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What You Should Know About Changing Your Cat’s Diet

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The Importance of Protein, Fat, and Fiber in Cat Food

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Unique Protein in Our Cat Foods

Our cat food products contain animal-based proteins that provide all the essential amino acid requirements for cats. In addition, special refining and quality assurance tests ensure that we only use high-quality, highly digestible protein sources for increased digestibility.
 

Cats, best fed as true carnivores, require essential nutrients that aren't found in plant proteins such as soybean meal. For example, cats require taurine, which can only be found in animal-based proteins.

 

Unique Fatty Acids in Our Cat Foods

There are two important types of fatty acids for cats, omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-6 fatty acids, found in chicken fat and corn, are essential for maintenance of skin and coat and proper membrane structure. Omega-3 fatty acids are found in ingredients such as canola, fish meal or fish oil, and flax. Omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to be important in blood clotting and in managing inflammation, among other things. All of our products contain sources of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids.
 

IAMS™ research has shown that including omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids in a ratio between 5:1 to 10:1 provides for optimal skin and coat condition in dogs. All of our products contain an adjusted omega-6:omega-3 fatty acid ratio between 5:1 to 10:1.

 

Unique Fiber in Our Foods

IAMS research has shown that moderately fermentable fiber, such as beet pulp, enhances intestinal health. The fermentable part of the fiber is broken down by intestinal bacteria to provide short-chain fatty acids, an energy source for intestinal cells. The non-fermentable component provides bulk for normal feces.
 

Using only highly fermentable fibers can cause problems, such as excess gas, while using only non-fermentable fibers, such as peanut hulls, promotes excess stool volume, because they are of no nutritional value.
 

All of our products, including IAMS ProActive Health™ Adult Original with Chicken, contain a patented fiber system of moderately fermentable fiber to help keep dogs’ and cats’ digestive systems healthy.

  • How to Keep Your Cat’s Urinary Tract in Tip-top Shape
    How to Keep Your Cat’s Urinary Tract in Tip-top Shape

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    How to Keep Your Cat’s Urinary Tract in Tip-top Shape

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    Is your feline leaving puddles of urine in your bathtub or on your tile floors? Making lots (and lots) of trips to the litter box? Or crying out in pain when they pee?
     

    Sounds like

    tinkling trouble.

     

     

    Urinary problems pester lots of grown-up cats, especially dudes, bro.

    Your furry friend might have feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD), which is just scientific jargon for a collection of painful conditions that can wreak havoc on your kitty’s bladder and/or urethra.

     

     

    So, what common urinary tract conditions are we talking about, exactly?

    Some of the most common FLUTD diseases include urinary tract infections, urinary stones caused by a buildup of minerals, obstructions within the urethra or an inflamed bladder.

     

     

    What causes FLUTD?

    • Not drinking enough water

    • Not urinating often enough

    • A urine pH level that’s too high

    • Too many minerals and not enough water in the urine

    • Being a male cat — because their urethras are longer and narrower

    • Stress or anxiety

     

    Keep your

    eyes peeled for

    peeing problems ...

     

     

    How to check if your cat has a urinary tract infection (UTI) or other urinary health issue:

    The Opens a new window American Veterinary Medical Association says to watch for these major signs:

     

    • Straining to go

    • Frequently urinating a little at a time

    • Prolonged attempts to go

    • Crying out while urinating

    • Excessively licking their genital area

    • Peeing outside the litter box

    • Passing blood in their urine

     

    Get your cat back

    on the right tract.

     

     

    How to treat
    FLUTD:

    Decide whether you need an immediate vet visit.

    First things first, if your feline seems to be in a lot of pain or isn’t able to pee at all, get to the vet — stat!

    Your cat might have a urethral obstruction, a life-threatening condition that your veterinarian must treat quickly!

    Seriously, don’t dillydally.

     

     

    Next, try these tips to help get your cat’s system flowing again:

    • Feed smaller, more frequent meals.

    • Always provide your cat with clean, fresh water.

    • Encourage your feline to drink as much as possible to help keep mineral buildup at bay and flush your feline’s urinary system.

     

     

    Finally, don’t forget about litter boxes and
    S-T-R-E-S-S! ?

    • Be sure you have the right number of litter boxes — usually one more box than the number of cats you have.

    • Place litter boxes in quiet parts of the house.

    • Always keep litter boxes clean — they should be scooped once or twice a day.

    • Maintain a steady routine and make your home as stress-free as possible. Consider how your own stress level, any visiting house guests and any other pets might be affecting your cat.

     

    Take this old adage to heart:
    “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

     

     

    How can you help maintain your cat’s urinary health?

    In addition to the tips above, feed your cat delicious Opens a new window IAMS™ PROACTIVE HEALTH™ Urinary Tract Health, made with real chicken.
     

     

    It helps promote your cat’s urinary system health by reducing urinary pH and helping to control mineral levels.

     

    How’s that for

    a win-win?!

     

     

    Here’s how our formula helps keep your feline’s “plumbing system” running smoothly:

    Salt for the win!

    We use a sodium salt to acidify urine and help prevent struvite crystals from forming.

     

    More sodium.
    Thirstier cat.
    Drinking more H20.
    Less-potent pee!

    Let’s talk mineral levels.

    Our formula helps control levels of calcium, magnesium and phosphorus in your cat’s urine, which is a good thing!

     

    Next stop? Litter box bliss.
    (Ahhhh.)

    How to Keep Your Cat’s Urinary Tract in Tip-top Shape
    How to Keep Your Cat’s Urinary Tract in Tip-top Shape
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