Why Are You Talking About Dogs What About Cats
The FDA recently issued a frequently asked questions list about the investigation into the connection between diet and canine heart disease. Among the answers was this:
Prior to issuing our public notification on July 12, 2018, the FDA received sporadic reports involving 30 dogs and seven cats.
After the FDAs previous statement talked exclusively about dogs, they suddenly mention that over 20% of the reports they had received were about cats. Should families with cats worry?
Whats Up With Grain Free Diets
Grain free diets are popular among cat owners who think that they are more suited for cats. Some people reach for grain free food in a misguided effort to reduce food allergies such as in gastrointestinal upsets and itchy skin issues. While a small percentage of cats may have sensitivities to grains, the vast majority of food allergies are linked to common protein sources like beef and poultry, not carbohydrates like grains.
“While a small percentage of cats may have sensitivities to grains, the vast majority of food allergies are linked to common protein sources like beef and poultry, not carbohydrates like grains.”
Pet owners may also think that grain free diets control weight. As with high protein human diets, grain-free pet food may be lower in carbohydrates, but higher in fat and calories. Grain free doesnt guarantee weight-control or weight-loss because they may substitute grains like wheat, oats, or rice with different carbohydrates like potatoes, carrots, cranberries, sweet potatoes, lentils, beans, or peas.
What Are Designer Diets
Designer diets are preparations designed with a specific goal in mind. These diets target cats or owners who need or prefer certain qualities in cat food. For example, designer diets may be grain free or gluten free to prevent complications in cats with specific sensitivities. They may be totally organic to avoid contamination by pesticides. They may include a novel protein source such as venison, tuna, turkey, duck, fish, rabbit, bison, or even kangaroo to reduce the effects of food allergies. Like ordinary diets, designer diets should be AAFCO certified.
Don’t Miss: Cat To Human Years Ratio
How To Know If Your Cat Is Allergic To Grains
A cat with a grain allergy will exhibit symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, pooping in the house all of a sudden, and various skin conditions. If your cats poop smells really bad, it might also be a sign that your cat cant properly digest grain.
If you notice these issues with your cat you will need to contact your vet to determine the cause. Your vet will evaluate your cat, and if it appears as though these problems are being caused due to an allergy, your vet will do some diagnostic work to determine exactly what your cat is allergic to and will let you know if your cat needs to be on a grain free diet.
Whether you have had your cat for a few years or are looking into getting a new furry friend, you should always consult your vet about any diet concerns you have. When adding a new cat to your family you should discuss with your vet about what diet will be best.
You should also talk with your vet about any potential diet changes for any cat you already might have before making them. From brands, flavors, amounts, and more, your vet will be able to steer you in the right direction when it comes to food for your cat.
Is A Grain Free Diet Bad For Cats
No, a grain free diet is not bad for cats, and your cat can still live a healthy life without consuming grain in their diet.
While grain free diets can cause heart or digestive problems in other pets, it does not pose an issue for cats.
There are some wild cats, such as lion, tigers, and leopards that dont eat grains. While domesticated cats have evolved so that their digestive systems can easily break them down, it is not essential for their diet.
While it hasnt been scientifically proven, many cat owners have claimed positive results after switching to grain-free cat food. Some cat owners have said that it removes matted cat hair and leads to a shiner coat. Other say that their cats skin becomes healthier and more smooth.
Recommended Reading: How Many Cat Years Compared To Human Years
What Type Of Grain Is Best For My Cat
There is no one best type of grain for cats.
The common grains found in most cat food are wheat, corn, oats, barley, and rice. All of these grains are perfectly fine and easy for your cat to digest. Since grains take up a fairly small portion of a cats diet, the type of grain they consume doesnt make a whole lot of difference.
A distinction that seems to concern cat parents when it comes to different types of grains is their gluten content. As Ive mentioned before, some grains have gluten while others dont. However, this is a non-issue because gluten has no negative effect on cats. So you can rest assured that any type of grain commonly found in cat food is more than fine.
Perhaps the only thing to consider would be choosing whole grains that have their full nutrients intact over processed grains. So for example, brown rice is a better alternative to white rice. But as Ive said, since the consumption of these grains is very little, there isnt any substantial difference to worry about.
What Would A Cat’s Natural Diet Be
A cats natural diet is meat and offal which is a reflection of their natural prey. Felines will consistently choose a diet that reflects as closely as possible the same level of proteins, carbohydrates and fats that are contained in their natural prey of mice and birds. This is around 52% protein, 36% fat and 12% carbohydrates.
Also Check: Types Of Calico
Top Results For Iams Grain Free Cat Food
cat
15 Best Grain Free Cat Food 2021 – Top Picks By AAFRC
Copy the link and share
hotwww.iams.com
catcatcat
IAMS PERFECT PORTIONS HEALTHY … – Pet Food From Iams
Copy the link and share
cat
Iams® Perfect Portions Healthy Kitten Food – Grain Free …
Copy the link and share
About IAMS Wet Cat Food – Free Shipping | Chewy.com
Copy the link and share
greatpethelpful.com
catgrainfreecatcatcat
Why You Should Not Feed Your Cat Iams (or Any Other Cheap …
Copy the link and share
Iams Cat Food | Chewy
Copy the link and share
What Kind Of Food Does Blue Buffalo Offer
Sometimes you have to drastically alter your cat’s food due to unexpected allergies or intolerances which often means switching to a new brand altogether. Blue Buffalo has various ranges that cater to specific dietary requirements . All of which contain nutritious ingredients complete with a natural flavor.
Specific Formulas Catered To Your Cat’s Dietary Needs:
- Limited ingredient foods
- High-quality food with reliable and real meat
- Grain-free formulas
You May Like: How Many Cat Years Is In One Human Year
Carbohydrates Blood Glucose And Diet Digestibility
Another common reason some owners prefer feeding a grain-free diet is to limit carbohydrate intake and secondary fluctuations in blood glucose. Although dogs lack salivary -amylase, which initiates the process of cleaving carbohydrates into oligosaccharides, they have similar carbohydrate digestive and metabolic enzymes found in omnivorous species such as humans. Cats, on the other hand, have numerous differences in their ability to digest, absorb, and metabolize starches and sugars. Details of these metabolic adaptations are beyond the scope of this discussion, but have been recently reviewed 13.
When contemplating the effects of carbohydrates on blood sugar, some consideration should also be made regarding the types of carbohydrates in a diet. In both dogs and cats, carbohydrate sources with higher concentrations of fiber and protein tend to have lower glycemic responses 14, 17. For example, corn and brewers rice elicit a higher glucose and insulin response in cats than ingredients like peas and lentils 14, so diets with similar carbohydrate contents could have differing metabolic effects.
Lily’s Kitchen Grain Free Recipes
Here at Lilys Kitchen all our recipes for cats are grain free. Our nutritionally complete dishes are all high in protein and low in carbohydrates, so the source of energy in our food comes from protein and good fats which most closely reflects a cats natural diet and is much better for your feline friend.We pack our delicious, wholesome recipes with proper meat and nutritious offal, plus all the vitamins and minerals your cat needs to stay fit and healthy, just as nature intended.
Also Check: How Does Cat Age Work
Grain Free Diets & Heart Disease
So, what do we know so far? Cats dont need carbohydrates and can use protein for all their energy needs at a cellular body level, surely then low-carbohydrate and/or grain-free diets are the solution. Right? Wrong.
Now we enter the debate about grain-free diets and DCM, otherwise known as Dilated Cardiomyopathy.
In June 2018, the US Food & Drug Administration started to investigate a potential link between certain diets and DCM in dogs. These diets are now bracketed as BEG i.e. boutique companies, exotic ingredients, or grain-free.
The FDA investigation is still on-going, but there does seem to be some evidence that certain BEG diets that have legumes, pulses, or potatoes as their main ingredient source, are linked to the development of this heart condition in dogs and to a lesser extent in cats.
DCM is a condition where the muscle of the heart loses its elasticity, resulting in an enlarged heart. As the heart becomes dilated, it becomes harder for the muscle to do its job of pumping blood around the body efficiently, which in turn can lead to leaking of the heart valves and a back-up of fluid in the chest and abdomen.
Ultimately it can result in congestive heart failure and can be fatal if not diagnosed and treated early.
What Do You Need To Know About Grain
If cat food contains too high a proportion of plant-based ingredients, this can make the urine too alkaline, which in turn can encourage the formation of urinary crystals or stones.
We avoid this problem with our Green Petfood cat nutrition based on sophisticated recipes: a balanced mineral composition with the help of the essential amino acid methionine aims to prevent the development of urinary stones.
We also use extrusion to predigest the plant-based components. A brief heating process helps break down the starch, making it easy to digest while retaining the important nutrients. This means our cat food is not just gluten free and grain free, but also easily digestible.
And it is sustainable too: the sachets of wet food and bags of dry food contain exclusively chicken from a more species-appropriate husbandry from South Germany, combined with salmon from sustainable fish farms or insects as an innovative source of protein.
Recommended Reading: Black Cat Niggerman
Chicken And Cranberry Cat Treats
Cranberries are thought to help reduce the risk of UTIs by lowering the urinary pH levels and preventing bacteria from sticking to the system. Hence, adding some cranberries to a cat treat recipe can not only brighten your cats day but may also help to keep UTI at bay!
Prep time: 20 minutes
- 1 heaping tablespoon dried catnip
- 1 large egg
Recipe Instructions:
Some Benefits Of Grain Free Foods For Cats
While its less common than other food sensitivities, cats can be sensitive to grains. A food sensitivity or intolerance can cause problems like vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss, and skin irritation.
If youre noticing these problems, consider putting your cat on an elimination diet to discover the source of the issue. If you trace it back to grains, then a grain free diet may be in order.
Sometimes, your veterinarian may recommend a low-carb, low-grain diet for your pet. In these cases, cats that need to lose weight or take care of digestive troubles can thrive on grain free diets. Similarly, cats that are allergic to grains or gluten can benefit from grain free foods.
Also, cats that are picky eaters prefer these high-protein foods. If you decide to make a switch, the key is to do it with the insight and guidance of your veterinarian. A quick check-in can answer your questions and relieve any concerns.
Don’t Miss: The Name Of Hp Lovecrafts Cat
What Kind Of Grain Free Food Should I Choose For My Cat
Look for a nutritionally complete, grain free recipe for your cat, made with natural ingredients. Many conventional dry cat foods usually contain a high proportion of carbohydrate because the manufacturing process requires the starch to help the kibble stick together it acts rather like a glue. Grain free dry foods are often produced in a more natural way, so no grains are needed for binding at all.
Whats Up With Gluten Free Diets
Gluten free diets may be popular, but cat owners should be aware of a few facts. Gluten is a protein that is found in certain grains including barley, wheat, and rye, but there are grains that do not include gluten. Gluten free does not mean grain free. All grain free cat foods are gluten free, but not all gluten free cat foods are grain free. Some gluten may actually be beneficial. Gluten is sticky and helps bind food together into kibble pieces. Gluten sensitivity is rare in cats, so gluten may be a safe, useful part of a diet that includes grain.
Recommended Reading: How To Apply Terramycin Ointment For Cats
Grains Cause Food Allergies Or Gluten Intolerance False
True food allergies are uncommon in cats, and grain allergies are even more uncommon. Cats are more likely to be allergic to the protein in their diet vs. the grain. It is not uncommon for cats to have problems with their bowel digesting certain foods, but this is not a true allergy. And gluten intolerance has not been recognized in cats!
Which Canned Cat Food Grain Frees Work Best
The items that are dealt with by your business are probably different sizes, weights, heights, etc. Because of this, a device that can accommodate these variables is a must. Despite its size and cost, it is a quality product despite being small and cheap.
Today, there are multiple ways to accomplish common office tasks using canned cat food grain frees.
Also Check: Pine Sifting Litter Box
Benefits Of Grain Free Cat Food
Grain-free cat foods may not be a type of diet plan that will work for all kinds of cats. Nonetheless, a good number of pet parents and their four-legged pals would attest to its benefits.
Remember, however, that choosing what to feed your furry pals is crucial since it involves their health. Before deciding on what food or type of diet to give your cat, talking to your veterinarian is always recommended
1. High-Quality Ingredients
Regular cat food would often contain wheat, corn, and grain. Often used as fillers, these ingredients are relatively cheap and just increase the foods carbohydrate content.
Grain-free foods for felines , on the other hand, often incorporate wholesome ingredients into the mix like real meat and vegetables.
Vitamins and minerals are also added, with some brands adding Omega-3 fatty acids or Omega-6 fatty acids, to make sure that your cats diet is complete and balanced. Also, many are made without additives or artificial preservatives.
2. Made to Resemble the Natural Cats Diet
A cats diet, biologically, is made up of 55% protein. Generally, you will find that most grain-free cat foods try to offer that much protein content. Generous amounts of animal protein like chicken, beef, and fish are usually seen in both wet and dry cat food that are free of grains.
3. It is Good For Cats with Grain or Gluten Allergies
Grain-Free vs Gluten-Free Cat Food
Why Does Cat & Dog Food Have Grains
The latest trend in pet foods is the introduction of grain-free dry kibble diets. The grain-free trend originated with raw diets as many proponents of raw food studied evolutionary dietary habits of our companions wild ancestors and decided that grains were unnecessary. While wolves and wild dogs may graze a bit on greens periodically, most of their nutrition comes from meat including organ meat and the stomach and intestines of their prey which contain small amounts of partially digested grasses and other vegetation. No processed grains. In the wild, cats eat only meat and the very tiny amount of grain or vegetable matter a mouse or bird stomach might contain. So why is grain in most pet foods? Basically, because it is a less expensive source of nutrients and energy than meat, and because something has to hold a dry food together.
While grains are not necessarily bad for companion animals, they can cause problems for some. Allergies are becoming more widespread among dogs and cats, and grains seem to play a fairly significant role in aggravating allergies. Animals with some chronic or acute diseases such as diabetes and cancer often do better on a grain-free or low-carbohydrate diet. Grains and carbohydrates can also contribute to weight problems in our companion animals.
You May Like: What’s The Name Of Hp Lovecraft’s Cat