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 With the huge variety of cat food available on the supermarket shelves, it can be difficult to know which to choose. Dry food, wet food, organic food, food with added nutrients, prescription diets, kitten food......the list is extensive. To steer your way through the maze you need to be armed with information such as how to correctly read and interpret a cat food label.
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Cat food producers are adept at leading consumers to believe a product is high quality, when in fact quite the opposite is true. A product labeled “chicken cat food” for example means that the food contained within is at least 95% chicken. On the other hand, a product that used a word such as “platter” or “entree” such as “juicy chicken platter”, indicates that the product is just 25% chicken. It gets worse however, as a cat food with the statement “cat food with chicken” indicates that there is just 3% chicken inside that product.
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Understanding the pitfalls of cat food labels is crucial if you want to purchase a high quality food for your cat.
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Another indicator of a high quality food is found on the ingredients list. The ingredients are always listed in order of predominance. If you have selected a salmon cat food and yet salmon is not the first listed ingredient, you know the item contains little salmon. Always make sure the stated meat protein is listed first in the ingredients list.
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 Cats have very different diets to both dogs and humans because they must receive all of their protein from meat and cannot digest protein from vegetable sources. They would not survive on a vegetarian diet, whereas dogs and of course humans can. Cats need a whole variety of amino acids found only in meat such as Taurine. It is important that cats are not fed dog food due to the very different nutritional requirements between the two animals and neither should they be fed scraps from the dinner table as much of the food that humans eat is at best indigestible for cats and at worst, toxic.
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Water plays a huge role in a cat’s diet, and a clean bowl should be available throughout the day and night. Be aware that a cat is unlikely to drink from a bowl that is soiled with food or some other substance, so keeping the bowl clean is vital. The time of feeding should be regular with cats as they enjoy routine. Adult cats can either be fed one larger portion a day, or two smaller ones depending on your own schedule and routine. Kittens should eat up to four times a day as they cannot digest large quantities so need meal times to be spaced out throughout the day.
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Often owners will leave out dry food (kibble) during the day, particularly if the house is empty as this can allow the cat to graze during the day. Because cats are unlikely to gorge themselves on kibble there is little harm in doing this. Keep an eye on your cat’s weight however and if you see some gain then it may be appropriate to rethink this arrangement. Cats will tend to over eat wet food however, so it is vital that only the correct amount is given each day to prevent obesity.
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There is no doubt that a high quality diet that fulfills a cat’s nutritional needs will pay dividends in the long run as there will be far fewer trips to the vet down the line.. Avoid a kitty with an upset stomach and chose wisely. Feel free to consult a vet also as a special diet maybe required. There is also cheap pet insurance out there so you can cover your treasured one easily.
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