They’re picky, they’re special, and they’re arguably the best companion animals a cat lover like you can have. The advertising reveals a lot and even claims to know what food cats would buy. We prefer to rely on science and took a look at which ingredients belong in good cat food.
The cat in the wild – what it eats and what it doesn’t
Inexperienced pet owners often assume that cats, like dogs, are omnivores. A big mistake, because a cat in nature eats unsuitable things out of necessity, but if she goes according to her instinct, she has clear guidelines as to what ends up on the menu. This includes:
- Meat, meat, and more meat
- Animal Proteins
- Bone
- Few plant nutrients
However, the clichés and myths surrounding a cat’s balanced diet persist. A look into the wild shows that 40 percent of the main food sources for feral cats are rabbits and rodents. The composition gives the first indications of what is important in real high-quality cat food for the house tiger.
Why grain doesn’t go well in your cat’s food
Allergies are not only extremely stressful for us humans, but cats can also be affected. On the one hand, there are the classics such as a pollen allergy, but on the other hand, there are also feed intolerances, especially to different types of grain. One of the few varieties that most cats can tolerate well is rice. Fresh chicken meat and rice are therefore also well-known diet methods for a kitty with intestinal problems.
Giving dry food is not absolutely necessary for a healthy cat, but anyone who deals with the preferences of the four-legged friends knows that they often like crunchy snacks very much. Therefore, the motto applies: If dry food, then the right thing!
Tip: Make sure that high-quality cat food does not simply replace most grains with other carbohydrate-containing fillers. Even sweet potatoes and co. have no place in the kitty’s food because carbohydrates are superfluous for house tigers.
Happiness in the bowl – this is how you feed your cat properly
The perfect diet for your cat is mostly meat-based, low in carbohydrates, and free of any grains. One of the most important components of a cat’s diet is taurine, an amino acid that is primarily obtained from raw meat. If there are too many carbohydrates in the food, the valuable taurine is bound and cannot be optimally utilized by your cat. As a result, she would suffer from deficiencies that you will most likely not notice for a long time.
Pay attention to the ingredients! They give you a clear indication of what to expect in the bag, sachet, or can. A good feed consists of more than 90 percent pure meat and is enriched with fats and minerals at most. An inferior feed often contains only around 4% meat and is otherwise based on animal by-products and unnecessary fillers.
With a high-quality type of feed, there is also no need for an extra declaration of taurine, because it automatically contains the important amino acid due to the high meat content.
Read More: Feeder for the cat
Taboos for cats – that has no place on the kitty’s menu
Now that you know how your cat’s food should be composed, let’s look at the reality. Of course, you know that a cat doesn’t need anything but cat food. But sometimes the four-legged friends are not only cheeky but also witty. And before you know it, the piece of sausage is gone from the plate. “Not so bad” if it only happens once. However, there are a few things that your cat absolutely must not eat. This includes:
- Raw (and also prepared) pork dishes (virus risk)
- Onions, garlic, and leeks
- Chocolate, Grapes, Raisins
- alcohol in any form
- Salty and greasy foods from the table
This list isn’t exhaustive, just a quick glimpse into the foods you absolutely shouldn’t give your kitty. You enable your house tiger to have the healthiest cat life if you only feed it cat food and treats tailored to its needs.
