How To Choose The Best Food For Cats

Having a pet cat or kitten can be really nice especially if it is your first time. However, you also need to be responsible enough to know what is best for your pet. The first thing that you should know when you opt to have a pet cat is to choose the best food for cats. You cannot just buy any food you see in a pet shop as you have to consider the nutritional value.

When choosing a cat food brand, consider your pet's age. A cat's age is broadly segmented into three stages: kitten, adult and senior. Ideally, you should choose cat food that is appropriate to your pet's age.Foods manufactured especially for kittens are rich in both protein and fat which are essential to the development of your pet's muscles, bones, and teeth.

Additionally, kittens require more protein and fat because they are more active and can burn more calories. Adult cats, on the other hand, require a diet low in calories. Just like humans, adult cats can become overweight if they are overfed or given the wrong type of food and do not get much physical activity. Being overweight can leave them susceptible to diseases and conditions like heart disease, diabetes and arthritis.

The only exception here is if the cat is pregnant or nursing. Pregnant and nursing cats require meals which are higher in fat and protein. When your pet reaches old age, it becomes more sedentary and will require a diet which is low in fat and rich in proteins which can be easily be digested as well as processed by their kidneys. Once you have narrowed down your food choices to those appropriate to your cat's age, the next thing that you need to do is to look at the food labels.

Look for important content such as protein, taurine, vitamins, minerals, enzymes, fatty acids, and water as the top ingredients. You may also notice preservatives listed on the labels. These are used to keep the food fresh, although quality brands use less artificial preservatives and fillers. Avoid cat foods which list ingredients like by-products, animal digest, meat and/or bone meal, added sugars, corn meal, too many carbohydrate fillers, and chemical preservatives.

Experts suggest rotating different cat foods to prevent boredom and to ensure that your cat gets a balanced diet. It is also recommended that you give your pet both dry and canned food. Choosing the best food for your cats is really very important to ensure their health.

 Credit: Christina Gandia