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What Is The Healthiest Cat Food

Best Dry Cat Food For A Lustrous Coat

Choosing a Healthy Cat Food

The best dry food for cats has more to offer than just nutrition; some help with a little kitty glamour, like a more lustrous coat. Did you know your cats coat is composed mainly of protein? If a cats diet lacks adequate, high-quality animal protein, their coat may be more predisposed to falling out or being dry, weak, and brittle, says Dr. Bernal. She suggests Wellness CORE RawRev. The recipe contains one of the highest protein amounts sourced from animal-based ingredients and optimal amounts of omega 6 and 3 fatty acids. This combination ensures that a cats coat both looks and feels great. The purring you hear while hes grooming may not be contentmentheres why cats really purr.

Via Chewy.com

Tips For Balancing Budget And Quality

As a cat owner, you want whats best for your feline friend we all do. Unfortunately, the best cat foods on the market are very expensive, and it simply isnt in the average cat owners budget to feed top-shelf cat food all the time.

The best thing you can do for your cat is to feed him the highest quality cat food you can consistently afford. But how do you strike the right balance between quality and affordability?

If youre concerned about your budget, you may be tempted to shop for cat food by price, but that would be a mistake. It is, unfortunately, true for most cheap cat food brands that they use low-quality ingredients like grains and fillers. If you start with price rather than quality when shopping for cat food, you are likely to end up with a product that isnt any good.

So, where do you start?

First, youll want to decide between feeding your cat a good dry cat food or wet food. Generally speaking, dry food is more affordable than wet food, and it has the added benefit of a longer shelf-life. Wet food tends to be higher in protein and moisture, but the best canned cat food on the market is very expensive especially if you use it as your cats staple diet.

Once youve decided between wet and dry cat food, think about the main ingredients.

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Before you head to the register, however, there is one more thing to look for artificial additives.

How To Determine Grams Of Nutrients With The Informed Guaranteed Analysis

If you want to know how many grams of proteins, fat, fiber, etc. your cat is eating with a determined formula, you need to multiply the percentage informed in the guaranteed analysis times the amount of food your cat eats daily. For example, if the formula contains 42% protein and your cat eats 150 grams of dry food per day, the total grams of proteins consumed by your cat would be 150 x 0.42=63 grams. This means your cat eats 63 grams of proteins daily with that particular formula.

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What Makes A Good Cat Food

Cat food brands are a dime a dozen, so how do you know if one brand is better than another?

To be able to tell the good from the bad, youll need to learn the basics about reading a cat food label. All the information you need to determine the quality of a cat food product is there for you to see.

Here are some of the most important things to look for in a good cat food:

  • Nutritionally complete and balanced
  • Healthy fats
  • Digestible carbohydrates and dietary fiber
  • No by-products or artificial additives
  • Beneficial supplements

Now, lets take a closer look at each of these things and how they contribute to making a cat food worthy of your consideration.

When it comes to evaluating cat food, you should start by looking for an AAFCO statement of nutritional adequacy, then check the guaranteed analysis and list of ingredients. The American Association of Feed Control Officials has created nutrient profiles for cats in different life stages growth & reproduction and adult maintenance.

If a cat food meets these minimum nutritional requirements, it will carry a label somewhere on the package that looks something like this:

Animal feeding tests using AAFCO procedures substantiate that provides complete and balanced nutrition for maintenance of adult cats.

Once youve determined that the product is nutritionally complete and balanced, then you can take a closer look at the ingredients themselves and their percentages.

Nutrient
9.0 9.0

Natures Variety Instinct Lid Rabbit Recipe

IAMS ProActive Health Dry Cat Food

Our Top Pick for the Best Cat Food for Allergies:If your cat suffers from sensitive stomach or food allergies, you may want to avoid common proteins like chicken and beef. This Natures Variety Instinct LID Rabbit Recipe is a great choice because it is made with a limited number of main ingredients including a novel source of protein. This formula is protein-rich and highly digestible, but still fortified with essential nutrients. It is completely free from corn, wheat, and soy as well as other low-quality ingredients and it has guaranteed levels of antioxidants and omega fatty acids. Your cat is sure to love it.

  • Pros: Made with a limited number of main ingredients, novel source of animal protein, no grains or low-quality ingredients, blend of omega fatty acids, beneficial supplements
  • Cons: Expensive to feed as a staple diet, main source of fat is plant-based

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How Much Should I Feed Her

The amount you feed your furry friend will depend on a few factors, including her age, her breed, her overall health, her environment ,;and how active she is.

Generally, an adult cat of about 8-10 lbs should have around 4/5 of a cup of dry food or just shy of a full 6 oz can of wet food per day. This is based off the assumption that a typical 1 cup of kitty kibble contains about 300 calories, and 1 6 oz can contain around 250 calories. This can be adjusted accordingly depending on whether you decide to give your companion a mix of dry and wet food.

Treats should account for less than about 1/10th of your pet’s daily caloric intake.

Fortunately, most pet food brands contain a guide right on the package. So, you can use this to help you determine the right amount;for your animal.

When you feed your cat is also highly variable. Many pet owners choose a twice per day, portion control method as a way to help control a cat’s weight. This is especially helpful if you have a kitty who tends to overeat if given the chance!

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.

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Organic And Natural Options

If you’re interested in going the organic food route, it’s important to know the differences in product labeling. For example, a product labeled as “organic” must contain one hundred percent certified organic ingredients and the “processing aids” need to be organic as well, while the labeling term “made with organic” requires only seventy percent of the ingredients to be organic. As outlined in the USDA organic regulations, there are additional criteria for the labeling terms, such as how companies must identify these organic ingredients on the label. And keep in mind that, as research-based evidence shows, there is no nutritional benefit to organic ingredients.

The label “natural,” according to the USDA’s definition, means the food product has been processed, but it hasn’t been fundamentally altered: Natural food products don’t contain artificial ingredients. If natural cat foods appeal to you, you’ll find a variety of products that omit what you don’t want in your furry friend’s meal, including artificial colors, flavorings, and preservatives.

As with any nutritional change, you’ll want to gradually introduce your cat to her new food , especially if she tends to be a finicky eater, as many cats are. It takes a little time and research to determine the healthiest cat food for your cat, but making informed choices will help to keep your smallest family member on the right path toward wellness and longevity.

The Best Senior Cat Food

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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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Our Picks For Fresh Cat Food:

Limited ingredient diets may be recommended for cats with gastrointestinal or dermatological issues that are likely caused by an adverse reaction or allergy to ingredients commonly found in cat food. Veterinarians often use LID foods to perform food elimination trials in order to pinpoint the source of a cat’s food sensitivity.;

When it comes to healthy adult cats, Okada told us that there is no advantage to feeding an LID formula. These recipes were historically formulated with uncommon ingredients and novel proteins like wild game, but the inclusion of these ingredients in regular cat food has made it more challenging to identify appropriate foods for a cat in need of an LID. To make it more likely that an LID will work for a cat who develops allergies or food reactions later in life, Okada said that healthy adult cats should stick to regular cat food formulas that are complete and balanced.;

Best Wet Cat Food For Sensitive Stomachs

If your cat is prone to digestive problems, finding a wet cat food for sensitive stomachs could help cut back on diarrhea, gas, loose stools. A digestive food wont necessarily be a cure-all for all of your cats issues, so make sure to consult a veterinarian before feeding your cat a special diet.;

Here are some of our favorite wet cat food options for cats with digestive problems.;

Hills offers a variety of prescription cat foods to help with certain digestive issues, but if your cat has minor digestive upset or only experiences it once in a while this non-prescription option is a great one to try. The food is formulated with prebiotic fiber to help support your cats gut health and improve stool quality. Not only does it help with some common digestion problems like loose and smelly stool, this cat food also provides ingredients to improve your cats skin and coat. Omega-6 fatty acids and vitamin E keep your cats skin and coat soft, hydrated, and healthy.;

Highlights

  • May not solve a cats digestive issues, depending on whats causing them.
  • There are additional ingredients and fillers. Read the labels before purchasing.
  • Should be refrigerated after opening, like all wet cat foods.

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Vet Recommended Cat Food: In Most Cases Its Anything But Raw

The use of raw or home-cooked food is one of the most intense conflict points between veterinarians and their clients. As more and more people seek out fresh foods for their pets, most veterinarians insist that dry and canned commercial food are the only reasonable options. This division is driving a wedge between veterinarians and their clients.

In 2017, a survey of over 2,000 raw feeders revealed that people who fed their pets raw food reported lower trust in veterinary advice both in general and with respect to nutrition than those who fed their pets non-raw food. The same survey also indicated that these respondents were over twice as likely to consult online resources than their veterinarian when it came to making decisions about feeding raw food.

Veterinarians have an obligation to discourage foods that could potentially harm humans as well as pets, and a raw diet, even if properly balanced, represents a public health hazard.

Save for the rare veterinarian whos willing to take a risk and recommend a dietary choice that could jeopardize their reputation and come back to bite them legally, most vets simply wont recommend or condone raw cat food.

Can Dry Cat Food Go Stale

We Listed Some healthiest cat food brands

Like any other pet food, dry cat food can go bad. Always check the “best by” date to make sure your food isn’t past its due date. To best preserve your dry food, keep it in the original packagingthese bags are designed to help food maintain its freshness as long as possible.

Make sure to seal the bag properly after use to avoid air exposure as well. Air exposure can cause degradation of the food. Store your food in a cool, dry place as opposed to out in the sun as that can cause the temperature and humidity to rise in the bag.

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Natural Organic And Human Grade: Are They Meaningless Buzzwords

Until recently, the description scientifically formulated was a popular pet food marketing catchphrase. People wanted to imagine their cats food as being formulated by scientists in a sterile laboratory.

Todays cat food consumer has a different ideal. Theyre looking for food thats gently crafted, fresh from the farm, non-GMO, natural, and based on real meat. Thanks to the back to nature trend, the number of natural or organic cat food labels has skyrocketed. Numerous brands capitalize on the premium natural food concept.

But are they healthy for your cat?

Best Wet Cat Food Formulas Of 2021

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When you bring a new cat home, one of the first decisions you have to make as a new pet parent is what type of cat food to feed your feline. And while there are hundreds of foods and cat food brands on the market, most cat owners will choose between two types of formulationswet cat food and dry cat food.

While there are benefits and drawbacks to both, wet cat food can offer a variety of benefits to our feline friends. In general, wet food tends to be higher in fat and protein and lower in carbohydrates compared to dry food, says Dr. Ericka Carroll, a San Francisco-based veterinarian who works for Hello Ralphie, a telehealth platform. Wet food also has significantly high moisture content compared to dry food.

Finding the best wet cat food for your four-legged companion will come down to your cats individual needs and preferences. But this guide will provide information about what to look for and consider when shopping for wet cat food and which brands and formulas you should consider for optimum nutrition.

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What Should Cats Eat

Cats are obligate carnivores and require nutrients found in animal products to live a long and healthy life. That means finding cat foods that are high in protein, contain moderate amounts of fats, as well as minimal carbohydrates is important to ensure your cat is getting adequate nutrition.

Animal Based Proteins

Most of the protein in a cats diet should come from animal based sources instead of plant based sources . Animal based proteins contain a full amino acid profile; while humans can produce the missing pieces not supplied by a plant based diet, cats cannot, and therefore need their proteins from meat.

Taurine

Taurine is one of the most important compounds cats get from animal protein, as it isnt found in plants. Taurine is crucial to healthy body functioning in a cat, with a deficiency having the potential to cause blindness, heart problems, or even death. Most pet food manufacturers now add taurine to their food formulas because of this.

Water

Another essential element cats should be eating is water. Yes, you read that right! Cats should be eating, rather than drinking, a majority of their water. Prior to domestication, a cats wild prey would normally contain about 70-75% water, leading to cats not having a very high thirst drive. Without a water filled diet, cats can develop bladder and kidney issues.

Fats

Indoor Cat Food Buying Guide

Quick & Easy, Healthy, Affordable CAT FOOD

Food and nutrition can play a big part in the quality of life for our feline friends. This guide will help take some of the guesswork out of buying indoor cat food by offering information on foods your cat should and shouldnt eat, the two main types of cat food, reading nutrition labels, and when to feed your cat.

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