Have you heard the saying ‘you are what you eat?’ This applies to cats, too! it’s important to make sure your feline buddy is eating good, nutritious food. An Oshawa, ON vet offers a few helpful tips on this below.
What Fluffy Needs
Cats need specific nutrients to thrive. Fluffy’s menu will need to include at least 25% protein. This should come from meat, fish, or poultry. Kitties also need taurine, which is an amino acid, as well as other vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and fatty acids. Your furry pal’s exact nutritional needs will also depend on her age, weight, health, and lifestyle. Ask your vet for more information.
What Fluffy Doesn’t Need
You may be surprised to realize how many cat foods include ingredients that kitties don’t actually need. Some of these ingredients are actually bad for Fluffy! Avoid brands with a lot of fillers, such as corn, wheat, flour, and rice. Our feline friends just don’t eat these foods naturally. You’ll also want to be cautious of anything that contains things listed as meat ‘meals’ or ‘by-products.’ These terms are rather loosely defined, and can mean anything from offal to dead zoo animals. Look for a named protein source, such as chicken, fish, or salmon. Good foods will also list meat, fish, and poultry first and most often, and they won’t contain a lot of food coloring and/or other chemicals.
Variety
This one is a bit tricky. Changing your cat’s food too quickly or too often can sometimes cause stomach upsets. However, you don’t necessarily want to give Fluffy the exact same flavor every day. You may love burgers, but you’d get tired of them if they were all you ever ate. Changing things up a bit can also prevent food allergies and addictions. Ask your vet for specific advice on this.
Cost
It’s understandable that people may balk at the price tags of high-end brands. They can be a bit pricey. However, keep in mind that nutrients, not calories, will dictate how much Fluffy eats. Your kitty may need to eat twice as much of a lower-quality brand to get the nutrition she needs. Poor food can also cause or contribute to medical issues, which could also be quite expensive.Do you have questions about your cat’s health or care? As your local Oshawa, ON veterinary clinic, we’re here to help! Call us anytime!
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