Cat Food For Eye Health

Discoloration Of The Iris

The iris is the colored rim of tissue that surrounds the dark pupil at the center of a cats eye. Normally, a cats eye color doesnt change in adulthood . However, a condition called iris melanosis can result in the development of brown freckles or patches of pigment on the iris, usually in middle-aged to older cats. Iris melanosis typically does not cause any problems, but severe cases may result in dysfunction of the iris and sometimes glaucoma .

While iris melanosis is usually not a serious condition, it can be confused with iris melanoma, a potentially serious type of cancer. If you see a new patch of dark pigment on your cats iris, bring it to your veterinarians attention. He or she should be able to tell you whether it is anything to worry about after performing an eye exam.

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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.

Treating Cat Eye Infections

Bacterial infections and viral infections have the potential to cause a lot more damage that may not be limited to the eye.

For instance, secondary bacterial infections can lead to pneumonia or other severe ailments. It is imperative that any cat with an eye infection is examined, properly diagnosed, and treated by a veterinary professional.

Treatment may include antibiotics, medications to control the clinical or physical signs, and supportive care.

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The Top 10 Best Cat Foods For Skin And Coat

The best cat food for skin and coat will be rich in high-quality animal proteins and healthy fats with limited carbohydrate content. Remember to look for a blend of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids as well as skin-supporting nutrients like Vitamin E, biotin, zinc, and Vitamin A. If youre not sure where to start, here are our top picks for the best cat food for skin and coat:

Keratitis: When The Cornea Is Inflamed

As with most eye conditions, this inflammation of the see-through cornea that covers the iris and the pupil can be painful and cause blindness if the underlying cause is left untreated. Testing can help a veterinarian uncover the bacteria or virus at work and prescribe a pain-relieving and illness-fighting treatment plan. Especially with viruses, treatment can take time, and the condition could return, so its possible your veterinarian may recommend adjustments along the way.

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Preventing Future Eye Infections

Regular checkups with your vet are vital in making sure your cat is as healthy as possible. If he has been diagnosed with allergies or hayfever, then eye infections may be a more common occurrence.

If your cat goes outdoors, the chances of him getting into a scrap with another neighborhood cat is higher than if he were strictly an indoor cat.

While you cant prevent all instances of infections, you can keep him as healthy as possible with a good diet, regular checkups and a limited outdoor experience.

Have a list of ingredients on hand from the home remedies list so that you can mix up a solution as soon as you notice any sign of eye infection. The quicker you take action, the more likely it will heal without having to go to the vet.

As a pet owner you know how important it is to keep your cat as healthy and happy as possible. It isnt always easy to know what to do when our pets dont feel well. With the tips above, you can at least have peace of mind knowing that eye infections can be cleared up quickly.

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Do you have any home remedies youd like to share? Wed love to hear from you! Share your stories and tips below.

Home Remedy Nutraceutical Treatments

There are several different options for nutraceutical treatments:

• Combine 4 drops of organic apple cider vinegar with 4 tbsp distilled water and stir well. Administer eye drops 2 3 times a day until the infection clears. This should not be used for pink eye.
• Combine 4 drops of lemon juice with 2 tbsp distilled water and stir well. Again, 2 3 drops every 2 3 times per day. This should not be used with pink eye.
• Combine 2 tbsp organic honey with 2 tbsp distilled water and stir well. Administer 2 3 drops 2 3 times per day until the infection clears. This can be used with pink eye.
• Combine 4 drops of Oregon grape tincture with 1 ounce of distilled water and mix well. Administer 2 3 drops 2 3 times per day until the infection clears. This shouldnt be used to treat pink eye.

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Scraps Are Off The Table

Some of the foods on your plate arenât healthy for your kitty. Even if they beg, donât be tempted to feed them grapes, raisins, onions, nuts, chocolate, garlic, and uncooked bread dough. Raw meat or eggs and bones are also dangerous.

Why? Sudden changes in your catâs diet can lead to vomiting and diarrhea. In some cases, those with sensitive digestive systems can get pancreatitis from eating table scraps, which can be fatal. Raw meat and eggs can have harmful bacteria, and your kitty could choke on bones or risk getting a piece of one stuck in their digestive tract. Other foods such as those listed above are considered toxic.

And itâs best to skip the saucer of milk. If your catâs body doesnât have the right enzymes to break down lactose , they could get very sick.

The Honest Kitchen Grain

If you love the idea of feeding your cat fresh or raw food, but you dont want to deal with the hassle, consider The Honest Kitchen Grain-Free Chicken Recipe Dehydrated Cat Food. This brand uses human-grade ingredients and a gentle drying process to preserve the nutritional integrity high-quality ingredients for maximum nutrition and flavor. This recipe is loaded with premium animal protein and fresh fruits and vegetables for optimal nutrition all you have to do is rehydrate it before feeding.

• Pros: Made with human-grade ingredients, loaded with premium protein, grain-free, whole-food ingredients, dehydrated to preserve nutritional integrity
• Cons: Needs to be rehydrated before feeding, some cats dislike the texture

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How Does Cat Vision Work

Cat eyes feature a lot of the same working parts found in human and other animal eyes. The cornea, iris, pupil, lens, and retina work together to control and focus the amount of light entering the eye. Cone cells and rod cells inside the retina allow cats to see in dim light and calculate distance and speed. This makes them excellent hunters, and capable of seeing about six times better than humans in dim lighting! Can you imagine trying to track and catch a mouse with only the light of the moon to help you see? Your cat can!

Keeping Your Cats Eyes Healthy

The best way to keep your cats eyes healthy is to keep her immune system strong. Take good care of the cat, says veterinarian Dr. Andrea Tasi. Most feline eye problems are related to the herpes virus, and a strong immune system will prevent or minimize issues. She adds that stress management is an important part of maintaining health in cats prone to herpes flare-ups.

Veterinarian Dr. Karen Becker agrees. The key to feline eye health is to recognize genetic predispositions and environmental stressors early, and begin supporting vision long before there are visible changes to your cats eyes, she says. In addition to feeding a biologically-appropriate diet rich in naturally-occurring antioxidants, supplements can also be helpful. Vitamins E and C, lutein, zeaxanthin and bilberry can play a beneficial role in slowing age-related ocular degeneration, says Dr. Becker. Supplemental Omega 3 essential fatty acids found in krill, sardine, anchovy or squid oils also cross the blood-brain barrier to nourish ocular well-being throughout a cats life.

Your cat may or may not experience eye problems during his lifetime, but its wise to support his ocular wellness with a healthy lifestyle, and be aware of any symptoms that may indicate an issue needing attention.

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Best Dry Food For Indoor

If your cat isnt allowed past the front door, Dr. VanDuzer often recommends Iams Proactive Health Indoor Weight and Hairball Care Dry cat food. Indoor only cats often have weight issues and this formula helps control weight. This formula also decreases vomiting due to hairballs with the addition of beet pulp, a natural laxative that doesnt cause diarrhea. Indoor-only cats tend to develop hairballs more often than their outdoor counterparts. Longer hair that sheds in the spring, over-grooming, digestion dysfunction, or deficiencies in the diet are some causes. Find out the reasons behind all your cats silly behaviors.

Via Chewy.com

Glaucoma: When Eye Pressure Is Too High

A healthy eye moves fluid in and out from behind the lens of the eye. If that fluid is blocked up, the increased pressure can cause damage to the cat’s eye, which can affect the cats vision and cause discomfort. According to the Cornell Feline Health Center at Cornell Universitys College of Veterinary Medicine, most cases of glaucoma in cats can be caused by inflammation or infection of the eyes drainage ducts, which allows pressure to build up in the affected eye. But in other cases, the cause of glaucoma can include inflammation, dislocation of the lens, a tumor, or damage to the eye.

Signs of glaucoma might include an enlarged eye, a cloudy cornea , redness in the eye, a dilated pupil that doesn’t react properly to light, squinting, pain in the eye, or excessive tears.

Because glaucoma can lead to blindness, its important to call your vet as soon as you suspect an issue. Your veterinarian will work to treat and manage underlying medical issues, like inflammation of parts of the eye . However, if glaucoma cannot be controlled, your vet may recommend surgery or even complete removal of the eye to alleviate pain associated with the condition.

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We Looked For Brands With Excellent Reputations

Remember that youre relying on the cat food company to provide your cat the nutrition they need to stay healthy and vibrant potentially for the rest of their life.

You need a company and a brand that you can trust. While it doesnt tell us everything about the brand, a companys recall history provides key insights into its ethics, safety standards, and the quality of its products.

If a company faces voluntary, or worsemandatoryrecalls every five years, purchasing from that company could subject your cat to three or more potentially harmful slip-ups during their lifetime.

A communicative, transparent company isnt afraid to share information with their customers. We gauged the quality of cat food companies by contacting their customer support lines and evaluating their customer service. We gave preference to companies that responded promptly and were willing to provide key information.

Additionally, we paid attention to what other customers were saying about the brand. Through social media, blogging, reviews on retail platforms, and sites like Consumer Reports, consumers can easily share their complaints or praises with the world.

We read these reviews and used them to assess the customer experience.

The Best Cat Food On The Market: Our Top Picks

At the top of the list is Smalls Cat Food. Its hard to beat this wet foods combination of outstanding protein content, emphasis on animal-sourced ingredients, and exclusion of additives that might harm your cat over time.

Though it satisfies our requirements for the best wet cat food, this product isnt perfect for everyone. Our product roundup includes options for cats and people of all kinds.

Youll find raw foods, products well-suited to cats with sensitive stomachs, and options that will help your cat lose weight.

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Close The Kitty Buffet

Many cat owners make a point to leave a full food bowl out all day, especially if their cat is a picky eater. But itâs better to stop them from grazing. If food is only out at certain times, even the choosiest of cats should eventually eat. Also, you may want to talk to your veterinarian about the best feeding schedule for your petâs age — kitten, adult, and senior.

The healthiest way to feed a feline is to start with a little less than the daily amount suggested on the bag or can. Use the directions as a guideline. Also, feeding your cat multiple meals every day will help set a schedule and give you an idea how much or how little they are eating. You may want to consider using automatic and puzzle feeders to promote hunting instincts

What To Do If Your Cat Wont Eat

Sometimes cats can be picky about where they eat and the type of food they enjoy, and they may not eat what you’re feeding them. This can be normal behavior, and a few simple changes can help. These might include:

• Moving food dishes away from litter boxes or dirty food containers
• Moving food dishes out of busy areas
• Feeding your cat away from other animals

Timed Feeding. You might feel that you should be tough and hold out for your cat to get hungry enough to eat. However, this can be hard on your cats body and could cause them to get sick. Instead, try setting out smaller amounts for 15 to 30 minutes at a time four to five times during the day. As your cat eats more, you can move back to one to two meals a day.

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Picky eaters. If your cat is picky about eating, try rotating between two or three different foods. This will give a variety of flavors that can keep your cat from becoming a picky eater. Changing the brand occasionally might also help with variety. Make sure to choose one that meets your cats nutrition needs.

Refusing food. If your cat suddenly stops eating, this can be a sign of illness. Its best to take your cat to the vet to rule out any problems.

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Purina One Urinary Tract Health Adult Formula Dry Food

So the Purina FOCUS food we chose as the best also has a dry variant, and its a wonderful all rounder.

You lose some of the incredible value for money you get with the wet food, because the competing dry foods are good value themselves. However, you dont lose any of the nutritional value that made us favor it.

The easily digestible formula contains healthy omega-6 fatty acids that not only work to boost your cats digestive system, but also improve coat and skin health.

Of all the dry foods on this list, this comes in the most convenient quantities 3.5 lb, 7 lb 16 lb and 22lb bags are all available for purchase.

It also has a respectable 31% minimum crude protein content, which is up there with some of the best dry cat foods around. This means its a little heavy on the calories though. At a meaty 452 kcal/cup, you should take extra care to portion this food appropriately.

Check out more consumer opinions and the current price using the button above.

The Best Cat Foods For Urinary Health

Because each cat food tackles urinary disorders in different ways, and has different nutritional values, were going to take a closer look at each and explain why theyve earned a place on our list.

With cat foods aimed at curing specific ailments, you can expect to pay a slightly higher price than a regular cat food. Premium cat foods should always provide a nutritionally complete meal for cats, but these foods go a step above and target the issue at hand.

With this in mind, heres our list of the top cat foods for urinary health, with effectiveness and value for money in mind.

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Go Sensitivity + Shine Lid Duck Recipe Grain

Our Top Pick for the Best Grain-Free Cat Food for Skin and Coat: Whether your cat has trouble digesting grains or is actually allergic, this grain-free, limited ingredient diet is a great choice to support his skin and coat health. This Go! Sensitivity + Shine LID Duck Recipe Grain-Free Dry Cat Food features fresh duck and duck meal as a single source of premium animal protein as well as digestible grain-free carbohydrates like peas, tapioca, lentils, and chickpeas. Overall, this formula provides over 30% protein with plenty of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids for skin and coat health. It contains supplemental sources of fiber as well as probiotics to ensure healthy digestion, plus it contains chelated minerals to ensure optimal nutrient absorption. Youll also be glad to know that it contains a limited number of ingredients to reduce the risk for triggering food allergies and sensitivities.

• Pros: Duck as single source of protein, grain-free digestible carbohydrates, rich in omega fatty acids, supplemental fiber and probiotics, chelated minerals, limited number of main ingredients
• Cons: Could be higher in protein content, expensive to feed as a staple diet