Easy Homemade Cat Gravy
Your cat is sure to love the taste and flavor of this simple yet flavorful gravy. It is easy to make, as the name suggests, and it is full of flavor so your cat should not be shy of it. You can add veggies or meat as you see fit. Here are the basic ingredients that you will need:
- Simply put everything in a pot, and then let it simmer for at least 2 hours.
- After simmering, let the brew rest until it is lukewarm.
- Then serve the broth up, put it in the fridge, or store it in the freezer for later use.
If you added any bone, remove it before serving to your cats. Never give your cat a cooked bone, and never use leftovers from marinated meats or meats pre-cooked with condiments only plain, natural leftovers.
What About Vegan And Vegetarian Cat Food
Its understandable to have misgivings about the impact of the livestock industry and the amount of meat used to produce pet food. While we dont recommend any vegan foods, you can learn more about them in this article.
Many cats seem to do well on vegan food. A combination of plant ingredients and synthetic additives are capable of, at least according to our current understanding, recreating the mix of nutrients your carnivore requires. But it may be foolish to believe that we can recreate a perfect facsimile of the nutritional profile found in cats prey. Doing so may lead to unexpected nutritional deficiencies or overloads.
What Should I Look For In Food For Indoor Cats
When looking for the best cat food for indoor cats, you need to consider several factors such as:
- First Ingredient. High-quality cat foods must have animal proteins as their first ingredient. As obligate carnivores, cats thrive on meat-based protein sources.
- Ingredient Quality. All ingredients in the best cat food for indoor cats must be of premium quality and carefully blended into the optimal mix for the cats nutritional needs.
- Micronutrients. The ingredient list should include nutrients like vitamins, minerals, probiotics, prebiotics, fatty acids, and antioxidants. They are found in fruits, veggies, and fish oils.
- Nutritional Value. The best cat food for indoor cats will be high in meat proteins and low in carbohydrates. This is because indoor cats are prone to obesity.
- Life Stage. You need to make sure the food you are getting is suitable for your cats age. The adult cats needs are different from those of kittens and senior cats.
- Food Type & Taste. It is also important to check what type of food your cat likes best dry or wet cat food. The taste is also an essential factor to consider.
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How Much To Feed An Indoor Cat & The Importance Of Obesity Prevention
Obesity is a serious health problem that can affect humans and cats alike. In felines, obesity is associated a variety of additional health problems including liver disease, skin issues, diabetes, lameness, and increased complications associated with surgeries.
To the extent that the risk of these health issues can be avoided then, preventing obesity is one of the main reasons why proper pet nutrition is so critical.
What Causes Vomiting In Cats
Pinpointing the cause of vomiting can be difficult. The causes of acute or chronic vomiting can be identical, though there are some exceptions.
Ingestion of foreign bodies or toxic substances is generally a cause of acute rather than chronic vomiting.
Generally speaking, the causes of vomiting in cats can be divided into four categories:
Toxins may include everything from household chemicals to poisonous plants. Drugs that may cause vomiting include chemotherapy treatments, antibiotics, and anti-inflammatories.
Diet is one of the most common causes of vomiting in cats. Many cats have sensitive stomachs, so an acute episode of vomiting could be linked to a sudden change in diet. If youre going to change your cats diet, you should transition him slowly onto the new food to avoid this kind of digestive upset.
Vomiting can also be caused by eating spoiled food, garbage, or a dead animal. It may also be caused by a sensitivity or dietary intolerance to an ingredient in the food.
Here are some of the ingredients most likely to trigger a dietary intolerance or sensitivity:
- Artificial preservatives
- Common proteins
If toxins, drugs, and diet dont seem to be the issue, your cat may be suffering from an underlying disease or disorder thats causing his vomiting.
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Best Food For Indoor Cats
Choosing to become a parent to a new cat is a big decision and comes with even bigger responsibilities. You are entirely responsible for your kittys health and development, and as such, you will have some important choices to make regarding her care. One of the most critical things to consider will be what you are going to feed your new furbaby.
Diet and nutrition is an essential element of your cats care and can make all the difference as to whether she grows into and remains a healthy adult, or is malnourished, weak and will almost certainly have a shorter life expectancy. Therefore, you must be completely certain that you are providing her with the right nutrition for her age, size and current health.
While indoor and outdoor cats can eat primarily the same diet, an indoor cat who is less active than her outdoor cousin, may be more prone to gaining weight. For this reason, it is essential that you monitor your kittys weight and consider feeding her a diet that is formulated specifically for cats that have the indoor, sedentary lifestyle.
How Often Should I Feed My Cat
In short, it depends. The frequency of feeding depends on several factors, such as age, lifestyle, and overall health. For example, kittens do best with eating small meals throughout the day, while adult cats are usually fine with eating just twice a day.
Free-choice feeding, in which food is left out all day, is convenient if you are not home for most of the day. However, this feeding method puts cats at risk of overeating and gaining excess weight. Providing meals at specific times of day and in specific amounts will help control your cat’s food intake and prevent overeating.
Your veterinarian can help you come up with a feeding plan that is ideal for your cat.
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Best Raw: Merrick Backcountry Raw Infused Dry Cat Food
Amazon
Weight: 10 pounds| Form: Dry | Flavor: Game Bird Recipe | Life Stage: Adult
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Rich in omega-3 fatty acids
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Uses chicken and turkey meal
If you are partial to raw ingredients, Merrick Backcountry Raw Infused is your best option. This all-natural dry cat food caters to an ancestral feline diet. It’s full of crave-worthy animal protein, including freeze-dried whole pieces of raw fish or game birds that help your cat’s food taste fresh.
This grain-free and digestion-friendly recipe is full of taste, texture, and smell your cat will love. It is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which promote healthy fur and skin.
What Your Indoor Cat Needs In Its Diet
Kitties are obligate carnivores, which means meat needs to be the essential component of their diet. This is because they evolved in the wild eating mostly small prey, such as rodents, birds, snakes, and insects.
Adult cats actually need upwards of 3 times more protein than dogs do!
A raw foods diet tends to be a great source of sufficient protein. But given the often prohibitive expense and inconvenience of this type of diet, quality canned cat food is also a good choice.
Dry kibble can also work well, although it’s important to get a high quality brand. It’s almost too easy to find a food loaded with artificial and synthetic junk which can harm your pet’s health in the long run.
As a general rule, if you’re going with dry kibble, stick with products that don’t contain grain and offer at least 35% protein content.
Other important things your pet needs include:
Fat:
The concept of low-fat as a healthy eating style is a myth for cats . Cats need ample sources of quality fats in their diet to use for energy and to help with the development and function of skin, hair, muscle and joints, and even the immune system.
The important types of fats, including omega 3, 6, and 9 fatty acids can be found in things like flax, sardines, krill, salmon, and other fish. A decent guideline is around 250 mg of omega 3 fatty acids per day, which are easy to supplement into your pet’s diet in the form of fish oil.
Moisture:
Carbohydrate:
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Blue Buffalo Indoor Adult Dry Cat Food Meaty Choice
Pros
Cons
- More expensive than other options
Blue Buffalo is a brand that is dedicated to quality in every sense of the word. Known for their top quality natural ingredients, Blue Buffalo started out as a small niche pet food company in 2002 and has since rocketed up the ladder to the top of the natural pet food industry. Blues specially formulated Indoor Health dry cat food ticks all our boxes and is our staff choice for best cat food for indoor cats.
Nutrition & Ingredients
Its always good to see real meat as the top ingredient and this dry cat food doesnt disappoint deboned chicken is the first listed ingredient providing the bulk of the kibbles 32% protein. This special formula is tailored to suit the needs of an indoor cat with L-carnitine to help manage weight as well as notable vitamin-filled natural antioxidants and fiber sources like cranberries, blueberries, spinach and kelp. Of course Blues dry food for indoor cats also includes their trademarked Lifesource Bits that promote a healthy immune system, amongst other healthful benefits. All-natural and providing about 400 kcals per cup, cat parents can rely on Blue Buffalo Indoor Health Adult Dry Cat Food to provide adult indoor cats with a nutritious well-balanced diet.
What Are Buyers Saying?
The Bottom Line
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.
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Best For Cats Who Get A Lot Of Hairballs: Hill’s Science Diet Urinary Hairball Control From $20
Cats are famous for getting hairballs, which can happen after they swallow too much hair while they’re grooming. Over time, it builds up in their systems, leading to those icky tubes of hair that you’ve probably seen come out before. To help them manage this chronic problem better, Pet Supplies Plusâs Donnelly recommends Hillâs Science Diet Urinary Hairball Control, writing that it has âthe optimal level of magnesium to support the health of the whole urinary system natural fiber comfortably reduces hairballs vitamin E, omega-3s -6s for beautiful skin and fur.â
The Best Cat Food For Indoor Cats Reviewed
Breed recommendation: All breed sizes
Item package dimensions: 24.09 x 15.5 x 4.84 inches
Item weight: 22 pounds
Life stage: All
Protein content: 9.5%
About This Item
One of the best dry cat food for indoor cats is IAMS ProActive dry cat food. It contains a lot of protein, which will give your pet a lot of energy and the building blocks for strong muscles.
This cat formula is the best for indoor cats and contains 10% less fat than its original version. Also, it contains fat-burning L-Carnitine and a unique carbohydrate blend that promotes fullness and satisfaction.
The healthful combination of whole grains, beets, and rice in this cat food aids digestion while minimizing hairballs and odors in the litter box. Also, its nutrient-dense composition comes in crunchy kibbles to help prevent tartar buildup, ensuring the health of your cats teeth and gums. This bag may be just what you need if you have more than one adult cat.
IAMS Proactive Health Adult Indoor Weight and Hairball Care Dry Cat Food with chicken and turkey come in a 22 pounds bag. The first ingredient in this nutrient-dense cat food is chicken, which helps build strong muscles and gives your cat plenty of energy to play.
With L-carnitine that this cat food contains, your cat can burn fat and maintain a healthy metabolism.
Recommended Uses
- This cat food is best for both adult cats and kittens. However, you should feed young kittens a wet meal specifically for their life stage.
First Ingredients
Brand: Blue Buffalo
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Purina Pro Plan Focus Adult Urinary Tract Health Best For Urinary Health
Purina Pro Plan has developed this food to protect your cats urinary tract. If youre looking for the best Purina cat food for urinary tract health, this food has been formulated to produce a low urine pH, which Purina has proven reduces the occurrence of some crystals in the urine. This means its less likely that your cat gets the most common types of bladder crystals or stones. They also reduced sources of dietary magnesium this should reduce the chance of struvite crystal formation.
Although this diet has lots of great benefits, its not a replacement for a prescription diet, which can actually treat urinary conditions. If your vet recommends a prescription diet that your cat wont eat, you should ask them for alternative suggestions to ensure your cat is still getting the benefits they need. Its also often best to increase water intake for cats with urinary issues, so a wet diet is preferable to a dry one.
Whilst the vast majority of cats do not need to gain weight, elderly cats or those recovering from illness may benefit from extra calories to regain condition. And just giving them extra portions of their usual diet wont necessarily be enough- sometimes their tiny stomachs cant take in all the nutrients they need unless the food youre feeding is calorie-dense. Kitten food is higher in calories and can be fed to adult cats for a short time to help them gain weight.
- Not suitable for long term feeding
The 8 Best Cat Foods For Indoor Cats In 2022
Much like figuring out the right nutrition for yourself, deciding what to feed your indoor cat can feel a bit overwhelming. How much protein should the food contain? Are carbs bad for cats? Is wet food better than dry food?
Worry not, we researched hundreds of cat food options to come up with the top 10 picks for indoor kitties. Weve also included a guide on what to look for when choosing food, because ensuring your cat leads a healthy and happy life starts with a complete and balanced diet.
A quick note: Were reader supported! If you buy a product through our links we may earn a commission. The price you pay will always be the same as normal.
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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.
Hills Prescription Diet T/d Dental Care Cat Food Best Overall
It might surprise you that my number one dry food for cats is a dental care diet, but dental problems are very commonly encountered in cats and have now been proven to affect heart and kidney health. So what could be more important than looking after kittys teeth? Whilst most dry foods dont seem to have any impact on dental health, the Hills t/d diets are clinically proven to reduce plaque and tartar build-up. The kibble shape, size, and texture helps to clean your cats teeth, therefore reducing the occurrence of dental plaque. Its got the Veterinary Oral Health Council Accepted Product seal, too- so you know its clinically proven and a vet recommended cat food to help with dental problems. If youre going to feed dry food to your cat, Id strongly recommend you buy a food that works as hard as this one at keeping them healthy. The only catch is the price tag- as a clinically-proven diet, it costs a lot more than the average bag of pet food at the supermarket! Its also a prescription diet, which means it needs veterinary approval- but most vets will not hesitate to provide your supplier with the correct authorization.
To sum up, we believe this one is the best dry cat food available today.
- Requires veterinary authorization
- If youre looking for more premium cat food options, check out our complete reviews of the best premium cat foods this year here.
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