day. By gradually changing what cats eat, you are improving cat nutrition without causing tummy trouble. You may find that your companions are eating less as you make this change. Before you panic, check the recommended serving amount of the two products, you will often find a difference there!
In a snap you’ve learned what should go be in cat food, how to read a label, pick the right company, and make the diet change. There you have it, all you need to know about what cats eat and cat nutrition.
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