Iams Proactive Health Senior Dry Cat Food
Designed for a healthy senior cat, this formula has a crunchy kibble that helps prevent plaque buildup. The chicken and corn-based recipe includes L-carnitine to promote healthy weight, as well as a fiber blend that includes prebiotics and beet pulp for healthy digestion. It comes in 3.5-, 7-, and 16-pound bags.
What Can I Mix Dry Cat Food With
The simplest and easiest thing to mix dry cat food with is canned food. Wet cat foods are often more enticing to your cats, since wet food has a stronger scent and appeals to your cats obligate carnivore nature. Wet food also has the benefit of having a higher moisture content, so your cat food will therefore help to maintain your urinary tract health.
Cats Are Carnivores & Why It Matters
Cats only eat meat. They are entirely carnivorous creatures. Sure, it may seem like some cats want to take a bite out of everything youre snacking on. But outside of meat and water, a cats body cant digest other food properly.
Of course, when you buy a bag of dry kibble, youre going to see added ingredients that arent meat. Thats because house cats cant simply go hunt every time theyre hungry to satisfy their need. So each recipe is crafted to give your pet a well-rounded eating experience according to their lifestyle.
That doesnt mean, however, that you should feed your cat a diet full of fillers and artificial additives. Certain ingredients are harmful long-term for any catnot just those with allergies or sensitivities.
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Is Dry Cat Food Better Than Wet
Theres no right or wrong answer for this, and its common for people to have strong opinions on the matter without much to back it up.
To be frank, both premium wet and dry foods for cats are nutritionally very similar. By premium, we mean any foods manufactured by brands that have earned excellent reputations over many years.
The biggest difference is that the dry options obviously do not provide the same amount of moisture content as their wet counterparts.
Purina suggests that a cat who eats solely dry cat food should drink roughly one cup of water per ten pounds of body weight in a 24-hour window. This is one of the reasons that its becoming increasingly popular to either provide a combination of both wet and dry food or to make use of a drinking fountain that ensures cats stay hydrated regardless of their food diet.
At the end of the day, the best cat food for you comes down to preference . You can definitely combine the two to get the best of both worlds and keep mealtimes exciting for your cat.
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Iams Proactive Health Healthy Senior Dry Cat Food
- Grab it if you want to support your senior feline vitality and health as this food contains real chicken as the number 1 ingredient.
- In comparison to Iams Healthy Adult food, this food includes two times the antioxidants to restore the immune responses.
- Crunchy Cat Kibble aids in reducing plaque buildup to keep your senior feline teeth healthy.
- Moreover, to cherish healthy joints and the strong bones of your feline, it contains all nutrients and calcium.
- In addition, this food helps to maintain your senior indoor cats healthy weight with L carnitine.
- Lastly, this food supports to keep your cat heart healthy with nutrients like potassium and calcium.
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Nomnomnow Fresh Food Delivery
If you want to feed your cat the best of the best, try NomNomNows fresh food delivery service. Similar to a food delivery service for humans, NomNomNow prepares your cats meals and delivers them fresh to your door. All you have to do is create a profile for your pet online and choose between two chicken or fish recipes to receive monthly orders of fresh food perfectly portioned for your pet. These meals are packed with premium protein as well as fresh fruits and vegetables to ensure balanced nutrition and maximum digestibility. Both recipes provide a minimum of 50% protein and maximum of 10% carbs.
- Pros: Food delivered fresh to your door, high in protein low in carbs, no grains or fillers, choose from two protein options, balanced nutrition, easy to digest
- Cons: Expensive to feed compared to dry food, only two recipes to choose from
This Is What Other Users Are Saying
WholeHearted is an emerging brand in the cat food market. There are no recalls currently or in the past. Many cat owners have been attracted to this brand because it is affordable and contains high-quality ingredients without grains. This is what WholeHearteds trusted sources have to say about WholeHearted.
Allaboutcats says WholeHearted is a great option if you are on a budget, but still want good nutrition. Their wet recipes stand out as some of the only low-priced foods that combine decent ingredient quality with low carbohydrate content. Felineliving : Overall, WholeHearted is a highly recommended brand to try. For pet owners looking for affordable food, WholeHearted is a good choice. The standard cat food does not contain all the protein they offer, but their plant-based products have fiber, antioxidants and vitamins. Amazon: This is a source of nutrients felines also can benefit from.
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What Happens When Your Cat Is Too Fat
Unfortunately, all those loving calories mean that cats are packing on some extra pounds. And while a fat cat might be adorable for YouTube videos and Internet cat memes, being overweight can cause major health issues for our feline friends. In that regard, cats arent so different than humans.
Overweight cats, for instance, are two times more likely than cats at a healthy weight to get feline diabetes. In obese cats, that risk increases eightfold. Overweight cats are also at a higher risk of developing hepatic lipidosis, more commonly known as fatty liver disease. With this condition, excess fat accumulates in the liver, and the liver isnt able to process it. Fatty liver can lead to various other health complications and death.
Arthritis and a lack of energy are also linked back to being overweight. And, of course, theres the quality of life issue. A cat who cant move around freely leads a compromised life.
Cat Chow Naturals Indoor With Real Chicken & Turkey Dry Cat Food
After we finished reviewing Purinas Cat Chow Naturals Dry Food we were not surprised that this was the best selling dry food for cats at some point.
No artificial preservatives or flavours, plenty of natural fibre and the fact that its made from real meat is putting Purina Cat Chow Naturals among the best dry cat food brands.
This dry food has low caloric density and your cat will feel more full after consuming less calories. This is very good food for weight control.
Cats really enjoy Purinas Cat Chow Naturals, however, it contains some grain based ingredients and therefore we cant put this dry cat food as top rated in our list.
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Solid Gold Indigo Moon High Protein Grain
- This is grain-free food suitable for all life stages and made with US raised chicken as 1st ingredient and egg for the active metabolism of your cat.
- Moreover, this high protein diet contains no artificial preservatives, colors crafted with balanced minerals and vitamins for overall health.
- Most importantly, this food is one of the highest proteins up to 42% on the market, and ideal for diabetes issues.
- Additionally, this food contains fiber-rich peas for balancing all ash content plus omega fatty acids for the shiny and soft coats of your cat.
- Also, this food is famous for supporting the guts health and immune system of your feline with balanced, cleanse, and fatty acids.
- Lastly, this food is crafted with carefully selected superfoods that provide 100% satisfaction and make it ideal for all life stages cats.
The Best Senior Cat Food
Once a cat hits 7 years of age, they are considered senior. Senior cats have the same minimum AAFCO nutritional requirements as younger adult cats, but decreased activity can cause them to pack on the pounds. And the more overweight a cat becomes, the more likely they are to develop conditions such as diabetes, liver disease, arthritis, and pancreatitis.
You can help your senior cat maintain a healthy body weight by closely controlling their portion sizes or by switching them to a senior diet that is lower in calories than typical adult formulas. Just be sure to check the calorie content because some senior foods actually have more calories and may still require portion control.
Senior formulas also have omega-3 fatty acids and other nutrients that aren’t required in regular adult cat foods. These ingredients help reduce inflammation, improve cognitive function, and support the immune system. As long as the senior food is labeled AAFCO complete and balanced, it will contain the vitamins and minerals an older cat requires without the need to provide additional supplements.
Different cats have different needs as they age, so consult your veterinarian before switching your cat to a senior diet or determining whether additional supplements are required.
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Tips For Testing A New Cat Food
As you transition in new foods, its important to be patient with your cat. Experts recommend starting a new cat food slowly. First mix in a small quantity of the new food with the old, and up the proportion of new food every day or two. While your cat is adjusting, monitor their enthusiasm for the new food and how their stomach is handling itkeep an eye out for vomiting or diarrhea.
If your cat repeatedly turns their nose up at the new food, accept that you may have to back downor try another food entirely. When a cat refuse to eat altogether, it puts them at risk for hepatic lipidosis, a serious health condition. Remember, slow is fast when trying out new things with your cat.
Should Indoor Cats Eat Wet Or Dry Food
Many pet parents wonder, What is the best cat food for indoor catsdry or wet? The answer is that both can offer your feline complete and balanced nutrition. In other words, there really isnt a wrong answer. However, each type of food has certain benefits that are worth considering.
First, the biggest difference between wet and dry food is that wet food contains more water content than dry food. This can be particularly helpful if your cat has a health condition that requires more hydrationlike kidney disease, diabetes or urinary tract disease. Certain cats also prefer the taste of wet food to dry foodso if youd got a picky eater, it might be time to try one of our best wet cat foods for indoor cats.
Dry food comes with its benefits as well. It is typically less expensive than wet food, which can be helpful in households with multiple cats or for any pet parent on a budget. If your cat likes to gobble up their food, dry food can be placed in slow feeders and puzzle feeders. Finally, dry food typically stays fresh longer than wet food. If you prefer to free-feed your cats or use an automatic feeder, our best dry cat foods for indoor cats can be a great choice for your household.
*Based on petco.com sales data.
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Invest In A Water Fountain To Encourage Your Cat To Drink More
Cats who eat dry food drink more water than those who eat a high-moisture diet, but that doesnt mean that theyre better hydrated. In fact, one study found that cats who ate wet food took in more water despite not drinking anything at all.
Even dry-fed cats may be hesitant to drink from a bowl. Cats instinctively avoid still, potentially stagnant water. A water fountain appeals to your cats preference for well-aerated moving water.
Top 15 Best Cat Food Brands
Knowing the information above, here are the 15 best cat food brands that only produce the highest quality food.
NomNomNow is the new kitten on the block when it comes to quality pet food.
Recently launched using a subscription model, this food made from fresh batches of premium, gently cooked human-grade ingredients is fast becoming the go-to option for discerning cat owners.
The current meal choices are Chicken Chow Meow and Flavorful Fish Feast. We suspect that a wider selection will become available as the company grows. Heres a sample of the fish recipe
- Tilapia: Protein, vitamins, minerals, and omega-3 fatty acids for a luxurious coat
- Salmon: More omega-3s, vitamins, and mineralsplus a tasty flavor cats love
- Beef fat: A source of choline and unsaturated fatty acids for a healthy coat and skin
- Yuca: Calcium, vitamin C, and minerals galore for strong bones
- Carrot: Beta carotene serves as an antioxidant
- NomNomNutrient Mix: Expertly formulated nutrition blend
Fresh, Human-Grade
Smalls for Smalls isnt all that dissimilar from NomNomNow. Which is a good thing!
Responsibly sourced human-grade ingredients prepared in small batches is arguable the best thing to happen to cat food in a long time.
Although the price does tend to be a little spendier and may be unattainable for some loving cat owners the gap isnt so big that most households cant make it work.
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Whats The Healthiest Cat Food So We Dont Get Fat Cats
While dogs are eager and always willing to please, cats are much more elusive to their overlords err, owners. So much, in fact, that many owners turn to the most tried-and-true method of getting a cat to like them: They ply them with food. Yes, it turns out that the way to a cats heart is also through its stomach, but whats the healthiest cat food for your feline friend?
Pet nutrition 101 says you want to feed your pet a healthy diet in the same vein you want to put the best ingredients into your own body. Yes, its important to feed your cat the healthiest cat food possible. Sadly, just as a large number of Americans leave a lot to be desired with the foods they eat, so too do pet owners often ignore the best nutrition for their pets.
What Should I Look For In The Best Dry Food For My Cat
Feline chow typically comes in various types, ingredients, presentations, and flavors, among others. There clearly is no single product that can be considered ideal for any type of cat since every feline is inherently unique. Just as some of us dont like chicken in our diets, so too some cats, although not by choice but rather because of necessity. That said, it is important to make sure youre choosing the best dry food for your cat. But how do you do that? Here are some things you really have to look for every time you start scouring the shelves of pet food at your local pet store.
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Dry Cat Foods Buying Guide
One of the most common mistakes made by cat owners is feeding either the incorrect amount or the wrong type of food altogether. You might think just because there is food in their bowl that you are feeding correctly. This is not the case. There are many things to consider when providing for the health and well-being of your feline friend, such as:
- The correct food,
- The necessary nutrients to help your kitty grow and stay healthy.
Hills Prescription Diet Adult Dry Cat Food
- This food the best dry cat food for senior cats with kidney problems that help to reduce chronic kidney disease progression.
- The kidneys maintain the normal balance of minerals and fluid within the body by filtering toxins and waste from the blood.
- With the age of the cat and other pets, kidney tissue damage may occur, and its an irreversible process until the loss of kidney function.
- This decrease in kidney function may lead to loss of muscle mass, and less food intake results in sick cat health.
- This clinically tested diet is developed with a veterinarians and nutritionists prescription.
- Lastly, this food supports your feline kidney function properly, helps maintain muscle mass and lengthen their lives.
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What Should I Look For In Cat Food
Your cats diet needs to include the right balance of the six major nutrient groups in order maintain optimal health: proteins, fats and oils, minerals, vitamins, carbohydrates and water. Any good quality manufactured cat food should provide your cat with this basic nutritional balance. Many others are designed to meet the specific needs, for example if a cat is pregnant, old or a kitten.
As a general rule, the order of ingredients is just as important as the kind of ingredients. Look for foods that list meat as the first ingredient and have a minimal number of ingredients, indicating low levels of processing. Unless a cat is on a special diet for medical or other reasons, the protein source should be listed first followed by other ingredients in the order of their percentage of total weight.
How To Choose The Right Food For Your Cat
When you walk into any pet mega-mart, you can feel completely overwhelmed with choices. Not only are there a confusing range of dry and wet cat foods, but there are also dozens of specific dietary recipes designed for each stage of a cats life. So how do you choose? Well, first and foremost, you should always ask your veterinarian what they recommend. Thats a no brainer. But if you have a young and healthy cat, chances are they will say most brands of cat food are fine. So then how DO you choose?
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