Cat Food & Diet
Introduction
Choosing the right diet for your cat Guide: Learn how choosing the right diet and foods can affect your cat's health.
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Unlike dogs, cats are carnivores that have evolved to a diet that is high in fat and protein and relatively low in carbohydrates. This does not mean that cats are unable to utilize plant proteins, only that they require certain amino acids and fatty acids that can only be found in meat of animal sources.Some of the adaptations seen in cats resulting from a low carbohydrate (high fat and protein) diet include fewer taste buds
Taurine is one of eleven essential amino acids required by cats and its requirement has been known for over 20 years. While most mammals are able to manufacture taurine from other sulfur containing amino acids (cystine and methionine), the cat's ability to process taurine is very limited. Furthermore, because of a unique metabolic pathway in the cat's liver, much of the taurine absorbed from the cat's diet is excreted in the bile by the liver.
A well balanced diet can help your cat to live a long and healthy life. With so many different types of pet food diets on the market today, it can be very confusing trying to figure out which diet is best for your cat. The following guidelines and recommendations can help you to choose the right diet for your feline friend.Cats are true carnivores, and they need a specialized diet. Commercial cat food diets that
The young cat is particularly susceptible to nutritional imbalances and feeding errors. Dietary habits established after weaning in many ways determine the future health status of a cat. Pet owners must be made aware of the unique nutritional requirements found in the cat. Particularly significant are the differences in nutritional requirements between dogs and cats, such as the higher requirement for protein and the greater tolerance for fat in cats when compared to dogs. Similarly,
Don't put your pet on a senior food or a "light" diet just because it is at a certain age. Diets formulated with the older pet in mind frequently contain fewer calories, 18% less protein and 4% to 6% less fiber. Animals who will benefit from a diet with these characteristics are those with increased weight gain due to a decline in activity and those who suffer from frequent constipation.The most frequent change in the
A cat’s diet will need to be changed at least twice during the cat’s lifetime. Adult cats will need to eat cat food instead of kitten food, and senior cats will need to eat senior food instead of cat food.Sometimes cats require a special diet such as a hairball formula diet, kidney or bladder formula diet, weight loss diet, or a diet which is created for cats with food allergies. While a change to a