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Good nutrition is key to a long and healthy life for all living beings. That being said, cats need a balanced diet to be able to grow, maintain their body, stay active, and fight any illnesses or recover from them. As a pet parent, you must be aware of the right ingredients to include in your cat’s diet.
Cats are carnivores and they need nutrients that are found only in animal products. Cats were originally hunters and would feed on their prey to derive high amounts of protein, moderate amounts of fats, and some carbohydrates to maintain a nutritional diet. Today, most cats that are domesticated do not need to hunt but still require their food to contain the right proportions of nutrients to be able to live a healthy life. Apart from that, cats also need nutrients such as minerals, vitamins, fatty acids, and amino acids.
The best diet for cats will contain all the essential nutrients in the right proportions. A variety of ingredients can help you provide the right energy sources for your cat. For example, a nutrient like calcium can be derived from ingredients like dairy products, organ tissues, bones, bone meals, meat, legume plants, and through mineral supplements. Devising a cat diet plan is all about making sure your kitty gets the right amount of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, and water. Keep reading to learn more about how different nutrients play a part in your cat’s well-being.
As carnivores, cats need to eat a lot more protein as compared to many other animals. Protein is also the primary source of energy in cats as it helps them maintain skin, hair, muscle, fur, tendons, ligaments, cartilage, enzymes, antibodies, hormones, and more. Cats use protein for energy and for maintaining their blood glucose levels. Its liver enzymes are continuously breaking down proteins to do so. If cats do not consume enough protein, their bodies will start breaking down their own muscles to fulfil their energy requirements.
The two main sources of protein used in cat food are plant protein and animal protein. If you are a vegetarian and a vegetarian diet appeals to you for your cat, keep in mind that this may not be the best decision for your feline’s well-being because it will not be able to meet its nutritional requirements through plant protein sources alone. Certain nutrients are only present in animal protein such as taurine, methionine, and cystine.
Animal protein in cat food is derived from chicken, turkey, lamb, beef, and fish. Different meat meals and meat by-products are also available in the market today. While many pet parents may think that these meals are not a good option, they actually act as a great source of concentrated protein.
The right amount of protein for cats depends on their age. Adult cats need a high percentage of protein as compared to dogs, humans, or many other animals. While the exact proportions may vary, adult cats need around 26% protein in their meals. Protein requirements for kittens may change according to their medical history and age. It is best to consult a veterinarian to make sure your kitten receives the right nutrition.
Vitamins are essential for your cat’s metabolic function and therefore must be included in small amounts in its diet. Many enzymes that help maintain normal feline metabolism cannot function without vitamins.
Several cat food ingredients such as fruits, vegetables, animal tissues, vegetable oils, grains, and seeds contain vitamins. It is very difficult to nail down the right amount of vitamins that your cat needs through just different foods. For this reason, vitamin supplements should be included in your cat’s diet.
If your cat is healthy and is eating a balanced and nutritious meal, additional vitamin supplements may not be necessary. In some cases, vitamin supplements can also be dangerous if your cat is already healthy and does not require them. It is best to consult a veterinarian and be sure of your cat’s health and its requirements.
Your cat’s body needs inorganic compounds, also known as minerals, to function properly. Many minerals that your cat needs are derived from animals and plant-based ingredients. However, for your cat’s food to be completely balanced, food manufacturers always add mineral protein to their food formulas.
There are a lot of minerals that should be present in your cat’s diet such as calcium, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, iron, sodium, chloride, copper, zinc, manganese, iodine, and selenium. These minerals help cats maintain nerve, muscle, and heart function. They also aid in enzyme function, supplying oxygen throughout the body, skeletal growth, and much more. Your cat’s food formula will always contain some minerals. If you want to be sure about your kitten getting the right nutrition, take it to the vet and let them decide the perfect cat diet plan for your furry friend.
Crude fat is estimated by extracting fats that are present using ether and the crude fat level of every cat food formula will be listed in the guaranteed analysis section on the packaging label.
Including fats in your cat's diet is extremely important. While proteins are an important energy source for cats, fat is the most energy-rich nutrient in your cat's diet. They act as transport molecules that help carry out nerve impulses. Essential fat sources such as omega-3 fatty acids and omega-6 fatty acids help maintain your cat's skin, coat, and fur health.
Fats and other essential fatty acids are found in food formulas that contain liver, chicken, beef, turkey, and fish. At times, manufacturers add extra fat to their formula. You can ascertain the same by checking the fat sources on the ingredient list label. Fish oil, beef fat, and soybean oil are examples of added fat.
Keeping cat food weight management is extremely important when it comes to fats. Cats need to maintain a certain body type to stay active. Hence, a diet with high levels of fats is not recommended. Your feline friend should not be consuming more fat than it requires on a daily basis. Doing so will lead to your cat putting on weight and inviting health troubles. Talk to your veterinarian to know the ideal fat content for your cat’s diet.
Many animals need carbohydrates to obtain energy. However, since cats derive most of their energy from proteins and fats, carbohydrates are not that important in their diet. No, this does not mean that you can completely stop including carbs in your cat’s diet. Small amounts of carbohydrates are ideal for your cat to derive some energy. A diet that contains high levels of carbs is not recommended for cats at all since it may aid in putting on weight and will attract serious diseases such as diabetes.
Your cat’s diet should not include more than 10% of carbohydrates. Dry diets may have high amounts of carbohydrates. The only way to ensure that your cat is not eating too much carbs is by including wet food in its diet.
The best diet for cats includes the right balance of all nutrients. A perfect balance of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, and water will help your cat to grow healthy and maintain its ideal body weight. If you are concerned about your cat’s diet and need more insights on what to feed your cat in what proportions, simply reach out to your local veterinarian.
You can add protein to your cat’s diet by investing in a high-protein cat food formula that derives its protein percentage from animal-based protein sources.
Every cat is different and has different needs. Their food intake also depends on their age and medical history. Take your feline buddy to the vet to find out how much should you be feeding your cat daily.
Both wet and dry foods are great for cats. Wet food is easy to digest and dry food is easy to eat. Choose a type that you think has the best nutrition for your cat. You can also include both types in your cat’s diet. s
Yes, cats can survive on just dry food. Ensure that the dry cat food you are using has a good amount of nutrients present and you’re good to go.
A proper cat diet consists the right amount of all nutrients– fats, proteins, carbohydrates, minerals, vitamins, and water.
Why move your nearly grown kitten to a premium adult cat food? Because quality counts. It's crucial to continue the superb nutrition she's been getting from a premium kitten food into adulthood. Downgrading to a basic nutrition brand at this stage of her life may upset her digestive system and certainly won't provide her with the same type of nutrition she was raised on.
Think of a baby. When it's time to start giving him solid food, you wouldn't feed your child anything less than the best nutrition you can buy. The same is true for your maturing kitten. She needs the best age-appropriate food there is to help maintain overall health. Premium foods such as IAMS are formulated to meet all her needs and provide additional benefits. They're specifically designed to provide your cat with a formula that features:
High-quality ingredients
Balanced, optimal levels of protein, fat, moderately fermentable fiber, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals, which make costly supplements unnecessary
High-quality recipes and great taste
Standards that meet or exceed Association of American Feed Control Officials standards
Nutrient-dense formulas that are right for each life stage
Product guarantees
What do all of these features add up to? A happy, healthy cat. With premium cat food, you can expect to see these important indicators of good health. They contribute to providing your cat with a long, healthy life:
Exceptional muscle tone
A shiny, luxurious coat
Healthy skin and bones
Clear, bright eyes and clean teeth
Small, firm stools
Founded upon decades of research, premium formulas from IAMS help maintain your cat's health and help provide him with the nutrition he needs for a long life. Generic brands simply may not match the level of expertise that goes into every bag of IAMS cat food.
When your cat is about 12 months of age, it's time to change her diet to a premium maintenance formula. When you transition your cat to an adult diet, it's important to monitor her weight and body condition and adjust portions if necessary.
Because cats generally eat only what they need, free-choice feeding is adequate for most cats. (Free-choice makes food available to your cat around the clock and lets her eat when and how much she needs.) Indoor cats that don't get much exercise, however, may overeat if fed free-choice. For them, portion-controlled feeding twice a day is a better routine.
To determine how much food to give your cat, check the recommendations of the pet food manufacturer on the label. Use the guidelines and weigh your cat on a weekly basis. If your cat is gaining or losing weight and shouldn't be, slightly adjust her daily intake and weigh her again the following week.
To avoid intestinal upsets, make the change from a kitten formula to an adult diet over a period of four days with the following method:
Day One: Fill your cat's dish with 75% kitten food and 25% adult food.
Day Two: Mix adult and kitten food in a 50/50 ratio.
Day Three: Feed your cat a mixture that's 75% adult food and 25% kitten food.
Day Four: Switch to 100% adult formula.
