Showing posts with label best ingredients in cat food. Show all posts
Showing posts with label best ingredients in cat food. Show all posts
Friday, January 20, 2017

Are You Feeding Your Cat The Ingredients They Need?



Cat owners often select their pet's  food  based on the packaging, company advertising or recommendations from another cat lover, rather than the actual ingredients on the labelCats are carnivores and need meat to survive.  The ideal diet to fulfill a cat’s dietary needs are raw frozen diets as they are the most natural to what a cat might eat in the wild.  What are raw frozen diets?  Click here to learn more in this article: Pros and Cons of Feeding Your Dog or Cat a Raw Food Diet Cats need enzymes, meat and other  essential nutrients that cannot be converted within their bodies and they must consume  from animal tissues.  These nutrients include Vitamin A, Niacin, Arginine, Taurine, Felinine, protein and arachidonic acid. 

Unfortunately most cat foods are a long way away from containing the type of ingredients that can help a cat flourish.  This is due to a variety of reasons but primarily cost.  By mixing in wheat gluten for example, the perceived protein level of the cat food is elevated.  By adding in carbohydrates such as grains, peas, flours, etc, the product is less costly.  By adding in food dyes and manipulating the shapes of the treats, they are appealing to you as the owner, rather than what is actually healthy food for your cat.  

However,  another key reason why cat food ingredients don't resemble what a cat really needs is because cats can be very finicky.   Being finicky has helped cats survive by avoiding poisonous or tainted food as they have a capability to taste bitter flavors easily.  However, many pet food manufacturers have tricked cats using less then nutritious ingredients by adding artificial flavors, salt and even sugar to their food and treats, resulting in a cat craving foods that aren't nutritious for them.

How can you as the pet owner help your kitty eat the right foods?  Don't fall for the tricks!  Read the label!  Primary ingredients in cat food should be meat, fish or poultry.  Additional ingredients should be names you can pronounce and are familiar to you.  Keep the ingredients simple and avoid grains, fillers, chemicals and food dyes. If you find that your cat's food isn't meeting the standards you would like, it may be a challenge to convert your cat to a healthier diet.  Your kitty may resist at first, but stick with it.  Start with just the smallest amount of the new food mixed into the old food and slowly, slowly you can convince your cat that it is good.  Try not to get discouraged.  There will definitely be a nutritious food you can find to keep your cat healthy without compromising on taste!

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