HOW TO CHOOSE A CAT FOOD
One of the most common questions veterinary staff members are asked is "What should I feed my pet?" Since the most important contribution you can make to your pet's health and well-being is his or her daily diet, it's a question that deserves a good answer.
Think quality!
First of all, with pet foods, as with most things, you get what you pay for. Cheap dog and cat foods use cheap ingredients, have poor quality control, are not well digested and may have excesses or deficiencies in vital nutrients, which can harm your pet. When analyzed in a laboratory many generic and store brand foods do not actually contain the level of nutrition stated on the label. So, to get the nutrition you are paying for, choose a well-known name brand.
Your pet will do best if you pick one complete food that is appropriate for his or her age and activity level, and stick with it. For a puppy or kitten this means a puppy or kitten food. Young, rapidly growing animals need more nutrition than adult food can provide. Click here for more information on nutrition.
Don’t switch foods
Animals do not need variety in their regular, daily diets. Both dogs and cats are prone to becoming finicky eaters when fed a varied diet, causing problems for their owners later on. So don't switch foods every other week. If you do need to change from one product to another, do so gradually by mixing the two diets together for a few days to a week. This will help prevent diarrhea from a too sudden change in food. Some cats do seem to tire of a particular flavor after a while. Unfortunately, if you cater too much to this you end up with a finicky eater. This can be a major problem if the cat develops a disease problem that requires a special food.
Interestingly, cats base much of their dry food preferences on the shape and size of the nugget. Ever notice how every cat food manufacturer has a different special shape to their food? Little stars, fish shapes, o-rings, etc. Cats get accustomed to the way a food feels in their mouth as they eat it, and this is actually more important to the palatability of the food than taste or smell. It’s a good idea to change foods a few times when the cat is young, so he or she gets used to eating more than one size or shape nugget. This helps increase the chance that the cat will eat a new diet later in its life.
Don't base your food choices on what you would like to eat, as many pet food manufacturers would like you to do. Dogs and cats are color blind, so they don't care whether their food is red or brown. They also don't care if it looks like beef stew or little pork chops! The fancier the food looks, the more you are paying for unnecessary artificial coloring, flavoring and preservatives.
A dry food is best for your pet's teeth and gums, so the majority of your dog or cat's nutritional needs should be met with a chow type food, unless your cat has a medical problem or your veterinarian recommends something special. Canned foods are much more expensive to feed, as you are paying for a lot of water and extra packaging. Many people like to supplement their cat's diet with some canned food, and this is fine as long as you pick a good one, and don't overdo it. Canned foods are more likely to have excesses of protein, which may contribute to kidney disease as your pet ages, as well as being worse for your pet's teeth.
Premium foods contain superior nutrition over grocery store brands. They are extensively tested and meet rigid standards with no ingredient substitutions. The finest pet foods are formulated with controlled levels of key nutrients like fat, protein, phosphorus and magnesium, to help reduce the risk of such problems as obesity, urinary tract problems and kidney disease.
That is why, even though grocery store brands provide adequate nutrition for many pets, most veterinarians still recommend that you feed your pet the best you can buy. Not only are you getting better nutrition for your pet, but the daily cost to you is often not any greater than if you were feeding a cheaper brand. Better foods may cost more per bag, but the superior nutrition and better digestibility of these foods means you feed less per day and your veterinary bills for nutritionally related diseases will be less as well.
What about treats?
Most dog owners, and an increasing number of cat owners, feed treats to their pets in addition to their regular food. Treats are rarely "complete and balanced", and are often loaded with salt, fat, artificial colorings and preservatives, all of which comprise "junk food" for animals.
A daily vitamin and some treats every day will not harm your pet unless it has a diet-related disease, but it's best to give these items in moderation.
Supplements & Calories
Do not give any vitamin or mineral supplements to your dog or cat without your veterinarian's advice. These types of supplements can easily cause harmful nutrient excesses.
Frequency
Cats are natural nibblers. They like to eat small amounts often throughout the day. This is important for the health of their digestive system. It also helps to keep the cat’s urine pH constant, which helps prevent the formation of crystals that cause urinary tract disease. It is best to either leave food out all the time (as long as the pet is not over-eating and getting too fat!) or to put out food several times a day. If your cat is too heavy, carefully measure out the amount of food you put in the bowl and meter it out a little at a time. Click here for more information on weight control and exercise.
The most important daily contribution you will make to your pet's health is his or her diet. So choose wisely, and consult with your veterinarian about any nutritional questions you may have.
