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| Cats
are obligate carnivores, most commercial cat food contains both animal
and plant material, supplemented with vitamins, minerals and other
nutrients. Cat food is formulated to address the specific nutritional
requirements of cats, in particular containing the amino acid taurine,
as cats cannot thrive on taurine-deficient food and go blind when fed
with dog food |
| Canned
Cat Food |
| Although many people
rely on
dry cat food as a staple for their cats'
diets, canned cat food is a must for developing strong bones and
muscles, while mitigating many potential conditions caused or
contributed to by an all-dry cat food diet. It's true that dry cat food
is convenient; it doesn't spoil rapidly, and most cats like the
"crunch" of eating dry kibbles. However, dry cat food has its definite
"downside." Cats who eat a diet of only dry food are losing out on the
extra nutrition they can get with canned cat food. Many
commercial dry
foods are packed with carbohydrate fillers, usually
corn, listed as
"corn meal," "ground whole corn," "corn gluten," or even more thinly
disguised as "maize," "ground yellow maize" or other misleading names. |
| Cat
s Are Not Vegetarians |
Cats
are obligate
carnivores. There natural hunters. Meat eating
predators. They
digestive system was not designed for vegetarian cat food.
Dogs are
omnivores with carnivorous tendencies. Humans are true omnivores,
meaning can or cannot eat meat without a lot of issues.
Tofu,
the primary
source of
protein used in homemade feline cat food, has been shown in numerous
human studies to lack the bio-availability to the carnivore, resulting
in impaired brain function as well as many wasting diseases. According
to research and published studies soy products are not to be fed to
animals whose primary diet is protein based as the primary source of
protein. A few researchers have stated that any use of soy in felines,
mice, rats (etc.), will result in diseases related to the use of soy
and it derivatives. Soy, in addition to reducing the amount of protein
available to the animal, is also a high fiber food, slowing down
elimination (the opposite of what the short intestine if designed for
in a cat) and contains phytoestrogens that have been implicated in
reproductive diseases in carnivorous species.
As
for milk and
milk
products, milk products are safe for cats to consume as they
contain
the living enzymes needed for proper digestion. This is why barn cats
drinking the milk from the cow’s teat was never a problem |
| Get
Cat
Food for the Age of
the Cat |
When it
comes to dry
cat food, it is important that you choose one to meet your
cat’s
specific life stage. If you have just adopted or purchased a kitten
then you should only purchase kitten food. When a cat reaches the adult
stage then you should use a regular dry food formulated for adult cats.
Once your cat is in the senior stage a food specifically formulated for
their age can go a long way to helping them age gracefully.
When
selecting your cat’s food always check the package and make
sure
it is AAFCO approved. This means it will have a seal on the package
showing the contents are approved by the Association of American Feed
Control
Officials. The food approved by the AAFCO conforms to the minimal diet
standards that the association has set up to guarantee good cat food.
Finally,
you should
consider what your veterinarian recommends. No one knows which food is
for your cat’s needs better than his or her doctor. If you do
not
have a veterinarian recommendation then you should look for food that
has high quality and consistent ingredients on the label. |
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| Things
to Take Into Consideration |
Remember, the most
important aspect of your cat’s health is
good
nutrition. This is especially true of kittens that are still growing.
If possible, you should feed them the highest quality food you can
afford without cutting back on your own food.
Before you choose which cat food to purchase you should consider
several things. Included in this is your cat’s breed, their
age,
size and health. For example, long-haired cats will need specific
nutrients to keep their hair soft and shiny. More active cats might
require slightly more protein and energy-building nutrients. Its easy
to check online for guidelines on websites catering to specific
breeds.It is also a good idea to keep in mind where you will be feeding
your cat.
If
you are feeding your cat in the kitchen with a linoleum floor, you
might feel comfortable feeding your cat canned food since its easier to
wipe up. But if you will be feeding your cat in a family room finished
basement with carpeting, dry food that can be vacuumed up might be the
best choice.
Carefully
considering all these aspects will help you to select a cat food that
is appropriate and beneficial to your cat, which will help it to lead a
long and healthy life. |
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| Picture of the Week |
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| Super Fast
Fact |
The
Persian cat
is one of the most beautiful cats with a long, luxurious
coat. Owning a Persian gives one the same gratification as owning a
beautiful work of art.
Wild Cat
Here
are 36 species of wild
cats. |
| Useful Information |
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Domestic
Cat