Ensuring your cat receives proper nutrition is fundamental to a long and healthy life. Selecting the appropriate diet involves understanding their specific needs as obligate carnivores and navigating the various commercial cat food options available. This guide will walk you through the essential nutrients, types of cat food, and crucial considerations for making informed dietary choices for your feline companion.
Essential Nutrients for Cats
Cats are obligate carnivores, meaning their diet must consist primarily of nutrients found in animal products. Their evolutionary diet consisted of prey rich in protein, moderate in fat, and low in carbohydrates. This nutritional balance is still crucial for their health today. Beyond macronutrients, cats require over a dozen essential vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, and amino acids.
While adequate intake of each nutrient is vital, excessive amounts can be harmful, especially with vitamins and minerals. Therefore, supplements are generally unnecessary when feeding a complete and balanced commercial diet. Always consult a veterinarian before administering any supplements, as they can pose risks to your cat’s health. Crucially, ensure your cat always has access to clean, fresh water.
Understanding Commercial Cat Food Options
Commercial cat foods are broadly categorized into dry, semi-moist, and canned varieties, each with distinct characteristics:
Dry Cat Food
Dry food typically contains 6-10% water. It is manufactured by combining various ingredients, extruding them, and drying them into bite-sized pieces. Common ingredients include meat or meat byproducts, poultry or poultry byproducts, grains or grain byproducts, fish meal, fiber sources, milk products, and vitamin and mineral supplements. Flavor enhancers like animal fat are often coated onto the kibble to increase palatability.
The advantages of dry food include its affordability and the convenience of “free-choice” feeding due to its non-perishable nature. However, it may be less palatable than moist options and, depending on ingredient quality, potentially less digestible. If using dry food, proper storage is key. Keep unused portions in a cool, dry place and always check the expiration date, as prolonged storage can degrade nutrients and cause fats to become rancid. Storing dry food in an airtight container can help preserve its quality and flavor.
Semi-Moist Cat Food
Primarily composed of meat and meat byproducts, semi-moist food has a moisture content of around 35%. It also includes ingredients like soybean meal, cereals, grain byproducts, and preservatives. This type of food generally falls in a mid-range price point. Some cats find semi-moist food more appealing than dry kibble and may also be amenable to free-choice feeding. However, once opened, it can dry out, reducing its palatability and potentially leading to rancidity.
Canned Cat Food
Canned cat food boasts a high moisture content, at least 75%, making it an excellent source of hydration for cats. While typically the most expensive option, it is highly palatable for most felines. The wide variety of flavors and textures available can be a significant benefit for picky eaters. Canned food has the longest shelf life when unopened, but any leftovers should be refrigerated to maintain freshness and prevent spoilage. High-quality canned foods often feature meats like kidney or liver as primary ingredients. It’s essential to carefully read nutrition labels, especially on specialty gourmet options, to ensure they meet nutritional completeness and balance standards.
Selecting the Best Food for Your Cat
Commercially prepared cat foods are formulated to provide the correct balance of nutrients and calories. Nutritional standards for cats are established by organizations like the Feline Nutrition Expert (FNE) Subcommittee of the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), which manufacturers use as guidelines.
Reading the nutrition label is the most effective way to compare cat foods. Manufacturers are required to provide specific nutritional information, governed by regulations from AAFCO and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Foods carrying an AAFCO-approved nutritional guarantee, often stated as an “AAFCO statement,” are considered nutritionally complete and balanced.
A cat’s nutritional needs evolve throughout its life stages, including kittenhood, adulthood, pregnancy, and lactation. The food label should specify the life stage for which the food is formulated and confirm it meets AAFCO requirements. Some “all life stages” formulas can simplify feeding for households with cats of varying ages.
When reviewing the ingredients list, remember items are listed by decreasing proportional weight. Prioritize foods where meat, meat byproducts, or seafood appear among the first few ingredients, indicating sufficient animal-source protein for essential amino acids and fatty acids. For a deeper dive into optimal feline diets, exploring resources on best cat food to feed your cat can be highly beneficial.
Once you’ve identified a complete and balanced food, the choice between dry, semi-moist, or canned can come down to your cat’s preference. Some cats favor one type, while others enjoy a combination. Experiment to find what works best for your individual cat. Consider options such as hill’s pet cat food for established brands known for their quality.
Homemade Diets: Proceed with Caution
Formulating homemade cat food can be challenging and time-consuming, with a high risk of incorrect nutrient quantities and proportions. Unless a veterinarian specifically recommends a home-formulated recipe for medical reasons, purchasing nutritionally balanced commercial foods is generally advised. If a homemade diet is prescribed, ensure it’s developed by veterinarians specializing in animal nutrition.
Treats and Other Considerations
Occasional treats are generally not harmful but should not constitute a primary source of nutrition, making up no more than 10-15% of a cat’s daily caloric intake. Certain human foods should be avoided entirely. Raw meat, despite its nutrient density, is not recommended due to the risk of infectious diseases like toxoplasmosis. Similarly, some cats consuming canned fish products intended for humans have developed neurological disorders. Milk is also not advisable, as many cats are lactose-intolerant and can experience gastrointestinal distress from dairy.
Cats can be sensitive to their eating environment. Factors like high-traffic areas, noise, the presence of other animals, unclean food containers, or proximity to litter boxes can deter them from eating. Adjusting their feeding environment to be calm and clean is important.
Maintaining a healthy weight is crucial. Obesity is a common issue in cats and increases their susceptibility to health problems like arthritis and diabetes. Consult your veterinarian to determine your cat’s ideal body weight and follow their guidance for diet adjustments. Exploring options for best weight control cat food can be a part of this strategy.
Some cats develop finicky eating habits. Offering two or three different cat foods can provide flavor variety and prevent an exclusive preference for one type. A cat that refuses to eat, especially if losing weight, requires prompt veterinary examination, as it can indicate serious medical issues.
Updated July 2017
