Feline Nutrition - Deciding On The Right Diet For Your Cat

When it comes to the question of feline nutrition, it is important to remember that the dietary requirements of cats are entirely different from that of humans. Since they are carnivores, cats need some kind of meat in their daily diet. Meat - raw or cooked - alone may not provide adequate nutrition for the cat. This is why you must take a closer look at the cat food labels or try giving home-cooked food to your cat.

So What Do Cats Really Need For Proper Nutrition?

Most people bring up their cats on a diet of raw meat. But studies prove that it is best to offer cooked meat to your cat and reserve raw meat for occasional treats. This is especially true in the case of raw fish that can lead to deficiency or mercury poisoning in cats. While meat sources like poultry, fish or beef provide cats with a good amount of protein, it does not meet many other nutrition needs. So it is important to provide a good variety of commercial cat food to your cat.

Alternatively, you can also enhance the nutrition of your cat with special homemade cat food that contains the right amount of ingredients and supplements. Most homemade cat food recipes involve mixing ground raw meat with meat by-products, egg yolks, some vegetables, chicken broth and adequate supplements. The meat used in homemade cat food range from chicken and quail to turkey and lamb.

Though both kittens and adult cats love to get a bowlful of cow's milk, it is best to avoid this since milk can cause diarrhea in cats. However, a cupful of milk once in a while is fine for your cat. Then there are people who bring up cats on leftovers of their food. Such an eating habit is best avoided since too much of human food can cause obesity in cats.

Feeding Guidelines For The Right Nutrition

The nutrition requirements and number of feedings per day largely depends on the age of the cat. For instance, kittens under the age of 12 weeks may require several feedings a day. On the other hand, just three meals a day would suffice for cats over the age of three months.

When it comes to commercial cat food, you have the choice of dry food and canned food. Dry food is a better option for the dental care of your cat as it keeps the cat's teeth clean from tartar build-up. Dry food products are also more economical than canned ones. Whether you choose canned food or dry food, make sure you check the cat food labels for ingredients and AAFCO certification. Regardless of the age of the cat, it is important to provide fresh water to them everyday. This is especially applicable if you feed the cat more of dry food.

You can also go online and browse through sites that offer comprehensive advice on feline nutrition and special cat food products. Depending on your budget and the unique dietary requirement of your cat, you must choose the best product for your cat.