Choosing good quality cat food may not always be an easy task. Not only is there a very wide and varied range of feeds available (which may be difficult to navigate) but when choosing feed one must also take into account that each cat has its own tastes and preferences, different health issues, age and general condition. The right diet will provide your cat not only shiny fur, but also a healthy digestive system and help prevent disease. Below you will learn how to choose the best food for your cat from a large number of products.
Granules can be the primary or supplementary food for cats. They consist of dried meat, filler and nutrients. Due to the fact that it is a so-called dry food, the cat must have constant access to a sufficient amount of water. The composition of quality granules is balanced and will provide the animal with all the nutrients, vitamins and minerals it needs to maintain an overall healthy condition. When choosing granules, it is necessary to try to select those with the highest meat content.
Not sure what amount of granules to buy? For newly tested granules, it is best to obtain a smaller quantity first. If the feed proves successful, it is possible to proceed to larger packages, which will be more convenient for you and can be easily stored. A 10kg package is ideal, but if you are already sure that your cat likes a certain type of granule and is not picky, you can buy a 20kg pack straight away.
A thorough reading of the composition of the granules is required. You should find all the ingredients written on the packaging. The most important part is the meat, which should be at least 30%. It is also necessary to monitor the fat content - for less active cats 9% fat is ideal. Granules should definitely not contain chemical preservatives or dyes. If you want to avoid poor quality granules, do not buy the cheapest ones - they often do not contain the necessary nutrients and a suitable proportion of meat. In order for the cat to make up for the lack of nutrition, it consumes more and you then have to buy more granules.
If you have a cat and a dog at home it is definitely not appropriate to give cat granules to both animals. Cats need a different ratio of nutrients in their food than dogs.
Canned food in the form of a juicy fragrant meat is a tasty variant or addition to dry granules. They often contain a high amount of protein due to them containing more meat. However, even the highest quality canned foods are usually made up of 80% water, so it is necessary to give the cat a larger amount of food. The meat is often marinated in jelly or sauce, which gives it a juicy consistency and protects it from drying out too quickly. When choosing cans, you can choose according to the age or size of the cat, but the taste preferences of your pet are no less important.
There are many types of canned cat food, which differ not only in taste and quality, but also in suitability according to the age and activity of the cat. As with the granules, you can also find hypoallergenic cans or cans without GMOs (genetically modified organisms).
The most important thing when choosing canned foods is their composition. The ideal choice is one with the highest percentage of canned meat, with only a small percentage of entrails and does not contain any extra additives such as oils, herbs, artificial preservatives, animal products of unknown origin (hooves, feathers, horns), large quantities of cereals or unnecessary dyes.
It is not a rule that the most expensive canned cat foods are also the best. Therefore, it is appropriate to follow in particular the composition indicated on the packaging and to choose canned food with a higher meat content. If you want to save money it makes sense to buy a larger quantity - for example, a 400g package of canned food lasts a long time and is more cost-effective. If you have more than one cat to feed, do not be afraid to buy the 800g package. However, care must be taken to ensure that the can does not exceed the maximum consumption time from open indicated on it.
They are not, as they contain a much higher proportion of meat and fat compared to canned dog food. Cats simply need a different composition of nutrients, which they use as a source of energy, so this rule also applies to the following pouches.
Pouches can be used as a basic food for smaller cats, for larger ones it is more suitable as a supplement or, for example, in the form of a reward, as the pouches tend to be more expensive than the (almost identical) cans. However, the food in the pouches is more aromatic, juicier and tastier, because the contents of the pouches are sterilized for a shorter time than the canned meat. There is not the same loss of nutrients and vitamins. It is produced in smaller packages, one pouch contains 1 to 2 portions, so they are also suitable for travel.
The size of the pouches suggest that they are more suitable for smaller cats that consume less. Since a pouch contains 1 to 2 servings, it makes more financial sense to make pouches a less often used variant/ suplement for larger cats.
As with cans or granules, choose pouches rich in fats and proteins for active, outdoor cats, while for less active or neutered cats choose diet pouches, i.e those with a lower fat content.
Quality pouches are identified by their meat content. Choose the ones with the highest meat content, as these will ensure a good supply of nutrients for your cat. But what should not appear in the list of ingredients? For example, unnecessary ingredients (oils, preservatives, spices), animal ingredients of unknown origin (hooves, feathers, horns) and larger quantities of cereals, corn and soybeans, which can cause unpleasant digestive problems. The pouches, like cans, are made up of more than 80% water, which prevents dehydration of the cat. Even so, it is important not to forget their drinking regime - cats are prone to urinary tract infection and kidney problems.
Pouches are a very popular delicacy for cats, especially due to their attractive aroma and juicy consistency. They can function as the primary feed but they are more often used as a supplementary food. It is possible to mix them with dry feed and make the granules ‘special’. The pouches have the advantage that they exist in many different flavors. It is recommended to alternate these pouches - partly to prevent an increase in the cat’s appetite for them or for one particular brand but also to maintain a balanced dier for your cat.
Treats work really well as an incentive/ reward if we want to teach a cat new things - for example, going to the scratcher, learning commands. Treats can also be used to diversify the usual diet. Some treats can also have a positive effect on a cat's health, such as their oral hygiene or good digestion.
More active cats can be given calorie richer treats, while less active and neutered cats are better off being rewarded with reats that have a reduced fat content.
Quality treats can be recognized by their composition. They contain meat, fats and vitamins, while cereals, sugar, dyes, preservatives and flavorings are not present.
It is necessary to answer the question: what is the physical activity of my cat? Furthermore, it depends on the caloric value, and thus the appropriate daily amount of food. You can use treats as needed ( as a reward, to clean your cat’s teeth or digestive tract), you just need to keep in mind that it is a supplementary food, not their primary feed. With increased consumption of treats, the cat could be at risk of obesity or joint problems.
Kitten food is different from other types of cat food, as it is composed especially for the needs of the developing kitten. It differs from food for adult/ older cats mainly by its higher content of fat and added vitamins. The food is also adapted in size - it consists of small pieces that even a small kitten can chew. If the kitten cannot be breastfed naturally, breast milk should be replaced by artificial milk for kittens, which contains all the substances they need. However, even breastfed kittens will soon need to be fed, then granules or cans will be suitable. When choosing, it is very important to choose a food according to the size of the kitten to provide your pet with everything he/she needs for healthy growth.
When the kitten cannot be breastfed naturally, always choose special milk for kittens (never cow's milk, which can cause health problems for the cat). You can buy milk in either dried or liquid form. Around the 4th week, it is possible to gradually start including solids in your kitten’s diet in the form of granules or meat pieces for kittens.
The composition of milk is very similar to the natural breast milk of cats, it contains good amounts of protein and fats, it is a source of calcium, minerals and vitamins. Thanks to the lower lactose content, milk for kittens is easily digestible. The dried variant of milk lasts longer, cheaper and easy to store. However, the preparation takes more time as the powder has to be mixed with water. Although the liquid variant of milk does not have the same advantages, its preparation takes almost very little time.
The basis of judging if it is a good quality kitten milk is its composition. It consists mainly of 2 raw materials, skimmed milk and dried whey. Other important components that contribute to the healthy development of the kitten are also important - taurine (for healthy eyesight and heart), probiotics, minerals, vitamins, colostrum (to bolster the immune system) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid).
As mentioned above, cow's milk is very bad for cats and kittens, due to the large amount of lactose that can harm the cat’s entire digestive system. What other foods should you watch out for when feeding cats? Kittens cannot be fed from a human diet, as they are too salty and fatty. The following items are completely poisonous foods for cats: onions, garlic, chocolate, grapes, raisins, raw potatoes, tomatoes and bread.
Grain-free is a type of cat and dog that does not contain any cereals. It is suitable for animals with sensitive digestive systems, allergies or hypersensitivity to certain components of common feed.
Hypoallergenic food is intended for dogs and cats with allergies, food intolerances or sensitive digestive systems. It does not contain gluten, dyes, flavorings or preservatives. You will usually only find one type of meat in it in order to better determine exactly what is causing the animal's problems.
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