Ensuring your feline companion lives a long and healthy life hinges on providing them with proper nutrition. This guide delves into the essential aspects of selecting the most appropriate diet for your cat, covering everything from necessary nutrients to understanding commercial food options and homemade diets.
Essential Nutrients for Feline Health
Cats are obligate carnivores, meaning their dietary needs are uniquely met by nutrients found exclusively in animal products. Their evolutionary diet consisted of prey rich in protein, moderate in fat, and low in carbohydrates, a balance their current diet still requires. Beyond these macronutrients, cats need over a dozen essential vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, and amino acids to thrive.
While a balanced diet provides these specific nutrients, exceeding recommended amounts, particularly with vitamins and minerals, can be detrimental. Supplements should only be administered under veterinary guidance, as they can pose health risks. Crucially, cats must always have access to clean, fresh water.
Understanding Commercial Cat Food Options
Commercial cat foods are available in three primary forms: dry, semi-moist, and canned, each varying in water content, protein levels, caloric density, palatability, and digestibility.
Dry Cat Food
With a water content of 6-10%, dry food is typically made from a mixture of ingredients like meat byproducts, poultry, grains, fish meal, fiber sources, milk products, and vitamin and mineral supplements. These ingredients are extruded into bite-sized kibbles, often coated with flavor enhancers like animal fat to increase appeal.
Dry food’s affordability and convenience, due to its non-perishable nature, make it a popular choice for owners practicing “free-choice” feeding. However, it may be less palatable and, depending on ingredient quality, less digestible than moist alternatives. Proper storage in a cool, dry place, ideally in an airtight container, is vital to prevent nutrient degradation and rancidity, especially when storing large quantities for extended periods. Always check the expiration date before feeding.
Semi-Moist Cat Food
Containing approximately 35% moisture, semi-moist cat food primarily features meat and meat byproducts, supplemented with soybean meal, cereals, grain byproducts, and preservatives. Generally mid-priced, these foods can be more appealing to some cats than dry options and also support free-choice feeding. However, once opened, they can quickly dry out, diminishing palatability and potentially becoming rancid.
Canned Cat Food
Canned cat food boasts a high moisture content of at least 75%, serving as an excellent source of hydration. While typically the most expensive option, it is highly palatable for most cats and available in numerous varieties, catering to finicky eaters. Unopened canned food has a long shelf life, but any unused portion must be refrigerated to maintain quality and prevent spoilage. Gourmet options often highlight meats like kidney or liver, but it’s crucial to read nutrition labels carefully to ensure a nutritional guarantee, as some specialty products may be nutritionally incomplete.
Selecting the Right Food for Your Cat
Commercially prepared cat foods are formulated to provide the correct balance of nutrients and calories. The Feline Nutrition Expert (FNE) Subcommittee of the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), establishes basic nutritional requirements for cats, which manufacturers adhere to.
Comparing cat foods is best done by reading the nutrition label. Manufacturers are required by AAFCO and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to provide specific nutritional information. Foods bearing an AAFCO-approved nutritional guarantee, often called the “AAFCO statement,” are considered nutritionally complete and balanced.
A cat’s nutritional needs evolve throughout its life stages: kittenhood, adulthood, pregnancy, and lactation. The food label should specify the life stage for which it is formulated and meet AAFCO requirements. Some foods are suitable for “all life stages,” simplifying choices for multi-cat households.
When reviewing the ingredients list, note that items are listed by decreasing weight. Prioritize foods listing meat, meat byproducts, or seafood among the first few ingredients, indicating sufficient animal-source ingredients for essential amino acids and fatty acids.
Once you’ve identified a complete and balanced food, the choice between dry, semi-moist, or canned may simply come down to your cat’s preference. Offering a combination can also work well for some cats.
Homemade Cat Food Considerations
Creating homemade cat food can be challenging, often resulting in incorrect nutrient quantities and proportions. It is generally recommended to opt for nutritionally balanced commercial foods unless a veterinarian prescribes a specific homemade recipe for medical reasons, typically developed by a veterinary nutritionist.
Treats and Other Dietary Considerations
Occasional treats are generally safe but should not form the bulk of a cat’s diet, ideally not exceeding 10-15% of their daily caloric intake. Certain human foods should be strictly avoided. Raw meat, despite its nutrient density, is not recommended due to the risk of toxoplasmosis and other infections. Some cats have developed serious neurological disorders from consuming canned fish products intended for humans. Additionally, many cats are lactose-intolerant, making milk a potential cause of gastrointestinal upset.
Cats can be particular about their eating environment. Factors like high-traffic areas, noise, the presence of other animals, dirty food containers, or proximity to litter boxes can deter them from eating. Being attuned to your cat’s behavior and making adjustments to their dining space is important.
Maintaining a healthy weight is critical. Obesity is a common issue in cats, increasing susceptibility to problems like arthritis and diabetes. Consult your veterinarian to determine your cat’s ideal body weight and to receive guidance on dietary adjustments.
If your cat develops finicky eating habits, offering two or three different cat foods can provide flavor variety and prevent an over-reliance on a single option. A cat that stops eating and is losing weight requires immediate veterinary attention.
Updated July 2017
