Healthiest Cat Food For Indoor Cats

Can I Give Human Food To My Cat

There are some human foods that are safe for your cat. A small amount of boiled chicken breast or a few flakes of tuna can be a tasty treat for your cat when given occasionally. However, feeding human food can mean lots of extra calories for your cat, so its important to feed cat sized amounts to keep them at a healthy weight. There are also some human foods that are toxic to cats, so if in doubt stick with food that has been made specifically for cats and skip the scraps.

Dry Cat Food Versus Wet Or Canned Cat Food

Dry cat food is a popular choice partly because it is more convenient than wet cat food. Dry food is cost-effective, odorless, and it can be stored for long periods of time without spoiling, says Ferris.

But Julien notes that dry cat food can also be higher in carbohydrates than wet cat food. Just as you think about all the sourdough youve been eating while baking at home, you should also consider the amount of carbs your cat is eating. An active cat can absolutely use carbohydrates as an energy source, says Julien, adding that a sedentary aka indoor cat will store extra carbs as fat.

Wet food requires a bit more effort it has to be refrigerated once the can or pouch is opened and can be more expensive. But it may also help cats get more water in their diet . Canned or wet food has higher levels of protein and fat, making it a great option for cats of various lifestyles and ages, says Kornreich.

Take Measurements Of The Food

Determine how much food your cat genuinely needs using the advice from your veterinarian or based on your cats activity level and desired weight. Once you determine how much food your cat requires, weigh or measure the food for each meal.

Remember that cats are little, and while the portion may appear insignificant to you, a few extra kibbles can mean the difference between maintaining weight and gaining weight.

Using a smaller feeding dish will make you feel like the meals youre giving your cat arent so little! Also, always feed your cat the correct number of meals every day.

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Can I Feed My Cat Raw Meat

Its possible to feed your cat raw meat. However, you need to be careful because it can have serious health risks. Raw meat is full of nutrients that your cat needs, but it can also contain pathogens, parasites and toxins. If your cat gets sick after eating raw meat, it may indicate that its caused by a parasite thats found in raw meat. This parasite, known as Toxoplasma gondii, is common in most cats and can be transmitted by their feces. So, raw meat may contain something that makes your cat sick. If your cat is old or sick, feeding it raw meat may make it even sicker. If youre not sure if feeding your cat raw meat is right for it, talk to your vet about how to feed your cat.

Feeding Your Adult Cat

Once your cat has grown up, theyll move onto an adult diet. These contain a balance of nutrients that will maintain your cats energy, and keep them healthy and at their ideal weight.

Your cat is usually considered to be an adult from around 1 year old until theyre 7-10 years old. There are many types of adult cat food, some of which have been designed for different lifestyles, such as indoor cats, or cats that have been neutered. You may also need to feed your cat a specific diet if they have a medical condition or need to lose weight. If youre not sure which diet is best for your adult cat, ask your vet for help.

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What Were Looking For

Life stage: The most important part when youre buying food for your pet is looking for the nutritional-adequacy statement and making sure its for the appropriate life stage for your pet, says Martha G. Cline, a certified veterinary nutritionist at Red Bank Veterinary Hospital in New Jersey. All pet food should have a nutritional-adequacy statement from the Association of American Feed Control Officials noting whether it meets the standards for growth , adult maintenance , or all life stages .

Nutritional breakdown: Unlike with human food, you generally wont find a nutrition label on your cats food breaking down the specific quantities of carbohydrates, fat, and protein it contains. For the most part, McKenzie says thats okay since all food that meets AAFCO standards will provide a sufficient amount of all macronutrients. There is a range within which cats can thrive, and individual cats all have slightly different needs, he says, adding that nearly all commercial diets fall within these ranges.

Feeding Your Older Cat

As your cat gets older, they need a diet to meet their more mature needs. Your cat is often considered to need an adult plus or senior diet when they are around 7-10 years old , and they are classed as geriatric or aging once they are over 10-14 years old. Senior or aging cat foods tend to be more easily digestible and contain a balance of nutrients which can help to compensate for some of the changes older cats experience.

Diets for older cats will contain different amounts of certain nutrients compared to younger adult foods. There are some parts of your cats diet that become harder for them to process as they get older, such as salt. The altered amounts in senior foods help to support their organs, such as their kidneys, as well as helping them maintain their weight and muscle.

Its important to know that many senior and geriatric cat foods often contain more calories per gram compared to adult cat foods. This may mean you need to reduce the amount youre feeding them to make sure youre giving them the calories they need each day.

With geriatric and senior cats, its even more important to monitor them closely to check how much theyre eating and drinking each day. Eating less, eating/drinking more or losing weight can be a symptom of problems such as organ disease , dental problems or diabetes, which become more common as your cat ages. If youre worried, always speak to your vet for advice.

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Treats Are Exactly Thattreats

Cat treats, like human treats, are generally higher in calories and therefore ought to be given sparingly. The VCA website recommends using them strategically when training or curbing behaviors, or even as part of a bonding activity. If your cat ends up eating treats too often, it can disrupt their nutritional balance, impede their appetite for the food they really need, and can even cause them to become picky eaters. Make sure you know which common foods are toxic to cats before you feed them.

How Do You Read A Cat Food Label

Cat food labels are long and loaded with complicated words. Therefore they are hard to read and understand. To make things easy, we will list the few things you need to pay attention to:

• Ingredient list. Since cats are obligate carnivores, animal-sourced proteins should be high on the list
• Guaranteed analysis. Explains the percentage of each nutrient found in the diet
• Calorie content statement. Must be clearly listed andexpressed in kilocalories or k/cals
• AAFCO complete and balanced statement. To ensure the diet is complete and third-party lab-tested.

But, what does the abbreviation AAFCO mean? AAFCO stands for Association of American Feed Control Officials a voluntary membership association of local, state, and federal agencies that regulate the sale and distribution of animal feeds and animal drug remedies.

In other words, the AAFCO sets pet food nutrition standards based on the requirements of the National Research Council . Practically speaking, a cat food labeled as AAFCO-approved is considered to be of high quality.

With that being said, we should say that you also need to look beyond labels, claims, and popular keywords. For example, lets discuss two ingredients with bad reputations meat by-products and grains.

When a food includes meat by-products, it is immediately discarded as low-quality. This is not necessarily true. , if properly sourced and processed, can be healthy. In fact, raw-feeders base their meals on meat by-products .

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Whats The Difference Between Indoor Cat Food Vs Regular Cat Food

While indoor and outdoor cats have the same basic nutritional needs, indoor cats have lower activity levels and need to eat in such a way to compensate for it. Food specifically made for indoor cats tends to be low in calories. To further differentiate it from diet cat food it may be formulated to reduce hairballs as indoor cats get more of those than outdoor cats.

This food often has more fiber to help push the hair through before it can form into a ball. Indoor cat food tends to have less fillers, so that’s always good. You don’t want to just fill your cat’ you want to nourish your cat.

On the downside, indoor formula cat food is not as high in protein as needed. In order to reduce calories, meat products are switched out for high fiber vegetables. This is great for sedentary humans who want to lose a couple of pounds, but not for the obligate carnivore that a cat is. This food is also bad news if your cat has gluten allergies. Other additives in this food include cellulose, salt, poultry byproducts and flours.

Portion control is key. If you fill up the bowl and just leave it, Kitty may gorge herself on it. The packaging should give you a recommended serving size. Keep in mind that a small cat may not need as much food as a bigger cat. Talk to your vet about what portion sizes would be best for your cat.

Wellness Core Pate Wet Kitten Food

The wet food by Wellness Natural pet food is loved by cats and kittens. It is a protein-rich, grain, and gluten-free cat food that fulfills all the nutritional needs of the cats.

The enrichment of turkey, chicken, chicken liver, and broth make this cat food flooded with proteins, minerals, and vitamins. The omega fatty acids keep the coat and skin healthy. The high moisture level keeps the cat well hydrated. All the nutrients mixed take care of the immunity, strong teeth, good digestion, and healthy eyes of the cat.

The added amount of Taurine helps in improving the health of the heart, eyes, and muscles of the cats. This cat food is suggested by many veterinarians and nutritionists

Best Grain Free Indoor Cat Food

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Is Commercial Cat Food Necessary For Cats

We keep dry food as recommended by our vet available at all times to our cat. He greatly prefers the wet food, and most weeks doesnt even touch the dry food. Still, I dont want to have to worry that Im not giving him enough, so I do have a feeder for Bob that always has dry food in it.

I dont think that a little dry food here and there is bad for cats, but I would always want to have raw meat, including organ meats, as the main part of their diet.

Best Organic: Castor & Pollux Organix Grain Free Organic Cat Food

Amazon

Weight: 10 pounds| Form: Dry | Flavor: Chicken & Sweet Potato | Life Stage: All

• Some cats refuse to eat it

If you’re looking for an organic option, pick up a bag of Castor & Pollux Organix. This grain-free dry cat food is cooked in a certified organic kitchen. The number-one ingredient is free-range chicken, which is combined with a nutritional superfood blend of cranberries, coconut oil, and flaxseed. It doesn’t have any added growth hormones, antibiotics, or artificial preservatives.

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What Cats Shouldnt Eat

A good rule of thumb is to not let your cat eat human food. A piece of cooked egg or meat from time to time is OK, but many foods can be harmful even in small amounts. For a comprehensive explanation of food safety for your cat, take a read through our veterinarian-written pet safety guide.

The following foods are on the do not eat list for felines:

• Garlic: Theres a myth that garlic will rid your cat of worms, not true!
• Grapes and raisins
• Raw eggs, meat or fish: Bacteria in raw foods can cause food poisoning and interfere with essential vitamins and minerals.
• Artificial sweeteners
• Cow milk: Contrary to popular belief, a saucer of milk isnt good for a kitty. Most are actually lactose intolerant.
• Coffee, tea, soda: Avoid giving your cat caffeine of any kind.
• Fruits with a pit
• Dog food: Cats seem to love dog food and though they have many of the same ingredients, a diet of dog food can lead to malnourishment in cats.
• Liver: Small amounts of liver in cat food are fine, but due to high vitamin A content, it should never be the first ingredient in a cat food recipe. Too much vitamin A can lead to deformed bones and osteoporosis in cats.
• Alcohol: Even a small amount of alcohol can cause a coma or death in cats.
• Bread dough or anything with yeast
• Tuna: This one surprised us, too! Tuna in smaller quantities is fine, but tuna shouldnt make up the majority of a cats diet. It lacks several necessary nutrients and can lead to mercury poisoning.

Kitten Adult Or Senior

Cats are roughly divided into three age groups kitten, adult and senior when it comes to cat food.

While you might have a good idea of which bucket your cat falls into, Julien recommends consulting your veterinarian about your cats specific dietary needs in conjunction with age, and to get an expert read on what needs or restrictions your cat might be exhibiting. Kittens need more energy-producing nutrients like proteins and fats and more vitamins, minerals and water than adult cats, says Ferris. Formulas made specifically for kittens provide these nutrients in the right amounts.

Most cats will move from kitten kibbles to adult food on their first birthday. Ferris tells pet owners its important to gradually work in new food over a week to help avoid upsetting your feline friends stomach. Adult cat food likely has less calories than kitten cuisine, while senior food will likely be geared toward the specific health of your cat they might have trouble chewing or a reduced ability to smell and taste.

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What Should I Feed My Cat

With so many different cat foods available, choosing one can feel a bit overwhelming! Heres what to look out for when picking the best diet for your cat:

Complete: Always feed your cat a food that is labelled complete because this means that it contains all the nutrients they need. Complementary foods can be given in small amounts alongside their main diet.

Commercially available: Its really difficult to give your cat everything they need in a homemade diet so we advise to always buy a commercial cat food rather than making your own at home. You can buy these from pet shops, vets, supermarkets or from our PDSA Pet Store.

Life stage appropriate: The nutrients your cat needs will change as they grow older for this reason, its important to make sure youre always feeding the right food for their stage of life i.e. kitten, adult or senior. If your cat has any extra requirements such as being pregnant, needing to lose weight, or if they have a chronic illness, speak to your vet about ensuring their food is right for this, too.

Pet Food Manufacturers Association : Look for a manufacturer that is part of the PFMA. Food manufacturers who are members of this organisation meet extra quality standards than the legal minimum.

Are Cheaper Dry Cat Foods Better

Before you assume that cheaper dry cat food will be better for your bank account, remember that cheap foods are often a false economy.

Studies show cats will eat as much as they need to get the nutrients required. They may eat twice as much of carbohydrate-rich food not giving them the right nutrition just so that they can get the right nutrients they would need from a smaller portion of better food.

To ensure your cat gets the healthy food they need, its important to look for the right selection of assurances.

For instance, the food must pass the feeding test for the life stage recommended in the label.

The composition of the food also needs to exceed nutrient levels established by AAFCO. Preservatives, included in commercial pet foods shouldnt cause too much of a problem in most pets, but its worth avoiding anything with too many.

Other points to think about include:

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Feeding Your Indoor Cats

All cats are naturally grazers when it comes to feeding. But with an indoor cat, this free-range style of feeding should be carefully controlled to ensure they are not consuming more calories per day than their indoor activity levels can burn off. Your aim is to keep your pet at a healthy constant weight, for them to enjoy their food and to get all the nutrients and energy they need to live a full and happy life as an indoor cat.

It is recommended that your indoor cat is fed twice a day with no additional food supplementation in-between so you can manage and monitor their food intake. Most veterinary experts also recommend a wet cat food diet to help supplement their hydration. If you are in any doubt what and how to feed your indoor cat, then a chat with your vet or veterinary nutritionist can be really helpful.