Feeding Your Cat
Because nutrition is one of
the most important keys to your cat's health and longevity, one of your most
important responsibilities as a cat owner is to provide your cat with the
necessary nutrients required for its growth and maintenance. To do this, it is
first necessary to understand what cats need in their diet.
Obligate Carnivores' Nutritional Requirements
Cats are obligate carnivores
and are very different from dogs-and people-in their nutritional needs. What
does it mean to be an obligate carnivore? It means that cats are strict
carnivores that rely on nutrients in animal tissue to meet their specific nutritional
requirements. In their natural habitat, cats are hunters that consume prey high
in protein with moderate amounts of fat and minimal amounts of carbohydrates.
Cats also require more than a dozen nutrients, including vitamins, minerals,
fatty acids, and amino acids. These nutrients are the building blocks of
various structural body tissues; are essential for chemical reactions
(metabolism, catabolism); transport substances into, around, and out of the
body; supply energy for growth and maintenance; and provide palatability.
The important thing to
remember about nutrients, particularly vitamins and minerals, is that your cat
needs the correct amount-but no more. It is possible to have "too much of
a good thing" when it comes to vitamins and minerals; the use of
supplements not only is unnecessary but also can be potentially dangerous to
your pet's health. A key point to remember is that cats are neither small dogs
nor people. Because of cats' unique metabolism, what might be good for you
might be detrimental to your cat. A high-quality cat food assures an adequate
supply of vitamins and minerals in your cat's diet; supplements should never be
added without a veterinarian's approval.
Another important nutrient
with respect to overall health is water. Water helps regulate body temperature,
digest food, eliminate waste, lubricate tissue, and allow salt and other
electrolytes to pass through the body. You should provide your cat with clean,
fresh water at all times.
What Types of Commercial Cat Food are Available?
Dry Food
Dry food contains 6 to 10 percent moisture. Depending on the
specific formulation, meats or meat byproducts, poultry or poultry byproducts,
grain, grain byproducts, fish meal, fiber sources, milk products, and vitamin
and mineral supplements are combined, extruded, and dried into bitesized
pieces. The pieces are then covered with flavor enhancers, such as animal fat,
which give them increased palatability. The primary advantages of dry cat food
are lower cost and convenience in allowing "free choice" feeding.
However, dry food may be less palatable to a cat, and, depending on the types
and quality of the ingredients, may also be less digestible than moist food. If
you do use dry food, it is important to store unused portions in a cool, dry
location, and not to use the food after its expiration date (which is printed
on the container). Often owners buy large amounts of dry food that can
sometimes last for 3 to 6 months; therefore, checking the expiration date
before feeding it to your cat is very important. Lengthy storage decreases the
activity and potency of many vitamins and increases the likelihood that fats
have become rancid. Storing dry cat food in an airtight container can help
prevent nutrient deterioration and help maintain palatability.
Semi-Moist Food
Semi-moist food
contains approximately 35 percent moisture and often resembles ground- or
wholemeat tidbits. Meat and meat byproducts are the primary ingredients. They
are combined with soybean meal, cereals, grain byproducts, and preservatives.
The cost is generally mid-range, and these foods may be more appealing than dry
cat food to some cats. Semi-moist food can also be fed free choice. However,
after the package is opened, palatability decreases and spoilage increases
because of dehydration.
Canned Food
Canned cat food
has a moisture content of at least 75 percent, making it a good dietary source
of water. It is generally the most expensive type of cat food, but it also is
highly palatable to most cats, and different varieties are plentiful, which can
be helpful if your cat is a finicky eater. Canned food has the longest shelf
life when unopened, but any unused portion of opened canned cat food should be
refrigerated to maintain quality and prevent spoilage. Gourmet canned cat foods
generally feature meats, such as kidney or liver, and whole meat byproducts as
primary food ingredients. Some brands, however, may be nutritionally
incomplete, and it is important to read the nutrition labels carefully on such
specialty cat-food items to ensure that they have a nutritional guarantee.
What about Homemade Diets?
Formulating your
own cat food is a difficult and time-consuming process. Also, the nutrients in
the formula may not be available in the right quantities and proportions to be
beneficial to your cat. It is usually recommended that cat owners use a
commercial nutritionally balanced product, unless a veterinarian recommends a
homeformulated recipe for medical purposes. Often these recipes come from
published sources and are created by veterinarians certified in animal nutrition.
Can I Give My Cat Treats?
Giving your cat a treat from time to time
isn't going to do any harm, but there are a few things to keep in mind. Treats
should only be fed occasionally. They should not be a steady diet for your cat,
because they lack the proper proportion of basic nutrients a cat requires to
maintain its health. A rule of thumb is not to let treats exceed 10 to 15
percent of the cat's daily diet. Also, some foods should be avoided entirely.
Although raw meat is an excellent source of many nutrients, it is not
recommended as a food or a treat for cats, because it is a potential vehicle
for toxoplasmosis and other infectious diseases. Some cats that have consumed
canned fish products meant for humans have developed deadly neurological
disorders. Also, milk is not generally recommended as a treat for cats. Adult
cats fed a nutritious diet don't need milk, and many cats are
lactose-intolerant, which means that the lactose in milk and milk products can
cause stomach upset.
What Else Do I Need to Consider?
Environmental conditions can affect a cat's
eating habits. For example, heavy-traffic areas, noise, the presence of other
animals, dirty food containers, or nearby litter boxes can deter a cat from
eating. Try to be sensitive to your cat's eating behavior, and make necessary
adjustments to provide optimum feeding conditions.
Also remember that cats vary greatly in
characteristics such as the amount of food they need to consume to ensure
optimal weight and health maintenance. Be careful not to overfeed your cat.
Overfeeding can lead to obesity, which is the most common nutrition-related
problem in cats. An overweight cat is prone to other health problems such as
diabetes and arthritis. Commercial pet foods formulated to help cats lose
weight are available. Ask your veterinarian to help you determine the ideal
body weight for your cat, and follow your veterinarian's suggestions on how to
adjust your cat's diet to attain and maintain that weight.
Although many cats are content to eat a
single product, some cats may develop finicky eating habits and become very
selective about what foods they'll accept. Feeding your cat two or three
different cat foods provides flavor variety, and may prevent your cat from
developing an exclusive preference for a single food, so that if a medical
condition dictates a change in diet, your cat may have an easier time
adjusting.
Also remember that not eating can lead to
serious medical problems in cats. This is true for sick cats that lack an
appetite, for cats on a diet, and for the finicky cat that refuses to eat. A
veterinarian should examine any cat that refuses to eat and is losing weight.
No comments