How To Tell If You Have The Right Food
No matter how much research you do into the quality of a kitten food, you wont know if its a winner until you put it infront of your kitten. There are a few things worth keeping an eye on that will help determine if your kitten is thriving on their food:
- How does your kitten behave? Does he or she seem healthy and alert? Playful? Active? These are all indications that your kitten is getting the right nutrients.
- How is your kitten looking? Do you see bright eyes? A clean and glossy coat? Has your kitten been gaining weight steadily? Does he or she seem healthy overall?
If the answer to all of those questions was yes, your kitten food is probably doing its job. On the other hand, if you said no to even one of those questions, it may be time to shop around for a new food. Your kittens veterinarian is an invaluable resource for choosing the best food.
Best Cat Foods Of 2021
A lot of people think that vets dont get much education in nutrition. In fact, as a veterinarian, I had endless hours of nutrition lectures, practicals, seminars, and workshops, not to mention many years of experience since.
But what I recommend might still surprise you its probably not what youve been told or read in online reviews!
First, I discuss the veterinarians approach to diet. Next, I get into the best wet cat food reviews, then the best dry cat food reviews, and lastly, the top-rated cat foods for other health needs. Lets go!
Fancy Feast Gravy Lovers Ocean Whitefish & Tuna Feast In Sauteed Seafood Flavor Gravy Canned Cat Food 3
Give your furry friend that fancy suitable feast meal with the Fancy Feast Gravy Lovers Ocean Whitefish & Tuna Feast in Sauteed Seafood Flavor Gravy Canned Cat food a highly recommended food by expertise.
The food contains everything needed for your feline to stay healthy and strong such as proteins, minerals, antioxidants, and taurine. Your Fancy Feast Gravy Lovers Ocean Whitefish & Tuna Feast in Sauteed Seafood is well moisturized to ensure your furry friend is well hydrated.
Features
Made in the USA facility.
Fancy Feast Gravy Lovers Ocean Whitefish & Tuna Feast in Sauteed Seafood Flavor Gravy Canned Cat Food contains important vitamins, minerals, and Omegas for your kitties.
The food is built with a 5.3 pounds weight.
It has a nutritional content of 771 kcal/kg, 66 kcal per can.
The main ingredient is the proteinous fish broth, ocean whitefish, and what gluten.
The furry-friendly cat food comes in chunks in gravy texture.
Pros
Fancy Feast Gravy Lovers Ocean Whitefish & Tuna Feast in Sauteed Seafood Flavor Gravy Canned Cat Food is well moisturized for easy digestion.
The meal helps to support your kittys urinary health.
The soft kibble helps in your kittys heart and vision
The kibble is a delicious and nutritious balanced meal.
Picky cats might not be interested in the flavour of this meal.
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Your Furry Friend Will Be Healthy And Happy Eating These Quality Products
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The Spruce / Sabrina Jiang
Kittens are growing cats, so their nutritional needs are different than adult cats. Wet foods designed specifically for kittens will help them grow healthy and strong, allow for chewing and swallowing even if they dont have all their teeth, and are a great way to wean them off of nursing.
Overall, wet foods are great for kittens. “Cats should be introduced to wet food early,” says Dr. Kerri Blackburn of Rivers Edge Animal Hospital in Rock Hill, South Carolina. “Many common diseases/illnesses that cats can get as they progress through life can be managed well with increased moisture in canned diets.” Also, as creatures that evolved in the desert, she says cats are not programmed to drink a lot, so feeding them canned food helps increase water intake.
Wet food is something all kittens should eat, but not all wet foods are the same. Dr. Blackburn says “canned foods with gravy, i.e. the shreds, chunks, etc., are actually pretty heavy on carbohydrates, especially those that come in gravy. The best type of canned food is the old fashioned paté.Ingredient variations can also make it confusing for a kitten owner to choose the right wet food for their young cat.
Does Your Kitten Need A Feeding Schedule
Cats generally prefer to feed via grazing and as long as you arent constantly refilling the bowl, they are pretty good at regulating their own weight through a combination of play, exercise, and nibbling rather than gorging. Still, its important for kittens to build that good habit and you can help by doing the following:
- Feed your cat three times a day-morning, afternoon, and evening. For a kitten, splitting up a portion into three equal parts is usually sufficient. Then you can adjust the food portions as your kitten needs, based on weight gain or loss.
- Helping kittens exercise regularly by providing toys, things to climb on, and feeding puzzles to let kittens work out how to get treats.
- Make sure your kitten always has access to fresh water
Canned food can be left out for about twenty to thirty minutes and then any leftovers should be tossed. Once your cat can have dry food, it can of course be left out longer.
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Blended Or Mixed Feeding
Blended or mixed feeding routines can offer the best of both worlds. With a blended feeding routine, you may feed your cat dry food in the morning, and wet in the evening. This way, they can graze on the dry food throughout the day, and you can dispose of any dried out wet food before going to bed. There is also the option of mixing your cat’s dry food with wet cat food, which can also help her get additional moisture with their meal. Keep in mind, though, that it is still important to maintain proper portion control to ensure your cat is getting the proper amount of calories to maintain a healthy weight.
No matter which type of cat food you choose, the debate between wet vs. dry cat food isn’t one that’s easily answered. Each cat is unique with its own tastes and preferences. Consult with your cat’s vet if you have any questions about choosing wet vs. dry cat food, and let your little friend’s tastes guide you to their preferred flavors.
What Should You Consider When Shopping For Wet Canned Cat Food
As there are many brands of canned cat food, certain brands may differ from one another. There are some things you should take into consideration before purchasing canned cat food:
The ingredients Matter- Wet food should contain one or more types of high quality protein, which will be the main ingredient in your kittens diet. Stuffing canned food with artificial flavors, meat by products, starches and fats or fillers will provide a very unbalanced meal for your little feline. Feeding your kitten with the best food suited for it and maintaining a well balanced diet will require you to check what the cat food you buy is made up of.
Artificial preservatives- As much as you value a dietary meal for your cat, you should ensure that you purchase the food that lacks corns, soy and wheat substances. These substances are only meant to increase the quantity of the food but have no nutritious features. You should avoid buying foods bulked up with wheat flour and grains as much as possible.
Choose quality over quantity- While buying your cats food, you should consider smaller cans of food rather than one big container. If you have a small kitty, you might find it uncomfortable using the large cans, while larger cans could be better for larger cats. Its usually advisable to buy food in many small cans than in one big can, so that it stays fresh as long as possible.
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Wet Cat Food Benefits
In addition to the high protein content, wet cat food also has other benefits for feline health and wellness.
Cats frequently suffer from bladder and kidney disease, says Carroll. The extra moisture found in wet food can help maintain bladder and kidney health.
Garner adds that wet food can also be beneficial to weaning kittens. Wet cat food can be useful for helping kittens transition from a liquid to a solid diet, she says. As kittens still dont have their permanent teeth until they are around a year old, wet food is much easier for them to chew than kibble.
Because of its softness, wet cat food may also benefit senior cats with dental problems or missing teeth.
Additionally, wet cat food tends to be more pungent and flavorful than dry kibble. So its often used to help cats eat when they are sick or picky about their food.
Royal Canin Kitten Thin Slices In Gravy Best For Kittens
This cat food comes very highly rated by vets and owners alike. It has been developed by scientists at Royal Canin to provide optimal nutrition for growing kittens. Theyve balanced for gentle growth whilst still providing energy for play, meaning this kitten food will keep your cat happy and well-fed to 12 months of age.
The protein content is 55% and theyve named the protein sources, so you know exactly what it is that your kitten is getting. It also contains added vitamins, minerals, and taurine to ensure theres everything your cat needs. Theyve even thought to make the slices smaller to make it easier for those tiny teeth and mouths! Theyve made the cans quite small though, which means you might get through several a day as your cat gets older.
For discerning cats, the best wet cat food for the money has to be the Purina Pro Plan Savor range. There are lots of flavor combinations, all of which have been formulated to be complete and balanced without losing out on the texture that interests your cat. Its also high in protein and contains added omega three and six to give your cats coat gloss and shine.
All in all, as far as wet cat foods go, we think this is the best value cat food on the market, and its the best Purina cat food out there too.
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Essential Nutrients In A Cats Diet
Creating a well-balanced diet is important when cooking homemade cat food. There are various needs for a proper cat diet to provide an intact pH balance and make your feline as healthy as possible.
The two most essential nutrients are protein and water. Being carnivores, cats require protein to grow, develop, thrive and, of course, survive. Raw cat food, as well as home-cooked one, allows making your furry proper hydration during the day. Thats so important because the level of hydration influences the cats well-being, skin and coat condition.
When it comes to amino acids, you should realize that they are the next in the list of important nutrients for cats. Many acids are kept in protein sources. Taurine is the most basic one that is vital for a felines health.Such necessary amino acids as Omega-3, Omega-6, DHA, LA, AA, EPA, GLA and CLA should be also added to your cats diet. They ensure great health for your furry.
For normal physiological development, it is essential to include vitamins and minerals in your felines diet. Phosphorus, chloride and vitamins C, B6, K and D are crucial for your cats health development.
Changing From Commercial To Homemade Cat Food
If your cat has been on commercial cat food for most of its life, his digestive enzymes and digestive system has most likely acclimated to this unnatural diet. Slowly transition over to raw food, 1 teaspoon at a time, over the course of a month.
You will want to follow the advice of your veterinary professional, but for many this will look like:
Day 1-5: Mix 1 teaspoon of raw food into whatever your cat normally eats.
Day 5-10: Increase the raw food by double.
Day 10-15: Feed your cat half raw, half what they were eating before.
Day 15 on: You may be able to switch to all raw food as your cat has had time for their digestive system to catch up. If your cat is fussy, continue the slow transition.
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Blue Wilderness High Protein
BLUE Wilderness has an excellent reputation for producing high-quality pet foods, and this kitten dry food is no exception. There is absolutely nothing artificial in this kibble. What you will find instead is de-boned chicken and sweet potatoes. The real chicken provides protein, and sweet potatoes serve as a source of complex carbohydrates. Though carbohydrates arent essential in your cats diet, they are required to help create kibble and are a source of energy.
Youll find taurine on the ingredients list too, an essential amino acid that is critical for heart and eye development. We love the patented LifeSource bits that BLUE includes in all of its dry foods. They are dark kibble bits that are cold-formed and enriched with antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. All of that adds up to a happy, healthy kitten!
Things you will not find in this kitten dry food include poultry by-product meals, wheat, soy, or corn. With a chicken flavor that seems to be extremely popular with kittens, this dry food will make sure they get all the nutrients they need.
Is Wet Food Too Rich For Cats
Another common misconception is that wet food is too rich and will cause an upset stomach or diarrhea if fed to your cat. While there are certainly some cats who may not be able to tolerate certain wet foods due to food allergies, inflammatory bowel disease, or other gastrointestinal illnesses, in general wet food is easily digestible for most cats.
If youre concerned about your cats ability to tolerate a wet food diet, start slowly and offer only small amounts of wet food at a time until you have had a chance to see how your cat reacts to it. If your cats stools are normal and there has been no change in his or her appetite or energy level, then it is okay to gradually offer larger portions of wet food until you reach your desired portion size.
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Hills Prescription Diet A/d Urgent Care With Chicken Canned Dog & Cat Food 55
The Hills brand claims to be known for quality and recommended by experts and food nutritionists as the ideal meal for healthy cats.
The brand comes with a trademark prescription diet differentiating it from other kinds of cat food. The soft kibble contains all ingredients necessary for your feline buildup and health, especially after a serious illness or surgery.
The food helps to fight and build stronger defense mechanisms. Hills Prescription Diet and Urgent Care with Chicken Canned Dog & Cat Food are easily digestible and palatable for your furry friend consumption.
Features
Hills Prescription Diet and Urgent Care with Chicken Canned Dog & Cat Food have 180 kcal/5.5 oz per can caloric contents.
It is highly rich in fats and animal proteins.
Hills prescription contains low carbohydrate
Made with a proteinous combination of meat, pork, and heart.
Pros
Felines meal is produced with highly digestible ingredients.
Hills Prescription Diet and Urgent Care with Chicken Canned Dog & Cat Food contain calories that help in easy recovery after sickness.
Hills prescription contains proteins that help in tissue healing and the building of a healthy immune system.
This feline food is highly palatable and comes with aids that can assist you to feed your felines.
Hills Prescription Diet and Urgent Care with Chicken Canned Dog & Cat Food is an energy-giving food for your cats.
Contains potassium that helps fight
Cons
The product is not budget-friendly.
Dry Cat Food Benefits
Dry cat food is less expensive than canned food, so people who are on a strict budget or those that feed community cats may choose this option.
Dry food also does not have to be stored in the refrigerator and can be left out much longer than can food. This is a good option if you free-feed your cats, but any portion not eaten by the end of the day should be discarded.
You can also use dry cat food in automatic feeders or in puzzle feeder toys.
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Creating And Keeping Schedules
To prevent your kitten from overeating, adopt a feeding schedule in which your kitten eats three to five times a day. If youre not sure how much to feed your kitten at each meal, use the feeding guidelines on the label or ask your vet for advice. Just remember: If youre feeding your kitten wet food, dont leave it out for longer than 30 minutes.
And lets not forget about your felines favorite activity: sleeping. Kittens and cats are crepuscular, which is a fancy way of saying theyre most active at dawn and dusk. If youd prefer to get your beauty sleep without interruptions from your kitten, youll need to adjust their schedule.
Playing active games with your kitten during the day can help them expend some energy so they sleep better at night. You can also establish a bedtime routine . Feed your cat a filling dinner before bed, keep the lights low and provide a soft and safe spot to rest. Perhaps the most important thing to remember when setting a sleeping or feeding schedule is that consistency is key.