Choosing the Right Cat Food

A cat's nutritional diet basically consists of protein,feeding him a variety of food right from the start.
which is found in fish and meat products; taurine.
as well as other enzymes, fatty acids, vitaminsMany cat owners buy cheap cat food in order to
and minerals.save on food expenses. However, you may not
Being obligate carnivores, cats cannot thriveactually be getting your money's worth as some
primarily on vegetarian diets although cat foodcheap cat food do not give the right amount of
manufacturers can incorporate vegetables intonutrients that your cat needs. As a result, your
their diets. Carbohydrates may not also be acat may consume twice as much than they
primary nutritional requirement in cats as wellwould when consuming a normal serving of
although some cat foods contain wheat, rice andpremium cat food. Also, continued feeding of
corn as fillers.cheap, substandard food over time may lead to
There are a number of reasons why you shouldmalnourishment and even health complications.
feed your cat with a variety of both canned andWhen buying the right cat food, make sure that it
dry cat food, as suggested by many nutritionists.has complied with AAFCO's standards for
For one, canned food contains water that helpscomplete and balanced nutrition on its label. Its
supplement a cat's water needs, given that catsprotein source should also be labeled beef, chicken
do not usually drink water on a regular basis. Andor lamb instead of meat alone. Make sure that it
just like humans, cats may also become boredis the first ingredient listed on the label. Always
with the same type of food that you may becheck its expiration date.
feeding him. Moreover, although cats rarelyLook out for chemical preservatives such as BHA.
develop food allergies, they may still be allergic toBHT, ethoxyquin and propyl gallate, corn meal as
some ingredients over time. You may also wantfillers or an excess of carbohydrate fillers.
to prevent your cat from developing foodMoreover, beware of labels that read 'animal
addiction. This condition is when a cat becomesdigest' 'by-products', 'meat and bone meal' as well
addicted to a particular type of food and may notas added sugars, as these may not be suitable
want to eat any other type of food anymore.for your cat's health.
Food addiction in cats can be easily dealt with by