Did you know that your cat is just as picky about its food as you are? Besides the obvious fact that they don’t speak English, but rather a personal cat language. But the question remains: Are their standards just as high as ours? Are they willing to venture out and try new things? If you’ve got a fussy feline friend, then it probably doesn’t help if you feed them only wet food or kibble. You need to offer them a variety of different types of foods in order for them to become excited about eating. Luckily, there are a few clues that can point you in the right direction when it comes to finding the best food to feed your cats.
What is the Best Food to Feed Your Cats?
Now that you know what kind of food to eat, let’s take a look at what type of food may be best for your kitty. When it comes to ingredients, don’t be afraid of fresh food. Fresh, frozen, and in some cases even canned foods are not only better for your cat’s health, but they are more exciting to eat. They’re also typically more affordable. Avoid dry food that is full of carbohydrates. Your cat’s diet should be composed of around 60-65% protein, around 20-25% fat and the remaining 5-10% being carbohydrates. Cat foods that include a lot of carbohydrates and very little protein are not only giving your cat bad nutrition, but they are encouraging their natural digestive and urinary issues.
Understanding Why a Cat is Picky About Their Food
Cats are carnivores, which means they eat a diet that is high in protein and low in carbohydrates. You’re probably wondering why your cat is so picky about the food they eat. Well, cats are very discerning about their food because they have very specific dietary needs. For example, most cats only need twice a day feeding. They are particularly vulnerable to renal failure (kidney disease) in the late morning and early afternoon. This is when your cat naturally goes on a diet low in water, protein, and potassium. So, if you can avoid those times, your cat’s kidneys will thank you. Feeding your cat twice a day also prevents obesity. Obesity is something that you don’t have to worry about with a raw feed diet. Cats are obligate carnivores, which means that their bodies have evolved to process very specific nutrients.
Avoid Bad carbohydrates and fats
Let’s get the bad stuff out of the way. Cat food that is full of carbohydrates and fats is not helping your cat become more adventurous. Instead, they are more likely to become obese, have digestive issues, and develop urinary tract problems. For example, whole cornmeal is a bad carbohydrate. It’s cheap, but it’s also not very nutritious for your cat. It’s full of carbs, but not enough protein or vitamins to make it a good food. Whitefish and other fish are also high in carbohydrates and low in protein, which is not what your cat needs. Cornfed cat food is another misleading term that you should avoid. It’s a marketing term for corn, but it doesn’t tell you what else that ingredient is made of.
Don’t Be Afraid of Fresh Food
Another reason why you have to feed your cat a variety of different types of food is to promote variety. Sure, canned food, wet food, and dry food all taste good, but your cat will get bored if they only eat one type of food. The best way to keep your kitty interested in eating is to feed them different types of food. This will not only help them become more adventurous, but it will also help prevent dietary issues. How can you promote variety? There are a few options. You can feed your cat different brands of food, mix up their diets, or rotate their meals. You can also feed them different types of food at one sitting. This can be especially helpful for senior cats that may have a harder time getting their daily calories.
Check the Ingredient List
Now that you know what type of food to feed your cat, it’s important to know what exactly is in the food. The most important thing you need to know is what is not in the food. That is, what ingredients are not allowed in the food. This is where ingredient lists come in handy. That said, ingredient lists are not always entirely accurate, so you’ll have to do a little bit of digging. You’ll want to look for a few things when deciding what type of food to feed your cat. You’ll want to look for protein levels, vitamin levels, and essential minerals such as calcium and phosphorous. You’ll want to also keep an eye out for carbohydrates, fats, and other additives.
Get to Know Some of Your Cat’s Special Needs
Along with checking the ingredient list, you’ll also want to take a good look at some of your cat’s special dietary needs. These are things such as a feline diabetes diet, a feline hypoglycemia diet, a feline cancer diet, a gluten-free diet, a lactose-free diet, a feline pheromone diet, or a feline urinary tract health diet. These diet requirements are typically listed on the packaging of the food that you’ll be buying. They are also usually listed in the ingredients section. If not, ask the store employee where you can find the information. These diets usually recommend that you feed your cat a certain type of food, but they don’t tell you which brand to pick.
Conclusion
Your cat is a special, unique creature and deserves to be fed the best possible food. However, not all foods are created equally. Unfortunately, there are a few shady cat food companies trying to take advantage of unsuspecting pet owners by selling substandard food. Fortunately, there are plenty of great quality canned food options. And, when it comes to fresh food, you have plenty of options, including raw food diets. So, the next time you’re at the grocery store, check out the different foods that are on offer. Find the one that your cat seems the most excited about. And, once you’ve found the best food to feed your cats, you can stick with it.
