Cats 101 : Cat Nutrition
Channel: Kitten Life
Date: 13/12/2020

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In today's video, we are going to talk about Cat's Nutrition.


With hundreds of pet food brands, crazy treat trends, and confusing ingredients, it’s hard to know what’s best for your cat. In an age of technology where it’s so easy to be misled and get inaccurate answers online, we’ve put together a comprehensive nutrition guide, complete with all the information you need to plan for your cat’s diet.

Since cats tend to eat the same food at almost every meal, it’s easy to understand just how important it is that you select a food that will completely meet your cat’s nutritional needs. Establishing a healthy diet plan will not only help your cat maintain healthy body weight, but it will also improve his quality of life and even extend his lifespan


Here are some of the Basics Tips for feeding your Cats.


1. What to Know About Feeding Your Cat.

Whether your cat is a picky eater or a little on the pudgy side, they probably let you know how they feel about what you put in their bowl.

“Cats are very opinionated about food, and a lot of their food preferences are formed in the first year,” says Julie A. Churchill. So if your cat is a kitten, now is the time to get them used to different types of food, wet, dry, and semidry.

But even if your pet is older, there are still ways to make sure they are getting all the nutrients they need to be healthy. Start by learning more about what you’re buying and what your cat needs.


2.  Ask your veterinarian.

If you have questions about your cat’s nutrition, your veterinarian should be your go-to resource. Your veterinarian will provide you the best foods for your cat and they will make sure your pet is getting the best nutrition possible.


3. Choose Balanced Food.

All cat owners should know how to read a cat food label, says Richard Hill.

It’s trendy to bash grains and carbohydrates in pet food, but those are not necessarily bad, Churchill says. Plus, food made of only protein and fat gets pricey. “Carbs can be valuable to hold dry food together and make food more affordable, and many cats like that crunch. As long as carbs are in an amount cats can handle, it’s Okay.

If you see a statement from the Association of American Feed Control Officials on your cat’s food bag or cans, you’re on the right track. This is a sign that your cat’s diet meets all the necessary nutrition requirements.


4. Don’t dwell on the ingredients.

It can be really confusing to look at the list of ingredients on your pet’s food. Pet food companies not only use their ingredients and labels for science and nutrition, but also for marketing purposes.

They may highlight different terms like “human-grade” to draw you in, but these are usually made up terms with no nutritional or medical values. When in doubt, talk to your veterinarian.


5. Assess the manufacturer. 

This is where your veterinarian can help guide you. Where your pet’s food is manufactured can play a big role in how nutritious it is. Here are the important things that we need to know.

Where is the food manufactured? A good manufacturer owns the plants where their food is produced.

What quality control measures are taken? This looks at the quality of ingredients, consistency, and nutritional value of the end product.

Do they employ at least one full-time, qualified animal nutritionist, and does this doctor formulate the diets?

Do they conduct and publish research in peer-reviewed journals?

Can they provide nutritional values for any nutrient, beyond what’s listed on the label?

These are just a few of the important things that we need to know to ensure our pet's best diets and nutrition.


6. The more canned food, the better.

Ideally, feed your cat only a canned or wet food diet. For those that prefer dry food, you need to feed a combination of wet and dry food to cats for a variety of reasons.

- It will help them get enough water, which they may not seek out on their own. Cats have a low thirst drive and are designed to get most of their water with their food.

- As indoor cats do not get a great deal of physical exercise, combining the two food types is beneficial, because wet food has fewer calories.

- The high water content in canned food will encourage your cat to urinate more often, flushing out their bladders. This is important to help reduce urinary tract issues, especially in indoor cats.

- As cats get older, certain conditions like diabetes and kidney disease respond better to wet food. If you start feeding some canned food to your cat when they’re young, they may not be so picky in the future.