As devoted cat owners, we want the best for our feline friends, and nutrition is one of the most critical aspects of their well-being. Like humans, cats need a balanced diet to stay healthy and thrive. Crafting nutritious meals for your cat ensures they get the essential nutrients they need and can be a rewarding experience for you as a pet parent.
Before delving into crafting meals for your cat, it’s crucial to understand their nutritional needs. Cats are obligate carnivores, meaning their diet primarily consists of animal-based protein. They require specific nutrients like taurine, arginine, and arachidonic acid, found in animal tissues. In addition to protein, cats need essential vitamins, minerals, and fats to maintain their health.
Commercial cat food is convenient and often formulated to meet the nutritional needs of cats. However, some pet owners prefer to prepare homemade meals to have more control over their cat’s diet. It’s essential to note that crafting homemade cat food requires careful consideration of their nutritional requirements and consulting with a veterinarian.
Before embarking on the journey of crafting homemade cat food, it is crucial to consult your veterinarian, such as Saltwater Vets. They can provide valuable insights into your cat’s specific dietary needs and any health concerns that may influence their diet. Your vet can also help you develop a balanced meal plan considering your cat’s age, weight, activity level, and underlying health conditions.
When crafting homemade meals for your cat, it’s essential to ensure that the meal is well-balanced and meets their nutritional requirements. A balanced meal for a cat includes:
Here are a couple of simple homemade cat food recipes to get you started:
Remember to consult your vet for portion sizes and any specific dietary recommendations.
Crafting nutritious meals for your cat can be a fulfilling and loving endeavor. Understanding your cat’s nutritional needs, consulting with your veterinarian, and creating well-balanced homemade meals can help ensure your feline friend enjoys a healthy and delicious dining experience. Always monitor your cat’s health and adjust their diet as needed to keep them feline fine.
All baby animals have unique nutritional needs. Whether it’s more calcium to help them grow, the vitamins and minerals they need for their development, or a delicious flavour to enjoy their meal, wet food for kittens has to be just right.
Just like adult cats, kittens are obligate carnivores. This means they require a certain amount of protein and fat coming from meat. This is something any good producer of wet food for kittens, such as I Love My Cat species-appropriate wet food for kittens, has at the forefront of their mind. With the rapid growth a kitten experiences, they need much more protein at this stage than they will as an adult.
Then there are fillers like grain. Cats have no natural need for grain in their diet, so a good wet food for kittens omits this. Grain can be harmful to felines, especially in their kittenhood. Too much grain can lead to food allergies, poor coat health, and other health problems. Don’t you want your kitty to be at their optimum, sleek self?
Additional to this is taurine. Another essential nutrient cats get from meat, taurine, is an amino acid. Taurine does so much for your kitten – it helps them digest their food, keeps their young teeth healthy and strong, maintains their eye health, promotes good immune system health, and is good for their heart muscles. Cats can’t make taurine – this is part of the reason why they are called obligate carnivores – so they really need to get it from their diet.
Another essential nutrient for your kitten’s development is lots of calcium. Calcium helps your kitty’s teeth and bones grow strong.
Also known as docosahexaenoic acid, this nutrient supports a kitten’s vision and brain development.
Many cats do not like to drink water. After all, felines have learnt to survive on very little water coming from the wild. This means today’s cats still have a low thirst drive. Even when they do drink water, a cat’s method of curling their tongue into a J shape and “biting” the water is extremely inefficient! So, one easier way to keep your pet kitten hydrated is to feed them wet food.
How much species-appropriate wet food do you need to feed your kitten? The answer varies depending on your kitten’s age and what else you feed them. If you’re feeding your kitten exclusively wet food, you generally split the food in the container into two meals over the day. Store the remainder in the fridge for freshness, but bring the food to room temperature before feeding your kitten. Take a look at your food’s packaging for more information.
Again, this varies depending on what breed your kitten is. For most breeds, you’ll be shocked at how quickly they grow into fully-fledged adult cats. You can typically start phasing out kitten food around your cat’s first birthday.
For larger breeds, be sure to wait until nearer their second birthday.
As a pet owner, you must know that the diet of young kittens is a lot different from that of an adult cat. You are about to discover a whole world of feline nuance and subtlety on this page so that you can be on the right path when it comes to providing the proper nutrition. Read more to know what you can feed your new kitten via various food delivery options for pets.
Given below are some healthy food tips to follow for your new kitten and essential feeding instructions.
There are specially formulated food products for kittens who have been weaned off milk by their mothers, here are the best kitten foods at Cat Food Point, you can refer to have the best choice for your lovely kittens. Consult the vet to know what kind of high-quality foods that are packed with essential nutrients should be given to the pet to develop healthy, strong teeth and bones and encourage brain development and vision.
The good quality primary kitten foods can vary, and one can look for canned foods with a variety of ingredients with different foods and tastes. You can cook scrambled eggs or fish for your kitten but include other ingredients too, such as vegetables like squash and pumpkin. Avoid fatty meats that can be greasy and unhealthy.
Again, the feeding charts can differ based on the size and species of the kitten. Generally speaking, you should feed your kitten 3-4 times per day for ages up to 6 months and limit it to twice a day o0nce it is six months old. Follow portion guidelines, and it is about half a cup for every feed and 1 ¼ cups for kittens who are over six months.
One should be a bit careful with homemade foods and should talk to the vet so that your pet gets a balanced diet. Whatever food you buy or prepare should carry the essential nutrients, and the vet might suggest some supplements for a balanced diet.
Kittens can be given some milk formulas, but they do not get the necessary nutrients just from milk once they are fully weaned. Thus, milk can be avoided, and one should focus on other varieties of foods to help their pet grow healthily.
Some foods can be toxic for the kitten, and as a cat owner, you should be aware of them. For example, avoid foods like chocolate, dairy products, onions, garlic, chives, grapes, and caffeine. Ask the vet to give you a list of foods toxic to cats.
It is essential to consult the vet at all times before making a food chart for your new kitten. After all, it is the most important decision one can make and develop healthy feeding habits for the pet and a close relationship with the veterinarian.
Soft dry cat food is easier for your cat to swallow and digest. Especially when your cat is used to eating moist foods since kitten-hood. You can make the most of how to soften dry cat food when your cat is slowly getting to eat other foods than plain milk.
So without taking up too much of your time, let’s learn how to soften dry cat food the right way. Also, in this article, you’ll discover some tips you can use to improve your cat’s eating habits. When it comes to mixing water with dry cat food to make it softer, rely on the following information.
This is the most basic method of softening dry cat food. Soaking dry cat food in warm water for 10 minutes. It’s quick and effective.
For every 1 cup of dry food kibble, add 1/3 cup of warm water.
There are different ways in which you can make dry cat food soft. You can also make it slightly chewable, creamy, soupy, or mashed.
This depends on how long you soak the kibbles. You can soak the dry food kibbles for anywhere between 5 to 15 minutes.
How you soften dry cat food for your cat depends on your cat’s needs and health. If it’s for a weaning cat, making the food creamy and soupy is necessary. This is the only way you can make the dry cat food palatable for a kitten just getting off weaning.
Once your kitten is used to the flavor and texture of the softened dry cat food, you can reduce the soaking time.
Adult cats and kittens love kitten formula. It’s delicious, aromatic, and nutritious. The nutritional quality of kitten formula is the best boost a cat can eat with their dry kibble food.
But before you set up a routine of adding kitten formula to your cat’s diet, consult with a vet first. Ask the doctor about your cat’s nutritional needs based on age, weight, and health conditions.
Once you know it’s safe to feed your cat kitten formula, switch warm water with it.
The dry cat food will soak up all the moisture of the kitten formula easily. The kibbles will develop a creamier texture because of the formula. Making it even more palatable and tempting for your cat to eat.
If your cat is suffering from chewing difficulties, this is a great way to solve that. You can even blend or mash the kitten formula together. It’ll make the texture of the kibbles smoother and creamier.
Weaning kittens, fussy cats, and cats who have a lack of appetite. Kitten formula adds a boost of flavor and smell that will make it hard to resist for cats.
Here are some dos and don’ts of feeding your cat softened dry cat food…
If the softened dry cat food has been sitting out for over an hour, do not feed it to your cat. While it’s okay to store un-softened dry cat food in an airtight container for days, you shouldn’t do the same with softened food.
The change in temperature when you add warm water or kitten formula will cause bad bacterial growth. This is dangerous when your cat eats it.
Dry cat food is processed in high temperatures to kill away germs for proper packaging and long-term storage. However, when you add warm water to it, it activates the bacteria that grow on the surface of the kibbles. So don’t be surprised if the untouched bowl of softened dry food starts to stink and attract flies.
There’s no room for guesswork here. If you add too much water, your cat will end up consuming more water than nutrients.
Use a spoon or a cup to get the accurate serving size of water, kitten formula, and dry cat food. It should be easier for you to feed your cat daily. And this way, you can also keep track of how much water your cat is consuming. And how much to maintain a proper body weight.
Your cat may have allergies or stomach sensitivities that you are not aware of. That is why consulting with a professional first will help you figure out the best diet for your pet. Whether that includes feeding softened dry cat food or wet food that contains more nutrients and fewer carbs than dry kibbles.
Before making any changes to your cat’s diet, you should know about your cat’s health conditions. Any kind of experimentation with food may harm your cat and you won’t even know it!
Is your cat not eating softened dry kibbles? Maybe it’s time to switch to wet food. Wet cat food smells because it doesn’t contain any rice or wheat. It’s packed with vitamins and minerals that are good for your cat’s health.
Because of any specific health condition, your cat refuses to eat dry food, wet food is the safest option. You can buy different flavors of canned wet food such as chicken, salmon, tuna, etc. And feed your cat something different for each meal.
It’s safer to do all this if you want a quick and healthy fix.
For some cats, the transition from milk to dry food is smooth and effortless. But for a few others, it can be a challenging transition. And the best way to make the cat food more delicious is by adding some water to soften the hard texture of the dry food.
Dry food is cheaper than wet, canned food. That is why adding warm water or kitten formula to dry kibbles to make it chewy is a good idea. And if your cat is eating it heartily without any negative impact, then you can continue with it.
But always be on the lookout for any allergic reaction, irregular stools, vomiting, etc. These tips are simple and effective but they’re incomplete without a doctor’s consultation!
Since the problem of hyperthyroidism was detected in cats for the first time, it has risen at a fast speed all over the world including the US. Mostly this health problem is found in older cats, older than 10 years of age. The basic metabolic rate of the body is regulated by the thyroid hormone. Too much thyroid in the body can increase the speed of every reaction in the body as done by drinking too much coffee. The symptoms of hyperthyroid in cats are related to weight loss, excessive hunger, yowling, restlessness, diarrhea, heart problems, and vomiting. This problem in cats can be treated naturally by providing them the best food. In this write-up, we are briefly discussing hyperthyroid in cats and some of the best foods for them.
About the quick rise in the problem of hyperthyroid in cats, there are several theories. You will have to focus on the causes of this problem as it affects a large number of cats globally. Hyperthyroid can be caused in cats due to various reasons like:
Food: According to a theory, a large amount of iodine found in several foods for cats can be one of the reasons for hyperthyroid in cats. Eve humans can suffer from hyperthyroid by consuming iodine food excessively. The makers of pet foods usually add more iodine in them as it is not easy and inexpensive to detect it if minimums are net by them.
According to several other studies, eating too much canned food can increase the risk of developing the problem of thyroid in cats. The cats that eat too much liver, canned food like giblet or organ meats and fish are commonly detected with hyperthyroid. Pet foods containing giblet or organ meats are labeled as containing by-products which are normally not found in high-quality natural foods for cats.
According to various researches, the presence of BPA chemicals in most of the top class canned pet foods can be one of the reasons to cause hyperthyroid in cats as by dissolving into the food it can increase toxicity in it. Today, nearly 25 types of lining are used in the cans of canned food which makes it difficult to find the harmful lining from them.
According to the FDA, cat foods with a low level of BPA cannot increase the risk to the health of cats.
Environment: According to a media report, the presence of PBDEs, a fire retardant chemical, in the environment can be one of the causes of hyperthyroidism in cats. It has been revealed through certain studies that the time of diagnosis of hyperthyroidism in cats and the time of introduction of PBDEs are the same. Moreover, the rate of use of PBDEs in various countries is equivalent to the rate of increase of hyperthyroidism in cats.
Cats can be exposed to the PBDEs and live dust mites found in upholstery, carpets, electronic equipment, and mattresses as they normally sleep or sit on them. It makes their exposure to these harmful elements for a long time and excessive. A cat can ingest dust in a large amount while grooming them. It means the risk of hyperthyroidism in cats can increase in pet cats.
It has also been revealed through a few recent studies that some of the cat foods also include PBDEs of different types. High levels of PBEs are found in certain canned cat foods like cat foods based on seafood or fish. Dry food for cats contains PBDEs in higher amounts.
Other factors including age: Hyperthyroidism is also found in cats that have never gone outside, never eaten canned food, and never exposed to the causes of other diseases. So, it can be concluded that there can be several factors that can cause hyperthyroidism in cats as usually, it happens to older cats. So it is not easy to give a particular reason in this regard.
The main aim of treating hyperthyroidism in cats is to reduce the thyroid hormone levels in one’s body. It can be achieved in many ways like:
You can work with your vet to find the best treatment for hyperthyroid in your cat. But a diet of the cat can be an important part of the treatment regardless of which method you choose.
The diets prescribed for managing hyperthyroid in cats contain a restricted amount of iodine. These diets are normally used without using any other medicinal treatment. But there is no evidence available until now about the long-term effect of restricted iodine diets on the health of affected cats as it is still under observation.
The level of iodine in the food to control hyperthyroidism in cats should not be more than 0.32 parts per million in any case. The amount of iodine has been restricted to provide cats enough iodine required to produce thyroid hormone in their body. Their body can start producing thyroid hormones by strictly reducing the amount of iodine in their diet.
While prescribing diet for cats with hyperthyroidism some of the experts commonly prescribe canned cat foods manufactured according to the parameters set by them. Certain dry cat foods are also prescribed by certain experts.
It has been proved through various clinical studies that after eating a prescription diet for hyperthyroidism in cats the levels of T4 hormones of the thyroid can start decreasing within 3 weeks and can come to a normal position in a few months.
In this situation, it is important to keep in mind that the cats eating prescription food to treat their hyperthyroidism should not be given any non-prescribed food. They should not be given any human food and treats as well as no hunting or scavenging is allowed to them. The balance in the intake of iodine maintained by the prescription food can be destroyed by giving them any other food.
Thus prescription diet is the best food for cats with hyperthyroidism.
It can be challenging to diagnose liver problems in cats. A live problem in cats can not only impact their life drastically but also lead to complete failure of their liver. Most of the cat owners think about the life expectancy of their feline friend once its liver fails to work properly. In this write-up, we are briefly discussing the problem of failure of liver in cats and their survival after it.
The liver performs several processes in the body of a healthy cat. Its liver can help in many important chemical processes like producing bile, and clotting factors, detoxifying wastes within its body along with controlling the metabolism of certain foods. For this reason, a problem in a cat’s liver can cause various problems for cats as it performs several important tasks in their body.
Liver failure in cats can happen when the functioning of their liver gets affected due to some internal problem. Their liver can stop working with the same capability when it gets damaged due to any reason. Once the working of the liver is affected then the failure of the liver is a matter of time.
The survival of cats from liver failure can be possible if you recognize their problem well on time through certain symptoms like weight loss, decreased appetite, diarrhea, lethargy, jaundice, excessive urination and thirst, and swelling of the abdomen.
You should immediately contact your vet if any of these symptoms are observed in your cat. These symptoms can indicate some serious health problems to the cat though it may not indicate the failure of its liver.
To diagnose a problem in the liver of your cat your vet may ask you to perform various tests to get the right impact of the symptoms. The liver failure of your cat can be diagnosed through ultrasound, blood test, radiography, analysis of urine, and biopsy of the liver through exploratory surgery or during an ultrasound.
In the early stage, it can be difficult to diagnose liver failure in cats. So, to give the best treatment to your cat, you must get it diagnosed by your vet as soon as possible.
The liver of a cat can damage easily as it has to perform various functions in its body but it can also be regenerated easily as the liver can repair itself. So the rate of recovery of the cat from liver problems depends upon the longevity and severity of the sickness.
For instance, a cat may need treatment in a hospital if an acute failure of the liver caused by certain toxins is experienced by it. On the contrary, a cat can recover completely without any treatment even if it has a chronic liver problem.
The chances of recovery can increase if the liver problem in a cat is diagnosed at an early stage. You can give it vitamins and supplements to support its liver, diet prescribed for liver problems as well as treatments prescribed by the vet to improve the rate of its recovery.
In acute cases, you may need to hospitalize it and may need to use a feeding tube to feed it and monitor its condition closely.
So, by observing the behavior of the cat and your quick action to give it medical aid can increase the rate of recovery of your cat from liver failure.
The failure of the liver can be in the end-stage if the problem has been diagnosed when it is too severe. This stage happens when the problem in the liver has increased to the point when body processes are drastically impacted. The chances of recovery of the cat from liver failure become negligible once this stage is reached.
At this stage, your cat may experience fluid in the abdomen, severe jaundice, and clotting disorders, etc. To take your cat out of this situation, you will have to give it aggressive hospitalization or it may be difficult to say about its survival and quality of life.
The survival of a cat from liver failure depends upon the quickness of detection as well as the severity of the problem. It is a bit tricky to diagnose and treat cats with a liver problem. Your cat may live for a limited time if it has been diagnosed by the vet with end-stage failure of the liver
The cat owners have to decide about the quality of life for their cats if the failure of their liver has resulted in fluid in the abdomen, clotting disorders, and other side effects of serious nature. However, you can get your cat back within 6-8 weeks if it is free from most of the symptoms even after being diagnosed with liver failure.
So, how long your cat with liver failure will live depends upon the reasons for damaging the liver and the treatment provided by the vet. Only your vet can tell you about the life of your cat with liver failure as it can be caused due to various reasons. He can tell you in this regard only after doing certain tests.
It is not easy to decide the quality of life for a cat with liver failure. You can think of euthanizing the cat with failure of the liver if it is losing weight drastically, not eating food, chronic diarrhea, vomiting, extreme weakness, swelling in the abdomen, a major shift in behavior, severe jaundice, and not interested in the things of its choice.
Though it is not easy to decide about euthanizing a cat with liver failure but you can know about the sufferings of your cat based on the symptoms discussed above. Your vet can support you if you think about euthanizing your cat with a failed liver.
Though liver failure is a serious health problem in cats still you can ensure their quality of life by recognizing their problem through symptoms, getting them diagnosed and treated by a vet, and giving them additional love and attention.
Each pet food consists of specific components suited for the respective animals. They are not meant to be interchangeable. Thus, although rabbit food isn’t toxic to cats, it won’t do them any good either.
Let’s get into it more!
Rabbit food isn’t toxic to cats, but it isn’t healthy either. Thus, if a cat eats rabbit food, nothing wrong will happen as long as it’s only a small amount. Regardless, the rabbit food will have no nutritional value for your cat.
Now, if your feline pet overeats rabbit food, it may cause digestive problems, such as an upset stomach.
The reason is that rabbit pellets contain components suited for herbivores. Since rabbits are herbivores, their dietary requirements consist mainly of plant-based food.
To an extent, rabbit pellets aren’t likely to contain anything good for felines.
To understand further, you should keep in mind that cats are obligate carnivores. It means that they can survive without eating plant-based food. However, they can’t go on with their daily activities without eating any meat at all.
For this reason, cat food consists mainly of nutrients suitable to sustain a cat’s carnivorous needs. Its components differ significantly from that of rabbit food.
Cats and rabbits have opposite dietary needs. What is healthy for the other can’t be right for the other.
Of course, cats and rabbits also share some similarities in nutrition. However, since they both differ in the type of food preference, it would be best not to let both pets share the same food.
Cats can get sick from eating rabbit food, especially if they consume more than a small amount.
As I said earlier, rabbit food does not consist of anything toxic for cats. Thus, if your pet eats rabbit food, its life won’t necessarily be at risk.
However, it’s also not ideal for your cat to overeat rabbit food, and there are reasons why.
First, it’s not ideal because rabbit food contains little to no nutritional value for cats.
Second, while its components aren’t toxic, they may cause some issues to your cat if it eats more than a piece.
Rabbit pellets contain 22% crude fiber, according to the University of Miami. That amount is way too much fiber for cats to eat. In general, cats only need 1.4 to 3.5 percent fiber in their daily diet.
Thus, taking in too much rabbit food means your pet may ingest too much fiber. Whatever type of cat your pet is, it will find such an amount of fiber hard to digest.
If your cat overeats rabbit food, it can lead to an upset stomach, vomiting, and even other digestive issues.
For this reason, it would be best if you won’t allow your feline pet to munch on rabbit food. If you want to give it a variety of options, go for fruits and meat instead.
This way, you can be confident your pet won’t get sick from eating rabbit food.
Rabbit food isn’t ideal for cats to eat. Thus, if it’s possible, you shouldn’t feed rabbit food to your cat. If you can’t help but do so, limit it to 10 percent of your pet’s total amount of daily food intake.
As I said earlier, feeding too much rabbit food can cause an upset stomach for your pet. Moreover, rabbit food does not have any significant nutritional benefits. Thus, providing it won’t make any improvements to your pet’s health.
For this reason, it would be best to consider rabbit food only as a treat or snack for your cat. It would be best if you tried to limit it to not any more than once a week.
Further, you shouldn’t go over more than 10 percent of its total daily food requirement when feeding rabbit pellets.
The recommended amount of food for cats ranges from about 24 to 35 calories per pound. This amount is enough to keep cats at a normal and healthy weight.
An average cat weighs about 6-9 lbs. Thus, they need about 50 to 70 grams of food per day. Or, they can eat 150-250 grams of wet food. Lastly, they can eat 100-200 grams of raw food.
If you allow your cat to eat rabbit pellets, it would be best to limit its intake to 5 to 7 grams in a day, but don’t do so on a daily basis.
There’s not that much risk in feeding rabbit food to your cat. However, if you are just about to do so, considering these risks before proceeding.
First, always remember that cats and rabbit food don’t go hand-in-hand when it comes to compatibility. Rabbit food makers design and produce their products to give rabbits the proper nutrients. Thus, it’s not ideal for cats to eat.
Moreover, since cats and rabbits have opposite dietary requirements, it’s not a good idea to give your cat any.
Rabbit pellets suit only herbivores like rabbits. Thus, they contain too much plant-based food and fiber for carnivores like cats.
While fiber is also essential in a cat’s daily diet, taking in too much can cause digestive problems. For instance, going overboard with rabbit pellets can cause an upset stomach.
It’s only ideal for giving such pellets if your cat is suffering from diarrhea. The fiber in those pellets can help your pet get some solid stools.
However, if your pet is healthy, giving it in large amounts may not be a great idea.
There’s nothing much to do if you saw your cat eat rabbit food. If it continues doing so, it would be best to stop it.
Since rabbit food isn’t toxic for cats, there’s nothing much to worry about regarding your pet’s health.
Now, it’s a different case if your feline starts showing symptoms of health issues. If your cat begins to show such signs after eating rabbit food, it would be best to take it to the vet.
As long as your pet only eats only a small amount and doesn’t show any problems, you don’t need to do anything.
It would be best to separate rabbit and cat pellets to avoid such unwanted incidents. Moreover, keep these pet foods away from a cat’s reach. This way, you can prevent your pet from eating the food it shouldn’t eat.
Cats can eat rabbit food, but it would be best not to offer such to your pet. While rabbit food isn’t toxic, it has no nutritional value for felines. Rabbit food contains mostly plant-based food, which is optional for cats. In fact, they can survive without eating such.
Moreover, feeding rabbit pellets in large amounts can cause an upset stomach. The reason is that a cat’s system is only suited to a meat diet and not so much a plant-based one.
Keeping your cat safe is the priority. Thus, it would be best to leave the rabbit pellets out and offer food suitable for felines instead. This way, you can be sure that your cat will remain healthy.
University of Miami Department of Biology’s take on good quality rabbit pellet
The best freeze dried cat food is indeed a very healthy third option after dry and canned cat food. Although it’s not prepared the same way as both dry and wet food.
The formula is not cooked and then processed. Instead, the ingredients of the food are frozen when they’re the freshest. And after that, the frozen ingredients are exposed to high pressure. This eliminates the water content present in them.
Now don’t mistake it for dehydrated food where the ingredients are subjected to heat. And that removes all the moisture within. Either way, both options are healthy for your pet. Because the food, in both cases, contains no chemicals.
But the freeze dried version also does not undergo any heat damage. Since there’s no heat used for getting rid of moisture, unlike dehydrated cat food.
So here are the best-selling, healthy options for your precious feline…
Stella and Chewy Freeze Dried Cat Food offers a combination you cannot refuse. And that is highest level of food safety and the best quality ingredients. This recipe is a formulation of 98-percent meat, bone, and organ.
It’s got rich taurine content along with antioxidants and probiotics. The dry food morsels are also fortified with extra minerals and vitamins. No gluten and no grains earn bonus points of course.
Healthy digestion is given since simple and limited ingredients are involved. It’s a great option even for cats with a sensitive tummy. And those that are extremely picky as well.
The natural omega fatty acids and oils pair up well with the minimal processing of the food. This boosts the health and condition of your cat’s coat and skin. As for the meat, bones, and organs, they support strong, lean muscles. And boost your pet’s endurance and stamina.
The balance of protein and fat is appropriate for the body of felines. Speaking of which, unnecessary carbs are not included. In all, it’s a nutrient-dense, grain-free formula. That is safe and healthy for your adorable cat to consume.
Pros
Minimally processed; all-natural, organic ingredients.
Single-source animal protein for food sensitivities.
Suitable to treat dental issues and improve teeth/gum health.
Cons
The morsels are slightly crumbly.
How does the idea of topping your cat’s kibbles with real, pure nutrition sound? Especially when these healthy, minimally processed bites are coming for a trustworthy brand. One that gives manufacturers like Royal Canin, Blue Buffalo, Purina One, etc. a run for their money!
The mixers are protein-packed and all-natural. That’s for sure! They contain real meat along with non-GMO veggies and fruits. The whole-food ingredients support healthy digestion, skin, and coat. Moreover, they boost vitality and energy as well.
The use of real meat means your cat is going to be a whole lot excited for his/her every meal. The real meat here is farm-raised, responsibly-sourced rabbit. As for the freeze-drying process, moisture is gently removed. All the while locking in nutrients plus intensifying the flavors.
Animal by-product meals aren’t involved. And so isn’t potatoes, wheat, soy, corn, grains, and artificial preservatives or colors. This food is also very popular for cats with digestive problems like IBS. So if your feline has lost weight because of the condition. Then you can rely on Instinct to put the weight back on. That too in only a month!
Pros
Protein-packed and minimally processed.
It boosts energy levels and makes the coat shinier.
Great for fussy kittens and cats.
Cons
Unnecessary fruit and vegetable fillers added.
Tasty snacks every cat is bound to appreciate and even love you a little more for. And when this tasty snack takes the form of salmon, the appreciation and love grow even further. These are single-ingredient treats for providing premium omega nourishment.
It’s best when a cat food formula like this uses limited ingredients. As in the case of this one, the freeze dried salmon delights support immune health. Omega fatty acids are also responsible for supporting hip and joint functions. Then comes the drastic improvement in your cat’s coat and skin.
And let me also tell you that the freeze drying process doesn’t destroy any amount of omega fatty acids salmon is packed with. Even the delicious, original taste of the seafood remains intact for your feline to savor.
No doubt, this is a very tasty pet supplement you can trust.
Pros
Grain-free, wild-caught salmon treats.
Rich omega fatty acids for complete nourishment.
Very well tolerated by the GI tract of cats.
Cons
Too strong fish smell.
Just because the quality is a top priority doesn’t mean you have to spend more. That said, the budget-friendly choice comes in the form of this Whole Life pet product. The treats are freeze dried to ensure minimal processing. No additives and preservatives are used that means.
The process of freeze drying is performed very carefully by the manufacturer. So much so that natural flavors and freshness remain untouched. Speaking of natural, only pure chicken is a part of the recipe. This food is good for kittens and adult cats. No matter how finicky or overweight!
Even felines with gastrointestinal problems are likely to digest the treats without any issues. You already know that the protein content is rich, right? Thanks to the use of real chicken. As for the fat levels and calories, these are appropriately low. So it’s not only your cat’s health but also his/her weight that’s kept in check.
Pros
Made with high-protein, real chicken.
Low-caloric, low-fat freeze dried treats.
Very delicious flavor; cats go crazy for them.
Cons
Large in size, hence have to be broken down.
The specialty of these naturally wholesome treats is the blend of high protein and low calories. The former comes from a single ingredient. And that, in this case, is wild-caught salmon. It’s a rich animal-protein source, no doubt.
As for the calories, per treat offers only 2 to 4 of them. Now, how about the freeze drying part? Pet Craft Supply performs the process flawlessly. All the while locking in the wholesome, nutritional value of the ingredients used.
There are no grains. This means the treats are perfect for cats with stomach sensitivities. You can make these a part of training sessions with your cat or dog.
But it’s the combination of high levels of protein-rich meat and small calories that speaks volumes. Particularly if you want your feline to enjoy a delicious meal. And, at the same time, keep his/her weight in check.
Pros
Salmon treats high in protein, low in calories.
Small-sized for easy chewing and digestibility.
The best for overweight or obese cats.
Cons
Very stinky and slightly dusty.
All-natural, healthy meal, high protein; it’s the most fitting way to describe these freeze dried treats. The little delights are made with salmon. And salmon paves the way for natural fish oils. That keeps your cat’s coat shiny and skin healthy.
Salmon is also beneficial for your pet’s joints. Because of its natural anti-inflammatory properties. This single ingredient offers low fats and low carbohydrates. Along with fewer calories.
So you don’t have to worry about the treats causing any weight gain. Feel free to use them as toppers for meals. The fishy cubes are plenty crunchy for satisfying every cat’s cravings for fish. It’s not only a scrumptious but also a very healthy snack. That works best as an effective appetite enhancer.
Pros
Grain-free, low-fat, low-carb, and high-protein.
Natural fish oils for a shiny coat.
Crunchy, fishy treats.
Cons
Smells very unpleasant, much like all fish-based treats.
Primal Freeze-Dried Cat Food comes in four very delicious varieties. This includes turkey, beef, pork, and chicken. And I’m reviewing the turkey recipe. Turkey raised without added hormones or antibiotics. Along with naturally derived minerals and vitamins!
You’re looking at only the freshest ingredients. Unrefined vitamins and certified organic minerals and produce. These are all included in creating a complete, well-balanced diet. This turkey recipe, along with the 3 others, contains fresh bone grounds. And what this does is deliver calcium supplementation.
Then there’s the healthful combination of essential fatty acids, amino acids, and naturally-occurring enzymes. These are all building blocks, no doubt, for the healthy biological functions of your pet.
This is one of the best Primal cat food reviews. It’s because this particular formula is suitable even for feline hyperesthesia. Your adorable little kitty’s fur is bound to look much softer than ever before. Even the stools go back to normal, which means they become much more solid. So no constant diarrhea and vomiting either.
Pros
Gluten-free and grain-free.
It boosts energy and improves the coat.
Completely balanced for all life stages.
Cons
Quality control and consistency are amiss.
When you mix this frozen raw cat food with warm water, it can make a really tasty gravy with whole pieces of freeze dried chicken. Your adorable feline is bound to go nuts over a meal like this.
Every last morsel is destined to end up in your cat’s little tummy. Speaking of your pet’s stomach, the food is safe and healthy even for a sensitive gut. It’s got 98-percent, high-quality meat, ground bone, and organs. The remaining space is taken up by vitamins and minerals.
The chopped up organ, muscle, and meat bits are partially frozen during processing. This ensures the complete preservation of high-quality nutrients. The integrity of all the ingredients remains intact, no doubt.
There’s no extra stuff in the form of added vegetables and fruits. This means your meat-loving cat is more likely to get excited about his/her mealtime.
Pros
A natural boost of energy.
Highest quality chicken meat, organs, and bones.
Even picky eaters are fond of this food.
Cons
A little crumbly, texture-wise.
Feed only natural goodness present in pure, fresh ingredients to your kitty. Even your kitty benefits in the sense that he/she is sure to enjoy the intense and meaty flavor boost. That’s the most enticing aspect of this grain-free freeze dried formula.
High meat in the form of chicken and lamb is used. The level of carbohydrates is low as well. This means Feline Natural is good for overweight or obese cats. It’s also a great choice for felines likely to gain weight.
Your pets can be the fussiest eaters and still devour the chicken and lamb recipe. The cat food guidelines of New Zealand are comparatively stricter than those of America. So it’s a relief to know that the manufacturer is New Zealand-based.
And lastly, the minimally processed food contains zero GMO ingredients, preservatives, starch, legumes, and fillers. Just a high-meat, healthy meal. Or something you can sprinkle over the meal as a topper.
Pros
High-protein, low-carb chicken and lamb recipe.
Nourishing fats are a natural source of energy.
Good for cats with stomach sensitivities.
Cons
None so far.
These bite-sized treats are made with pasture-raised beef. There are beef muscle and organs. Along with goat’s milk and fresh veggies and fruits. The blend of kibble convenience and nutrition/taste of raw food is the most tempting quality.
This may be the last but it’s certainly not the least best freeze dried cat food. After all, the healthy nutrient and protein boost is ideal to add to daily meals. You can even use the food as positive reinforcements during training sessions. It’s good for dogs as well by the way.
No amount of gluten, grains, artificial preservatives, colors, and flavors are involved. Only real, raw nutrition. The treats are non-greasy and they don’t crumble. It’s all well-balanced on the outside and inside. The perfect addition to a raw diet for your pet.
Pros
Made with high-quality, pasture-raised beef.
Raw goat milk for better digestibility.
Perfectly sized as toppers and meal.
Cons
Not sure if ingredients are non-GMO.
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The raw ingredients used for cat food are subjected to a very low temperature. This temperature is below the freezing point. Then they’re placed inside a vacuum chamber. Such a low-pressure condition keeps the frozen matter from melting. And sublimates it into gas.
The process not only extracts moisture but also destroys all the pathogenic bacteria. The outcome of which is extraordinarily shelf-stable cat food. Humans can consume freeze-dried foods for up to 30 years.
The thing about freeze dried food is that it’s bone-dry. So if you wish to restore the natural texture, then you can add some warm water over it. And let it soak for a few minutes. In fact, many pet parents prefer feeding their cats freeze dried food this way.
It’s just like using fresh ingredients, but without the water content. The process of preservation doesn’t take away anything from the food’s nutritional value. This explains why rehydrated freeze dried food offers the same nutritional content as that of fresh food.
Nutrients such as antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, etc. all remain intact. It’s a much healthier alternative to feeding raw meat to your pet. Because handling raw meat increases the chances of disease transmission and contamination.
However, freeze dried food does have a few drawbacks to offer. To rehydrate the food, you have to soak it in warm water for a while.
Another downside is the slow, costly, and energy-intensive method of freeze drying.
Do you want to know how I narrowed down my search for the healthiest, most natural freeze dried formula for cats? I kept all of these crucial factors in mind at the time of selection…
I mean human-grade, fresh ingredients. This does not include artificial preservatives, flavors, or colors.
The primary or first ingredient should be meat protein. Avoid carbohydrates derived from wheat, soy, and corn as they tend to cause allergies. Also, the carb content needs to be low to prevent weight gain.
There are plenty of freeze dried options packed with fruits and vegetables. Such as spinach, carrots, and other veggies.
Now please understand that cats do have the ability to metabolize carbohydrates. That is mostly present in these plant ingredients. But in a cat’s daily diet, carbs should not exceed more than 10-percent. And you have to keep the consumption even lower if your cat is dealing with IBS or diabetes.
For example, FDA-approved, more often than not, implies the product still offers a few artificial preservatives. Despite claiming that it’s natural.
Another very common term falsely marketed is human-grade. Instead, go for grass-fed, pasture-raised, and the like.
Always choose cat and dog food formulas manufactured by renowned, well-known brands. Such as Instinct, Blue Buffalo, Stella and Chewy, Zesty Paws, Purina One, Primal, Hill’s Science, and lots more.
When it’s a cheap-quality, low-cost brand, then the risk of pathogen contamination is very high.
Recall histories should also be taken into consideration. Normally, you know it’s a trustworthy brand when only 0-2 recalls have been issued. And none of them have resulted in death or serious illness. Customer reviews are a good place to start.
This brings the price factor into the picture as well. It’s not necessary for good quality freeze dried food to be extremely expensive. But if the food is extremely cheap, then consider that as the first red flag. Every pet deserves better, don’t you think?
The terms are not interchangeable. Although both types of cat food don’t contain moisture. The difference is that dehydrated food has the water content removed by using low heat. As for freeze drying, the freeing of moisture takes place with the help of a low-pressured vacuum or environment.
In the case of the latter, the nature, flavor, and taste of the original ingredients remain unaltered. Something that doesn’t happen with the dehydration process.
The transition should be slow and deliberate. Begin with a blend of freeze dried food and your cat’s regular food. 10-percent of the new food and 90-percent of the old version. Carry on feeding this way for at least 1 week. After the completion of each week, increase the former by 10-percent. And decrease the latter by 10-percent.
In the meantime, look for signs such as loose stools or upset tummy. Feel free to adjust the serving size of the new food if things don’t seem right. In that case, I would advise you to pay a visit to your vet for more information.
So now you know that there’s not just dry cat food and canned cat food. There’s a separate third category of freeze dried cat food. And it’s a very healthy choice.
When the nutritional value of freeze dried cat food is the same as fresh, raw healthy ingredients. Then there’s no chance you’re being an irresponsible or ill-informed pet parent by feeding this type of cat food.
As long as you’re making sure to go through the list of ingredients. And as long as the manufacturer is a known brand. In short, as long as the food and brand are a part of the reviews in this article, you and your precious feline are in safe hands.
Cats and dogs have immensely diverse nutritional requirements. Cats that gobble a lot of dog food may get some issues from it. Historically, dogs have been scavengers who ate dead meat that is inconsumable to humans. Now, the age of surplus and complex food has arrived for pets. You can find shelves of infinite food variety for cats and dogs. And you will see wet dog food on these shelves.
One should consider the fact that dog food as a phenomenon arrived only some hundred years ago. After that initial phase, dog food has gone through all types of changes that you can imagine. Secret formula-based dog food is just around the corner at any malls near your house.
The following scene is a familiar one in multi-pet houses. Your cat is rummaging through your dog’s food packets like no tomorrow. Why is your cat acting this weird all of a sudden? Moreover, why is your cat getting addicted to dog food? If your cat has buried her head deep into the dog’s bowl, you have come to the right post.
In this article, we will get into the core of both cat food and dog food. What are the real risks, and can cat eat wet dog food?
You can expect two answers, where one is more rational. Evolution has prepared dogs to become more skillful in hunting, scavenging, and foraging. Like pigs and bears they are omnivores. You might have seen the huge variations in any dog’s nutrition. On the other hand, cats have stuck to only a few variations. Hence, cats need fewer carbohydrates and variation percentages when compared to dogs.
Because of the different flavors in dog food, your cat likes the taste variations. A welcome change is fine for anyone. The other reason is that cats are always observing stuff around them; thirst for some novelty. One has heard before about the infamous curiosity of any cat.
Feline curiosity can get the better of your cat. Let’s forgive the cat, maybe for one instance, if your cat has only consumed wet dog food for just once. Then, it is fine — no immediate danger beckons. However, as the days pass, your cat can get sick. The dog’s food contains higher variations and fiber. These complex carbohydrates and fiber aren’t the ideal nutrition for any cat. Cats need dense proteins and fats from meat. Dogs need particular carbohydrate-based fiber once in a while.
Now, you see how the picture is getting clearer. Dogs and cats can confuse each other’s food for their own. But, that can be a fatal mistake in the long run.
A healthy alternative would be wet cat food. Cats need water in their food to maintain optimum functions. Hence, you can introduce wet cat food. Wet food has been recommended by vets now more often. Water is not something cats like to drink naturally. In cool days cats can miss out on water drastically. This means the best alternative to wet dog food will be wet cat food. Maybe the water content is the reason your cat prefers dog food.
A healthy cat’s diet must contain the necessary components that we have mentioned in this article. One must foremost consider the dietary needs of cats. Another reason is that cats are absolute carnivores. Their guts are not planned to digest most carbohydrates. Dry food may contain a higher percentage of carbohydrates than the wet ones. Which means your cat is in danger while consuming dry food.
Now, instead of that, if wet food mixes to the richest meat-related nutrients, you give your cat exactly what she requires. Thus, wet cat food is a better choice for your cat. Such nutrients are available in most wet canned cat food.
Place physical barriers to your pet’s food so that either animal doesn’t eat the wrong food. Place cat’s food on higher areas like on its favorite cat tree. That way, you have a filled cat and dogs far away from the cat’s food.
While it may be tempting to feed cats only wet food. It can also mean the cat may get fussy, leading to eating less food. Most cats love dry food. All this means that you have to do the math. Feed them the right variation according to the cat’s wish. But do mix up wet and dry at equal intervals to keep your cats healthy at the optimum level.
After one has decided on the right percentage of wet and dry food, check the number of calories. Always maintain the best quality of your cat’s food. The food should be balanced and wholesome. Find the calorie percentage that suits your cat based on age, weight, gender, and breed. We hope you learned how to switch to better alternatives to dog food. Give your comments below, and we can follow up on them. Now, using these tips you can certainly help your cat in a better way.
Hey I’m Linda Butts, the girl behind Pawsome Talk. With my pawsometalk.com I hope to share ideas and techniques from my personal experiences of what I have done with my pet research and what I love about pets and their lives.
Choosing a cat to be your forever friend is an amazing decision to make. Finding the perfect kitty and bringing them home is the easy step however, they need a lot more than just a bowl of food and your hand to pet them.
Cats, like any other pet, require a plethora of items to stay happy, healthy, and comfortable. Let’s take a look at some of the important products needed for a cat, along with a few that are stimulating and fun that can help keep them busy.
It is very easy for a cat to become dehydrated if they don’t have access to clean drinking water. In fact, some cats are not very fond of drinking, just like people. This means it can be hard to get them to drink enough water.
Having a water bowl around is already a great idea. There are a few different materials that cat bowls are made out of, but it’s best to stay away from plastic bowls. This is because plastic is thought to be prime breeding ground for bacteria and be a cause for cat acne.
Cat acne shows up as small black bumps that look like dirt. They end up covering the chin of your cat and can cause discomfort if left untreated. If you don’t wash plastic bowls often enough, then that can occur. This is why stainless steel bowls are your best option to keep cats chins clean.
Water fountains are a popular choice when it comes to helping cats drink more water because they provide an interesting and fun layout for cats to enjoy. It encourages them to drink and will feel more like a natural resource to them.
There are many creative and complex designs out there. Some cat bowls strive to appear as cute and adorable as possible, designed with little fishes. One type of water bowl is a gravity drop where it refills as your cat drinks from it. Others are electric powered with filters and are elaborate fountains.
The space that you have can help you choose what to supply in your home. The more space you have the more fun you can supply your cat with.
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You never know when emergency can strike, so you should always have a cat carrier available for each cat in your home. Cat carriers come as both solid plastic carriers with metal barred doors and as soft carriers in a bag with mesh windows and zippers.
What you choose to purchase for your cat is up to you and the personality of your pet. Soft carriers are a great option for just taking your pet to the vet. They are softer and overall more comfortable for your kitty.
If you have a cat that gets highly stressed or is larger than average then a hard carrier might be the best choice. This is because a heavy cat can weigh down a soft carrier and pin himself in. He may also be strong enough to claw a hole into the mesh bag or roll around. A hard carrier can definitely hold a large, strong cat, and keep him more protected.
Hard carriers are also the best choice for traveling because you can use a larger one and have litter and food inside of it as well.
Ultimately, the choice is up to you and your cat; you’ll know what’s best.
You may also like: Thepetnow– site for cat parents and cat lovers!
The number one item you need in your house is a litter box. This is the place where you cat will go to the bathroom, and you want the perfect litter box to compliment your furry friend.
There are large assortments of options when it comes to litter boxes. There are self-cleaning litter boxes (a little pricier), covered litter boxes, open ended litter boxes, litter boxes disguised as furniture, and more.
What matters when it comes to choosing a litter box depends on how you respond to the scent of certain litters and how clean your cat is. Some cats have a tendency to kick out cat litter while covering their excrement. That’s normal, but can be fairly frustrating.
This is why for many people a litter box with high sides is a great option, or even a covered litter box. A covered litter box may seem like the ideal option because it keeps the litter out of sight, but it isn’t always.
A covered litter box is easy to ignore, which means you might forget to clean the litter box as often as you should. It also means more bacteria and fecal matter might end up stuck on the inside of the cover if you don’t clean it regularly.
For every one cat in your house you should have at least two litter boxes for your cat so they have options to feel safe and comfortable while using the litter.
Finding the perfect cat litter option is also fairly difficult; you’ll want to try a few different kinds to see what your cat uses best and what covers the smell up the most for you.
A cat tree is a structure made up of posts and platforms covered in carpet and sisal rope. They’re meant to provide perches specifically for the cats and furniture safe for them to scratch and play on.
There are small ones, large ones, and full room ones. Picking a cat tree for your kitty can be a fun experience, though it is usually recommended to get to know your cat first to see what they might enjoy best. This is a must have for cat owners who want to make sure their cats don’t end up destroying their furniture.
Keeping your cats stimulated and comfortable is an important part of cat ownership. You want them to have enough to do during the day and products to keep them safe and comfortable. Good luck with your new forever friend, and enjoy getting to know their unique quirks.