Is It Ok To Feed My Cat Dry Food Only
- Purraise
- 37
Originally Posted by sharkyI have a cat currently who wont eat alot of wet so she gets a NO chn or animal by product, no chem presvative , not artificial color or flavor food and one free of grd corn
- 37
Originally Posted by ReesesPBCWe feed Reeses Purina Cat Chow Indoor Formula Dry and she hasn’t had any problems, except for about a month after we got her when she had a virus she was trying to shake, but that wasn’t food related.
She’s a little over a year old.Indoor food because she’s an indoor cat.She’s not overweight, and i buy the food at Petco.She was abandoned near my work last Oct so I’ve tried other food from Petco Nutromax, Iams, i even bought the higher quality purina something or other. They manufacturers make it sound like an indoor cat needs indoor food etc. Am i a victim of advertizing? Mind you, i only have one cat, : that healthier cat food is $$$$$$$.
How To Transition To A New Type Of Cat Food
If you want to change the food your cat is eating , its important to do so gradually abrupt changes can cause upset stomachs in any pet.
If your cat isnt used to eating at fixed times, the first step is to begin feeding on a routine. Start by setting dry food out 3-4 times a day, and be sure to take it away after 20-25 minutes. Then, you can begin to remove additional times until youve reached your goal feeding times.
Regardless of whether youre transitioning between wet and dry foods or between two brands, avoid abruptly substituting one food for the other. Instead, feed your pet a mix of the two foods, gradually shifting from mostly the old food to the new food.
If youre having trouble transitioning your cat from one food to another or have any other questions about pet nutrition, please contact your veterinarian.
Can Cats Eat Vegetables
Cats are meat eaters, making vegetarian and vegan diets unsuitable for their needs. Your cat needs more protein than many other mammals and they need specific amino acids such as taurine in order to survive. This is why it is important to feed your cat food that is made just for them.
There are a few vegetables that you can feed your cat These include: carrots, peas, corn, broccoli and spinach. Steer clear of garlic and onion as these can be difficult to digest and can make cats very ill.
Don’t Miss: Is Blue Buffalo Good Cat Food
Should You Feed Your Cat A Raw Diet
Every cat owner wants the best for their furry feline friend. As a pet owner, one of the most valuable things you can do for your cats overall health is feeding her a well-balanced, nutrient-rich diet.
From dry food to wet food, there are a lot of options when it comes to pet food. Add raw food to the mix, and theres even more to consider! Raw diets have been increasing in popularity for dogs and cats alike, stemming from the belief that domestic pets should be eating the same type of food as their ancestors and wild counterparts.
A dietary change isnt something that should be taken lightly, though. If youre considering raw food for your cat, take some time to do the necessary research. After all, successful raw diets for pets require a lot of time, careful planning, and commitment.
There Are Many Factors To Consider When Choosing One Or The Other
Among the timeless questions debated endlessly from generation to generation, such as What is the meaning of life? and Does the refrigerator light go off when the door is closed?, is one veterinarians and cat owners are particularly familiar with: Is feeding canned or dry food better for cats? Cat loversand many veterinariansoften have strong and absolute opinions on this question, and disagreements on the subject tend to be about as amicable as those on politics and religion.
The most widely held belief seems to be that canned foods are healthier for cats than dry diets. This is predicated on two key arguments:
1) As obligate carnivores, cats cannot thrive on dietary carbohydrates, and canned diets are low-carb compared with kibble. Therefore, dry diets are more likely to lead to obesity and diabetes mellitus , two common and important feline health problems.15
2) Cats eating dry food dont drink enough water, and this increases the risk of chronic kidney disease and lower urinary tract diseases, such as feline interstitial cystitis and urolithiasis. Feeding canned foods maintains better hydration and promotes dilute urine, reducing the risk of these diseases.4,6,7
You May Like: Is Blue Buffalo Good Cat Food
Cats And Dogs Have Evolved To Eat Different Diets
Cats are obligate carnivores, this means that they require animal-based protein and fat. Whereas dogs are omnivores like us so they can derive their nutrients from a mixed diet of meat, vegetables and sources of carbohydrates. Cats need animal protein because they cannot make certain essential nutrients from plant-based protein.
Although dogs can synthesise the two proteins, taurine and arginine, cats can not.
What Type Of Cat Food Bowl Is Best
Stainless steel or ceramic bowls are usually preferred, as unlike plastic bowls, these are not likely to get scratched or worn. Bacteria is harboured in these scratches, and odours tend to sit in plastic bowls.
Any plastic bowl that looks visibly scratched or worn should definitely be replaced, and all bowls – of any material – should be washed daily. Ensure you provide clean, fresh water in a large bowl, this will help to keep the kidneys healthy, and reduce the risk of Urinary infections.
Cats usually favour shallow bowls so that their whiskers do not brush against the sides of the bowl, so this is definitely an important consideration to make when choosing a bowl.
It’s also crucial to bear in mind that separate bowls are usually preferable over ‘double’ bowls – cats dislike having their water next to their food bowl as it can become contaminated with bits of food.
It is worth bearing in mind there are also cat feeders available which can be ideal for multi-cat households or for encouraging your cat’s natural hunting instincts.
You May Like: Is Blue Buffalo Good Cat Food
Does Dry Pet Food Clean Your Dog’s And Cat’s Teeth
This one is very common, even among some veterinarians, but it is most definitely not true. Dogs and cats have very pointed teeth even their molars are sharp edged, not flat. These teeth are designed to bite, tear, and chew raw meat, so when a dog or cat eats kibble, they either swallow it whole or shatter it.
Kibble does not scrape down onto the lower parts of the teeth or near the gums, which is where dental problems start. In fact, kibble can contribute to dental problems when the shattered bits lodge between the teeth, promoting bacterial growth. Just like with your diet, carbohydrate food debris breaks down into sugar, which dental bacteria feeds upon.
However, kibble isn’t going to help. Healthy teeth start with a natural diet, healthy chews, and regular brushing.
Why Is My Cat Not Eating Her Wet Food
One major reason why cats suddenly wont eat or lose their appetite is that theyre not feeling well and may have an illness. Or, there was something in their wet food that didnt sit well with their taste buds or stomach making them upset and uncomfortable. kidney disease. upper respiratory infection or kitty cold.
Read Also: Why Do Cats Squint At You
Canned Cat Food Drawbacks
Canned food is often more expensive than dry food, so this may play a role in your decision.
Once opened, canned food has a shelf-life of 24 hours and must be stored in the refrigerator. If your cat does not finish their wet food, it should be properly stored in the refrigerator or discarded. Leaving canned food out for longer than a few hours can run the risk of contamination and cause gastrointestinal upset.
What Wet And Dry Cat Food Do Veterinarians Recommend
Regardless of whether you choose to feed a dry or canned cat food, it is important to feed a well-balanced, commercial diet to ensure that your cat gets the vitamins and minerals they need.
Reputable brands such as Science Diet and Royal Canin have been quality-controlled and specially formulated to meet a cats nutritional requirements. Your veterinarian can give you more specific recommendations based on your cats health history.
Avoid feeding a home-cooked or homemade diet unless it is specially formulated by a veterinarian who is specialized in making these diets. If you dont have help from a qualified vet, these diets can be deficient in vitamins and minerals such as taurine, which can cause heart disease in cats.
Involving your veterinarian in your decision of what to feed your cat can be very helpful in ensuring they get the most appropriate nutrition.
Here are some other things to consider.
You May Like: Cat Scratching Carpet Under Door
Transitioning Dry Food Addicts
Excerpted from Dr. Lisa Pierson’s article, Transitioning Feline Dry Food Addicts to Canned Food
This is the hard part. Cats, like children, often resist what is best for them. Two most frequent comments that I hear from people when trying to convince them to feed their cats a healthier diet are “my cat won’t eat canned food” and “but my cat really likes his dry food.” Children really like potato chips and ice cream but that certainly does not mean those food items constitute optimal nutrition.
The transition process often involves much more than just plunking down a new food item. Time, patience and tricks are often required.
One reason that cats like dry food so much is because the pet food companies do not play fair when manufacturing this sub-optimal food source. They coat the kibble with extremely enticing animal digest sprays which are very pleasing to a cat – making a poor-quality diet very desirable to the target animal.
In addition to the aforementioned coating of dry food with animal digest, another issue is one of a crunchy texture which is very different from canned food. Cats are very resistant to such a drastic change in the texture of their food.
If you are convinced that getting your cat off of dry food is the way to go, read on for some tips on how to accomplish this.
Now…for the stubborn cats…
Example 1: If your cat weight 18 pounds but really should weigh 12 pounds, please make sure that he is consuming at lease ~ 180 calories per day .
Transitioning Cats To Canned Food
There are generally two categories of cats: those who will readily eat canned food and those who wont. Cats that have never been offered canned food sometimes do not recognize it as food, and it may take weeks or months to transition completely. Be patient the goal is to make the transition as easy as possible for your cat.
If your cat has been free-fed,establish a schedule of 3 feedings per day. Leave the food down for 20 minutes, and then remove the uneaten portion. Once your cat is on a schedule, you will notice your cat is more enthusiastic about food during mealtimes and will be more inclined to try something new.
If your cat has already been eating some canned food, start increasing the amount of canned food while gradually decreasing the dry.
Dont panic if your cat refuses to touch the canned food. Simply remove the uneaten food and offer another meal at the next mealtime. If your cat hasnt eaten anything in 18 hours, give him ¼ cup of his usual food, and try again at the next meal. It is important that your cat eat every day to prevent fatty liver disease.
Recommended Reading: Hp Lovecraft’s Cat’s Name
Essential Nutrients In A Cats Diet
Creating a well-balanced diet is important when cooking homemade cat food. There are various needs for a proper cat diet to provide an intact pH balance and make your feline as healthy as possible.
The two most essential nutrients are protein and water. Being carnivores, cats require protein to grow, develop, thrive and, of course, survive. Raw cat food as well as home-cooked one allows making your furry proper hydration during the day. Thats so important because the level of hydration influences the cats well-being, skin and coat condition.
When it comes to amino acids, you should realize that they are the next in the list of important nutrients for cats. Many acids are kept in protein sources. Taurine is the most basic one that is vital for a felines health.Such necessary amino acids as Omega-3, Omega-6, DHA, LA, AA, EPA, GLA and CLA should be also added to your cats diet. They ensure great health for your furry.
For normal physiological development, it is essential to include vitamins and minerals in your felines diet. Phosphorus, chloride and vitamins C, B6, K and D are crucial for your cats health development.
Kibble Is Low In Meat
Cats are obligate carnivores. That means they are restricted to a meat-only diet.
You may be thinking, My cats dry food lists meat as the first ingredient.
That may be true. But do you know the cat food label rules set by AAFCO?
AAFCO does not approve cat food. They put rules in place for pet food manufacturers to follow when packaging their products.
Many cat food label names have words like:
- Dinner
- Nuggets
- Formula
Did you know that these foods have a minimum requirement of only 25% meat because of these descriptive words?
Other cat foods have with chicken or with beef in the name.
The minimum requirement is only 3% because of the word with.
Further, cat foods that say chicken flavor or beef flavor have no minimum requirement of meat because of the word flavor.
Now take a look at your cats dry food name. Which rule does it fall under?
Now count up plant-based ingredients versus meat-based ingredients.
Does it match a mouse? Or is it more like meat-flavored granola?
One domestic mouse is approximately 55% protein and 23% fat on a dry matter basis. That means without moisture.
Most kibble does not exceed 40% protein on a dry matter basis. And most of that protein comes from plant-based ingredients.
Cats need meat to survive and thrive. Dry food is low in meat-based protein.
Don’t Miss: Blue Buffalo For Kittens
Are Table Scraps And Other People Foods Bad For Your Dog And Cat
Most holistically trained veterinarians encourage the practice of feeding “people food” to our pets. Healthy leftovers are an excellent supplement to your companion’s regular fare. There are only two rules with people food for pets:
It’s important to note that not all healthy foods for us are healthy for our pets: onions, grapes and raisins can all be toxic to dogs and cats. If you’re not positive it’s safe, don’t feed it.
If you want to feed meat from the grocery store, there are a number of homemade pre-mixes available where you just need to add is meat and an appropriate oil for healthy fat content.
Pre-mixes contain vegetables, vitamins and minerals, and sometimes grains to make the meal complete. You don’t have to cook every meal for your companion to benefit from fresher food: even the occasional homemade dinner is a wonderful healthy treat!
Dry Cat Food And Cat Obesity And And Feline Diabetes
Cats on dry food-only diets are slightly more prone to obesity and diabetes than cats who eat wet cat food. Part of this is due to the high carbohydrate levels in many kinds of kibble, and part is due to the free-choice feeding of dry cat food which gives cats 24-hour access to food.
If your cat is getting a little pudgy, ration the dry food rather than serving it all-you-can-eat style. To avoid feline diabetes, stick to a premium dry food or switch to a canned food diet.
Also Check: How To Get Matts Out Of Hair
So Are Wet Or Dry Diets Better
The reality that for most cats, a 100% dry diet will be perfectly adequate, and no reason to feel guilty. I recommend spending as much as you can, as its clear that urinary problems go down as quality goes up. I also need you to understand feline water needs.
Dry foods are incredibly convenient, which is why I rely on one for my kitty . However he also gets cat grass, a raw chicken neck a day, and as you can see I keep his weight under control. All these factors increase my sense of security.
You may feel guilty and want to add a tasty wet food, and in theory thats OK. My complaint is that when people who already choose a high quality dry get a wet food, its often a low quality one. Thats because wet foods need to be bought frequently, and so most people get them with their supermarket shop.
In the end, if the quality of your wet and dry cat foods are similar, it makes very little difference which one you choose.
Related: Supermarket vs Pet Store: Whats The Difference?
Have something to add? Comments are welcome below and will appear within 24 hours.By Andrew Spanner BVSc MVetStud, a vet in Adelaide, Australia. These articles are from a series regularly posted on email and .