Why You Should Not Feed Your Cat Just Any Food

Your cat is your world. Your little furry pride and joy, so naturally, you want to treat him or her to the best life you can. You pamper them, you play with them, and ensure that they are getting the best living space possible.

You also need to be providing them with the right food. The common misconception among many pet owners is that any food will do, but that is not true. You need to make sure your cat is eating the right nutrients to keep them healthy and active, so here is some information to help you feed them the best food available.

Give Them a Variety of Food

Cats, just like us humans, hate to eat the same food every day. They get bored and simply do not like it, so you need to be able to provide them with a variety of food. What does that mean? It does not mean setting out a buffet with all of their favorites, but try to give them different types of food every once in a while to keep them interested in their meals. Dry food and wet food, interchanged over short periods, will help them feast in a healthy manner and not cause a sudden hunger strike.

Similarly, cats can develop an addiction to particular brands of food, so you want to switch it up every once in awhile, just make sure that the food contains the right nutrients and is similar enough in makeup so that they are not losing out on anything important simply to keep them from becoming too dependent on one brand.

Get the Proper Nutrients

Speaking of proper nutrients, you need to ensure that your cat’s food is going to give them the right vitamins and nutrients to keep them healthy. Cats rely on protein because they are an active animal that needs to play and build muscle. For that reason, protein in the form of fish, poultry, or a named meat source (lamb, beef, etc.) is necessary. If you look at, LeluandBobo.com, you can see how this varies from brand to brand. There are plenty you want to avoid.

Other nutrients your cat will need to remain healthy is taurine, an amino acid that is used to help in the aiding of the immune system, heart function, vision health, and digestive health. Healthy fats like Omega-3’s and 6’s, wheat and rice-based carbohydrates (which are not as essential as proteins), water, vitamins like the B-family, and minerals such as iron, calcium, and magnesium are among the other ingredients and nutrients to look for.

Ingredients and Foods to Avoid

As many ingredients you need to look for in the food you provide them, there are enough ingredients and foods to avoid feeding them. There are plenty of cheaper brands of cat food that masquerade as healthy, which include bad ingredients. But there are a few high-quality cat foods that experts say would be a great option for your cat. Some ingredients you want to avoid for your cat’s food are cornmeal filler or excess carbohydrates, chemical preservatives like BHA or BHT, and sketchy non-descriptors like byproducts (meat and bone meal, digest, and sugars). These are no good for your cat.

Human food is also not always great for your feline friend. The human digestive system is much more complex, along with the fact that we understand what foods we are putting into our body much more than cats do.  You would also question, can cats eat pistachios?  Yes, they can but on a very small portion only since pistachios have a very high level of fiber, which can cause your cat’s digestive tract to suffer from constipation and other problems.  Human foods to avoid feeding your cat are chocolate, tuna, onions, garlic, dairy products, tuna, raw meat and fish, and grapes/raisins. Some may surprise you like tuna and dairy, but when you understand that cats are mostly lactose-intolerant, and tuna lacks the required nutrients, it starts to make sense.

Choosing Age and Size-Appropriate Foods

Lastly, you need to pick foods that make sense for your cat’s age and weight. Older cats, which it will say on the labeling if it is for them, need different nutrients because they are aging. Similarly, you want to find the right foods for bigger or smaller cats that make sense for their size, also listed on the packaging. Feeding your cat the right nutrients only helps if it makes sense for their measurements, so make sure you are always feeding them according to age and size.

Your cat deserves the best life, so you need to do all you can to give it to them. They are not just a pet, but a part of the family. One of the most crucial parts to keeping them happy, healthy, and in your life is providing them the right food, and this information shows you why you should not feed them just any kind of food.