How to choose the right food for your cat

Deciding on the best indoor cat food for your kitty is essential, as food is the primary source to keep pet cats healthy. One thing that all cat owners need to understand is that cats are carnivores. They should not be given vegetarian or vegan diets as their nutritional need can be fulfilled entirely only through the intake of animal proteins. The right kind of best cat food for indoor cats will prevent all health problems and ensure that your cat maintains a healthy weight and activity level for her breed.

All domesticated cats need the following nutrients to stay healthy, and you should consider all these elements while choosing the best dry cat food or wet cat food:

  • Proteins:
    They are essential to promote lean muscle growth. The best cat food indoor cats should have almost 95% protein from known animal source.
  • Fats:
    Look preferably at fatty acids in the form of omega-3 and omega-6 as they help keep your cat’s skin and coat healthy and shining.
  • Fibre:
    It is essential to support their digestive health by preventing gas and other gastrointestinal issues.
  • Vitamins and minerals:
    Your cat will also need sufficient amount of vitamins A, E, K and B. Folic and pantothenic acids and minerals are also essential in her food. Additional minerals that cats need include calcium, phosphorous, and iodine.
  • Taurine:
    It is an essential amino acid that cats compulsorily need in their daily nutrition.

Cats have shorter large intestines and cannot digest too much of carbohydrates. So the food you choose should not have a high percentage of carbs like fruits, vegetables, and grains. High quality and best dry food for cats like Hill’s Science Diet provides adequate carbohydrates in easily digestible form.

Look for the complete description of the ingredients to know you are feeding your cat enough. Also, ensure that the food you feed your cat falls under the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) regulations and has been approved by the same.

When you commit yourself to nurturing a cat for life, you also need to understand the various dietary needs that keep on changing as the cat reaches the different stages of its life.

Kittens and nursing cats will need more calories and nutrient intensive foods. At the kitten stage, your cat will need more fat and protein to build stronger bones. Pregnant and nursing cats will also require higher levels of fats, essential vitamins and minerals to help support the growing kittens. As your cat grows older, it will need less fat intensive food to prevent obesity.

Also, remember that variety is the spice of life even for cats. You can feed your cat one form of food in the morning and another at night. Before you go to work, you can fill your cat’s bowl with the best dry cat food, and at night you can give your cat the best indoor cat food of the wet variety.

Cats get easily bored with the same kind of food, and it is important that you keep choosing various best cat food indoor cats.

Daily supply of plenty of fresh, clean water is an absolute necessity for all cats. Make sure to keep your cat’s water bowl filled through an automatic refilling tower when you’re not home. If you feel that your cat is getting dehydrated, you can switch over from the best dry cat food to the best indoor cat food in wet form.

Avoid giving your cat scraps from the table and keep your cat away from chocolate, caffeinated drinks, raisins, grapes, and onions. As cats grow out of their kitten stage, their digestive system becomes less tolerant of lactose, and thus, even the best dry cat food indoor cat containing lactose or milk derivatives should be avoided for adult cats.