Food and Nutrition

Overview

There’s more to feeding your cat than slipping him leftover table scraps from your breakfast, lunch or dinner. Though that piece of turkey or chunk of meat may be delicious (and your cat certainly won’t mind a little taste), it may not meet your pet’s nutritional requirements or can even be downright unhealthy for him.

To make sure that your cat is eating well—and thus prevent diseases and give his coat a beautiful shine—you need to give him cat food. But what kind of cat food?

Cat food is a booming industry, raking in around $2 billion a year in the United States alone. However, not all brands are created equal. Bear in mind that the cat species has been able to survive thousands, if not millions, of years out in the wild, hunting their prey. Cats evolved as pure carnivores, meaning that their requirements for nutrition are more complicated than that of dogs and other animals that are not wholly carnivorous.
Because of the cat’s hunting instinct, some experts say that the best diet for a cat should be “from the wild”—as natural and free of chemicals as possible. Since most of them are too domesticated to pounce on anything more harmless than a bird, it’s up to the pet owners to check the cat food labels and make the smartest option for them.

Basic Nutritional Needs

Cats have some basic nutritional needs. They need protein, which you can get from meat, fish, or poultry; taurine, which is an essential amino acid; and other vitamins, enzymes, minerals. Water is also important for your cat because most of them forget to drink water for days on end.

Most cat owners become worried when their cats don’t eat on schedule. Don’t assume that since your cat isn’t devouring his meal in one sitting, he doesn’t like the food. Many cats are simply occasional eaters, eating only when necessary and stopping when they are full. Unless he’s showing noticeable signs of weight loss or weakness, don’t be alarmed.

Cat Food Brands and Labels

• Read the label. With the sheer number of choices available, it may be difficult to find the best cat food for your beloved pet. It may be tempting to just buy whatever brand seems most familiar to you, because of the commercials on TV. But no matter how “famous” the brand is, you still have to stop and read the label. Avoid those with a long list of chemicals and by-products and reach for those with real meat ingredients (chicken, beef, etc).
• Avoid generic brands. While they’re cheaper, they may also contain less nutrients. The premium brands usually have better nutrition and less preservatives and additives, so you’ll be spending less in the long run because your cat won’t get sick. Remember that veterinary procedures are expensive, and preventing diseases by providing excellent nutrition is still more cost-effective.
• Switch brands after some time. Of course your pet would like a little variety (who wouldn’t?), but more importantly, there have been cases of cats succumbing to blindness and kidney failure after eating one cat food brand exclusively. Don’t forget to switch brands after a couple of weeks.
• Stick to the basics. Some cat food brands have all sorts of gimmicks like “flavor” enhancers. Avoid these and other novelty food products and go for what really matters—nutrition.
• Go beyond the grocery aisle. Buy premium cat food from your vet, your neighborhood pet food supply stores, or even on the Internet. Cat food from the grocery store is known to be full of filler like rice or corn that can cause future side effects.

What Cats Should Not Eat

Who hasn’t fed their cat with some portions left over from lunch, dinner, or even a simple snack? It’s harmless—most of the time. But always do it in moderation, and avoid human food that’s known to actually hurt cats:

• Onions and Garlic. They both contain a substance (N-propyl disulphide) that can destroy your cat’s red blood cells and cause a certain form of anemia.
• Chocolate. Chocolate is very toxic to both cats and dogs. The substance Theobromine is to be blamed. It can affect both the heart and the nervous system.
• Milk. Despite popular belief, milk can still have some bad effects on cats, as many are lactose-intolerant. The lactose contained in it can give your cats stomach upsets and cramps. That’s not to say that you can’t feed it to your cat in small amounts if he really loves it. Lactose-free milk products are also available in the market.
• Grapes and Raisins. It contains an unknown toxic that can damage the kidneys of your cat.
• Raw Fish. If you feed this to your cat regularly, it can lead to a thiamine (B vitamin) deficiency which causes loss of appetite, and in extreme cases, death.
• Mushrooms. These contain toxins that can affect several systems in your cat’s body, leading to shock and death.