At The End Of The Day
Feline family members have their special nutritional needs you should consider them when choosing the diet. Cats living on all-natural products are less prone to diseases of the intestinal system and kidneys, not to mention that it allows carnivores to truly enjoy the meals. Now when you know how to make wet cat food, maintaining the proper balance of nutrients becomes simpler. But before you decide to switch your feline friend to raw or cooked meals, its important to consult a veterinarian a specialist will help you figure out a perfect formula for your pet.
Featured Image Credit: Africa Studio, Shutterstock
Contents
What Age Should I Change My Cats Food
When it comes to nutrition, there are three life stages which experts believe are important times in your cats life to discuss with your veterinarian. The first is the kitten life stage. During this period a cat food rated for growth is needed because it is specifically designed for puppies and kittens according to the AAFCO . Puppies and kittens that are growing require pet foods with a higher protein level and a higher calorie countto meet their growth requirements, says Dr. Lorie Huston. If these nutritional demands are not met, your pets growth may be stunted and/or your pet may become ill. Pet foods rated for reproduction” or “gestation/lactation are also a benefit for pregnant or lactating females.
The second life stage for which you should consult your veterinarian about dietary changes is the adult life stage. Obesity is the most common nutritional disease seen in both dogs and cats today, says Dr. Huston. One reason for this is improper life stage feeding. For example, dog or cat especially one that leads a sedentary lifestyle may become overweight or even obese if fed pet food meant for puppies or kittens. Pet food labeled as “all life stage” can also deliver excessive fat and nutrients your adult pet does not require, as it is formulated for kittens and puppies. Instead you should be looking for cat food rated adult maintenance by the AAFCO.
Keeping Your Senior Cat Hydrated
Keeping your senior cat hydrated is really important, but you may find as they age they are less inclined to drink water. Here are some ways to encourage your cat to drink more water:
- Always have plenty of fresh clean water available day and night.
- Put their water bowl about a metre away from their food and a long way from a litter tray.
- Ensure the water bowl is in a quiet and calm area.
- Provide an extra water bowl in the bathroom or laundry where it is easy to top up.
- Consider a cat water fountain that provides filtered running water which cats love.
Note: If you are concerned that your cat is drinking too much water , it may indicate an underlying health problem. For peace of mind, consult with your vet.
If you need any more information about what to feed your cat, come in and have a chat with our friendly pet experts at your local Animates store. Our knowledgeable staff will help you choose a Superior Nutrition cat food to match your feline friend’s age, lifestyle, breed or special health needs.
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Merrick Purrfect Bistro Dry Cat Food
Thisfood is good for cats aged seven years or over who have indoor or outdoorhabits.
70% of the content is from protein and fat and the remaining 30% comprises carbohydrates, fiber, vitamins and minerals. Its protein source is deboned fish, meat and poultry. Sweet potatoes, peas serve carbohydrates.
Vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and probiotics are included here. No artificial, no gluten is added to avoid intestinal problems.
Key Features:
It is designed to promote health in cats over seven years of age. It comes in a range of tasty flavors to tempt older cats and has 28% protein from chicken.
To this is added a range of ingredients and supplements that are blended to promote health in cats of all ages.
Key Features:
- 28% protein provided by chicken
- Natural fibers to help with a delicate digestion
- Omega oils to maintain a healthy coat
- Antioxidants from cranberries and blueberries
Tips For Transitioning To Senior Cat Food
Your cat may still behave like a kitten as they reach their senior years, which is around 10 years. However, as they age, their bodies change, which means their dietary needs have also changed.
When a cat is 12 years old, they are equivalent to about 64 human years. It is only normal that your cats may experience issues with their health such as arthritis, diabetes and other ailments. A healthy diet based on specific needs can help prevent and/or minimise the symptoms of the aforementioned conditions.
They are several tips available to ensure a safe and gradual transition to a senior cat food diet. They are:
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What To Feed A Senior Cat
With two 18 1/2-year-old cats at home, I know firsthand how important it is to find the right food to meet the needs of aging cats. With so many different cat foods on the market it can be hard to determine what to feed a senior cat. The pet food companies start to market different foods to your cat at about age 8, but your cats nutritional needs dont automatically start to change on a certain birthday.
What Is The Healthiest Cat Food To Buy
Best Dry Food For Cats. BLUE Wilderness Indoor Chicken Dry Cat Food. Hills Science Diet Indoor Dry Cat Food. Purina ONE Urinary Tract Health Formula Dry Food. Rachael Ray Nutrish Natural Dry Cat Food. Purina Cat Chow Naturals Indoor Dry Cat Food. Blue Freedom Grain-Free Adult Dry Food. What To Look For In Dry Cat Food.
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Choosing The Best Food For Your Senior Cat
Unless your vet suggests otherwise, we recommend changing your cat onto Superior Nutrition diet thats designed specifically for senior cats. Feeding your senior cat an age-appropriate diet, will ensure they are getting the right level of nutritents to thrive during this lifestage.
To choose the best food for your senior cat, take into account these factors:
Chicken And Cranberry Cat Treats
Cranberries are thought to help reduce the risk of UTIs by lowering the urinary pH levels and preventing bacteria from sticking to the system. Hence, adding some cranberries to a cat treat recipe can not only brighten your cats day but may also help to keep UTI at bay!
Prep time: 20 minutes
- 1 heaping tablespoon dried catnip
- 1 large egg
Recipe Instructions:
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What To Do If Your Senior Cat Is Not Eating
If you notice that your senior cat is suddenly not eating, you need to contact your veterinarian. This is because a change in appetite may be an indicator of an underlying condition such as chronic pain, dental issues, cancer, diabetes or gastrointestinal issues.
Your vet will be able to give your cat a proper diagnosis and ensure that she is receiving prompt proper care and treatment. Furthermore, they might also advice you to adjust their diet if needed. In some cases, they may prescribe an appetite stimulant such as mirtazapine or cyproheptadine.
If you follow your veterinarians advice, your senior cat should be able to safely transition to a senior cat food diet. Again, it is important that you consult your veterinarian before beginning this transition or making any changes to your cats diet or lifestyle.
Do More For Your Furry Friends With These Best Homemade Cat Food Recipes
Other than whipping up homemade cat food recipes to satisfy your fussy furry eaters, you can also show your fluffy pals some tender loving care by bringing them to the groomers! Check out these best places for pet grooming in Singapore to give your pets a good trim and pamper them with a spa treatment! Meanwhile, improve your pets indoor living conditions with these pet-friendly home decor ideas. Dont forget to join the Shopee Pawrents Club for exclusive deals on pet food, toys and more!
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What’s The Difference Between Wet And Dry Cat Food
Both wet and dry cat food have enough nutrients to adequately meet your cat’s dietary requirements, but some cats seem to prefer wet food over dry food. There are two main differences between the two, and soft dry food falls somewhere in the middle of both. They include:
- Water Content – Dry cat food contains between 6 to 10-percent water content, and wet cat food can contain between 70 to 85-percent water content. Soft dry food typically has slightly more water content than dry food, but it doesn’t have nearly as much as you’d find in traditional wet food.
- Storage – Once you open a can or pouch of wet cat food, you have to store it in the refrigerator with a cover to keep it fresh, and dry food requires an airtight container or sealed bag. Soft dry food also needs an airtight container to prevent it from getting too hard for your cat to eat.
Can Senior Cats Survive On Regular Food Only
According to the United States, Food And Drug Administration, regular cat food labels should contain +/- 22% protein and +/- 8 % fat. Unfortunately, senior cat food only contains 18% protein and 5% fat. If younger cats dont get enough protein, they are more likely to develop various health conditions.
Regular cat food contains more minerals and vitamins because younger cats are still growing and need the additional phosphorous, calcium, and other nutrients to ensure healthy bones and teeth.
Regular food contains 30% more calories than senior cat food, so if an old cat were to live on regular cat food only, chances are they will become overweight, sedentary, sickly. In addition, they will be more prone to diseases and illnesses due to a weakened immune system.
Senior food is easier for cats to digest to accommodate their changing needs as they age. Therefore, if you had to select one type of cat food appropriate for all your cats to share, the best choice would be the senior cat feed.
With that being said, you need to bear in mind that kittens require a different diet from regular or senior-aged cats. This is because kittens are still growing and need a sufficient supply of nutrients to prevent compromising their health and physical development. Therefore, kitten food contains more protein, vitamins, and calories than food for older cats.
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Buying Guide For Best Dry Cat Food
Your feline friend deserves the very best, and that includes a quality dry cat food to keep her healthy and well-nourished.
But with the hundreds of dry cat food brands available on grocery store shelves, in pet stores, and online, how do you choose the right one? It can be tricky, because there’s no single best cat food out there though some are definitely better for your cat than others.
Understanding The Nutritional Needs Of Cats
All cats have a few basic nutritional requirements, and their diet needs to be able to support and meet these needs. This is essential at every stage of life, but especially in her earliest and latest years when her immune system may need some extra help to remain fully functioning .
In general, here’s the basic nutritional checklist for kitties:
Keep in mind that, like humans and other animals, kitties do best when they don’t consume artificial preservatives, fillers, and other chemicals which can disrupt normal digestive and gut health.
And while higher quality food that’s free from these ingredients costs more than the typical commercial options, it really is worth it when you consider how much healthier it can make your animal over the course of her lifetime.
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Cat Chat Feline Forum
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sarie wrote:Yeah if you really don’t feel like you can trust your vet then you’re better off changing practices. You need a good relationship with your vet, especially as your cat is getting older, so it sounds like it’s time to switch over.If you can’t get a decent explanation out of your vet for why they’re recommending certain things then you definitely need to find a better vet. As with anything, there are good and bad out there. I’ve been really lucky as my vet is aboslutely superb but I have friends who visit other vets who find the experience a total nightmare everytime they need to visit. Good luck, I hope you find a better vet you can trust to do the best for you and your cat
How About Joint Support
As your cat ages, the most important thing you can do to prevent joint disease is to keep your cat at a healthy weight.
If weight reduction is not needed or additional relief is needed then one should discuss chondroprotective nutraceuticals and anti-inflammatory drugs with ones veterinarian. One might also consider whether a special therapeutic pet food for the nutritional management of joint disease is indicated or would be helpful, Dr. Delaney adds.
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Your Cats Dietary Requirements
Consider any particular dietary requirements your cat may have. You can find a wide range of dry cat foods to suit kitties with particular dietary requirements.
For instance, there are gluten-free formulas and grain-free formulas available for kitties who need them.
Cats can be intolerant or allergic to wheat and other grains, but if you don’t have reason to believe your kitty has such an allergy, there’s usually no need to avoid dry cat food containing grains unless the food contains large amounts of grains as filler.
Best Cat Food For Senior Cats With Kidney Disease
As cats age, they sometimes develop chronic health problems. One of the most common issues in older cats is kidney disease , and there are foods specially formulated to help maintain kidney function. Our favorite of those is Darwin Intelligent Design Kidney Support. This recipe was formulated by experts in pet nutrition to provide a minimally processed cat food that maintains vital nutrients and is only available via prescription. Darwin only makes raw cat food, which means it isnt cooked. It arrives at your house frozen, and you just thaw and serve!
Highlights
- Raw food created to be easy-to-digest
- Delivered to your door via subscription service
- Made from antibiotic-free and pesticide-free meats
- No grains, fillers, or chemical preservatives
Things to Consider
Cats that are really getting along in years have different nutritional requirements than those spritely 7-year-old senior cats. We like Royal Canin Aging 12+ for those geriatric kitties. Royal Canin canned formulas are designed around a cats nutritional needs and offer a balance of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. This food brand was also developed with long-term palatability and dietary satisfaction in mind. This means that its specifically formulated to entice your cat to eat, even when his interest in food might be naturally waning.
Highlights
Things to Consider
- Comes in a 1-oz. can
- Like all wet food, open cans must be stored in the fridge
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Are There Supplements To Help Older Cats
Yes, there are, but you should take extra caution given senior cats inferior digestive system. If a supplement for older cats contains potent compounds that they cant break down, itll have a far more significant effect on their liver and other organs than it would on younger cats that have healthy digestive systems.
There are too many on the market for us to cover them all, so make sure you thoroughly research any vitamin or supplement you plan on using alongside your senior cat food to ensure theyre safe for older cats to consume.
Dr Hofve Offers The Following Breakdown Of What To Look For And What To Avoid:
Rendered products, such as poultry by-product meal, are of lesser quality. Heat processing such as rendering diminishes nutritional value. However, chicken meal coming from a plant that only processes chickens is likely better quality than a generic poultry product coming from multiple sources. Meat and bone meal is a defined single ingredient, not a combination of meat meal and bone meal. This is the bottom-of-the-barrel and should be completely avoided.
Digests may be poorer quality. Rendered meals and digests are usually used in dry cat food.
Plant proteins like corn gluten meal, rice protein concentrate and similar ingredients, are cheap substitutes for real meat. They are deficient in the full spread of amino acids found in meat, and they may also contain chemical residues from herbicides and pesticides. They are more common in dry food.
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