Keep Your Cat Happy & Healthy! Cat Food Breakdown: The Good, The Bad, & The Heinous

Are you feeding your cat the best?

A poor diet of cat food can lead to digestive problems. It can also cause long-term health issues like kidney diseases. You should always know the worst cat food for kidney diseases. Many cat food brands claim that they produce healthy cat food. Some cat foods are just packed with fillers and artificial ingredients.

My cat Milo has a habit of sneaking onto the kitchen counter. He is always hunting the food which is strictly forbidden. One day, he managed to take a chocolate chip cookie right off my plate. I snatched it away before he could take a bite. Chocolate is toxic for cats. A small amount can make them seriously ill.

This is the reason to know about “Cat Food Breakdown: The Good, the Bad, & The Heinous” is very important. It can help to separate the best cat food from the worst. You should check what your cat likes the most if you are choosing the best cat food for your cat.

Why Cat Food matters?

Cat food is the main reason behind the health of your cat. A well-fed cat is always active and playful. A happy cat always has shiny skin and a fresh mind. On the other side, poor nutrition can lead to dull fur. It can also make a cat ill. Cats need a balanced diet with real meat. Unnecessary fillers make poor cat food.

There are many cat food brands. Some of the cat food brands produce food filled with artificial ingredients. They may seem affordable, but these low-quality foods do little for the health of your cat. The truth about the cat food is not always on the label. It can also lead to long-term health problems. It is easy for everyone to fall for fancy packaging. The most important thing that matters is what is inside the can.

What should a cat food contain?

A cat’s high-quality food is the key to a long and healthy life. Cats are carnivores from the start. This is the reason that they need high-protein food. This high-protein cat food should mainly be based on meat. You should look for a food rich in amino acids present mostly in meat. These proteins help cats to live a longer life. A high-quality ingredient makes cat food the best. These ingredients include:

• Protein
• Fats
• Water
• Minerals
• Vitamins

Protein

Proteins are very important to make your cat health and active. These are the building blocks of amino acids. Proteins are the main source of energy. They also support the health of a cat. The body of the cat needs twenty-two amino acids to stay healthy. The most important among those are eleven which includes.

• Valine
• Lysine
• Taurine
• Threonine
• Leucine
• Histidine
• Arginine
• Phenylalanine
• Isoleucine
• Methionine
• Tryptophan

The main sources of these proteins include:

Food group	Ingredients
Meat	Chicken Duck Rabbit
Fish	Salmon Mackerel Tuna Sardine
Crustaceans	Shrimp Prawns

Fats

Fat is usually a taste enhancer. It also transports nutrients to cells. It impacts the speed of nerve signal transmissions. It acts as a secondary energy source. The amount of fat that cat food should contain is about 20% of the concentrated diet. Fats support the health of a cat. It makes the skin of a cat shiny. It also sharpens the brain of a cat to react faster.

Water

Cats usually drink less water. You have to give them water in different ways to fulfill their water need. The most common way is to feed them wet cat food. Knowing how much-wet food is necessary to feed a cat is very important. Wild cats don’t drink much water. They fulfill most of the water needs from the food. The ideal moisture content in cats is around 70%. Most of the commercially sold cat food typically meets this criterion. The dehydration in the cat leads to some medical problems, including:

• Blood flow reduction
• Poor oxygen transportation
• Electrolyte imbalance
• Accumulation of harmful toxins

Vitamins

All metabolic processes in the body of a cat work seamlessly with the help of vitamins. They support the overall health of a cat. It also enhances the immunity and organ function of a cat. Feeding cats a food filled with vitamins and minerals is the best choice to make them happy and active. Some of the best vitamins and their role include:

Vitamins	Role
A	Healthy skin Proper vision Reproductive health
D	Increases calcium and phosphorus level
E	Has an antioxidative effect on the organism
K	Plays a crucial role in blood clotting

What cat food shouldn’t have?

Some cat food brands may look attractive. The ingredients in the food contain tell a completely different story. The worst cat food often contains mostly corn and soy. These ingredients just bulk up the food. They don’t meet the needs a cat needs to live a healthy life. Some cat food brands use by-products instead of using real meat. This makes them cheap and low-quality. Artificial colors and flavors also make food low-quality. Ingredients that you should avoid feeding your cat are:

• Meat derivatives
• Vegetable derivatives
• Dairy
• Grains
• Spices

Why are meat derivatives bad?

Meat derivatives are the leftovers from the human food industry. They are just low-quality by-products. They can make a cat sick. These products can cause common food allergies in your cat. Animal by-products can include the following things:

• Meat which is fit for human consumption
• Fish fit for human consumption
• Shellfish shells
• Domestic catering waste

Reason to avoid vegetable and derivatives

Most of the commercial cat food options show that their foods are rich in protein. The truth is that they add by-products like vegetables and beans, which make their food low in quality. Vegetables contain minerals of low quality. It does not match the amount of protein that a cat needs. Some vegetables like onion and garlic are strictly prohibited to feed a cat.

Why are dairy products bad?

Most of the cats are lactose intolerant. Dairy products contain lactose that is harmful to them. It can cause digestive issues and long-term health problems. A cat can have some yogurt and cheese occasionally. You have to feed these products in smaller quantities. A large quantity of dairy products can cause stomach upset.

Are grains bad for cats?

It would be an understatement to say that grains are a suboptimal choice for cats. Grains are an indicator of nutritionally poor food. They are usually used by cat food manufacturers as fillers or binding agents for dry cat food. Food with grains has a high carbohydrate content. Cats don’t need carbohydrates. They just need fiber in their diet to boost their digestion.

Why are spices not allowed?

Spices are not allowed in cat food because many of them can be harmful. This can be toxic for cats. Cats have a different digestive system than other animals. Their bodies are not designed to process strong seasonings. Following are the reasons that you should know:

• Some common spices like garlic and onion can be poisonous to cats. Even small amounts can cause issues like anemia.
• Cats have sensitive stomachs. Spicy foods can cause vomiting and stomach pain. Their bodies are not built to handle strong flavors.
• Cats don’t need spices for flavor or health benefits. Their natural diet consists of protein-rich food.

Common spices that you should avoid

Knowing some common spices that you should avoid from the cats is very important.

• Salt
• Cinnamon
• Black pepper
• Chilli powder and spicy peppers

Recognizing best quality cat food

Feeding your cat high-quality food does not always mean emptying your wallet. The best cat food is always the one with high protein content. Many brands claim that they make the best quality food. The truth behind their food is that they produce low-quality food with artificial fillers.

I remember when I started selecting the best cat food for my Luna and Milo. I wondered what would be the best choice among so many cat food brands. I then started researching cat food. I also visited the vet for the best homemade cat food recommendation. That time was very critical for me to feed my cats.

Conclusion

Taking a little time to research your cat food can make a big difference. It can improve the health of your cat. The right diet keeps their fur shining. It also makes them energetic and strong. High-quality cat food is the best way to show love and care to your cat. Avoiding harmful ingredients can make your cat live longer and more active and life.

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