Pet Help

I didn’t like it much when I was young, but as I got older I genuinely started to appreciate my mom’s interest in eating healthy. I know having a healthy diet has helped keep me at a healthy weight and I also believe it helps me avoid getting sick. In general I just feel better. I’ve had my times, like college, when I wasn’t as conscientious and I can definitely tell the difference.

Over the years my belief in a healthy diet started to include my cats so I started to look more closely at what they’re eating. It’s important to me that they have a good quality of life and a good lifespan. Of course none of us like unplanned visits to the vet either. Annual check ups are important, but by feeding them a healthier diet I hope to decrease the chances of them getting one of those common cat health problems that occur too often.

So I started doing my research. First it’s important to understand the biology of a cat. Cats are obligate carnivores so they need a high percentage of protein in order for their bodies to function well. Without proper levels of taurine, which is found in meats, cats can experience a range of health problems that can include blindness. Needless to say a quality source of protein will be the first ingredient listed in a healthy cat food.

We may have domesticated them, but by nature they hunt their food and eat it raw. That sounds pretty unpleasant to us but it’s natural for them. By nature they also have a low thirst drive because they were made to get some of their moisture in their food. Some cats that only eat dry foods aren’t getting enough liquids, this can contribute to problems with feline urinary tract infections. It’s important to add at least some moist food to your cat’s diet. Moist food can include canned, raw or frozen. It’s also important to encourage your cat to drink more by providing fresh, clean water. Keeping water in a couple areas of the house can help.

Unfortunately a lot of our food these days is processed and too full of junk. Cat food is somewhat the same. Cat food companies can make cat food a lot cheaper by using fillers. Cats don’t always respond well to these fillers though. Cats seem to be developing more health problems like allergies and sensitive stomachs which can make them throw up often after eating. It’s hard for them to retain nutrition when this keeps happening.

A good general rule when looking for a healthy cat food is to make sure the first ingredient is a quality protein. Additionally look for whole foods and grains like brown rice, carrots and even blueberries, and quality fats like flax oil or chicken fat. Avoid cat foods with artificial colors and preservatives. Cats can often be sensitive to these too.

In the long run I’ve saved money by spending a little more on higher quality cat foods. Helping to keep the immune system strong goes a long way towards keeping my cats happy and healthy. One of my cats is 19+ and still going strong.