How to Choose the Right Cat Nutrition for Your Cat

Choosing the Healthiest Cat Food

Choosing the healthiest cat food may take time. Assuming your cat's veterinarian hasn't found a major health issue affected by their food, create a cat meal plan that's simple and easy to follow. Both canned and dry food provide complete nutrition.

If your cat does have a health issue, your vet can help you find the right food to ensure she gets the correct nutrients to help with health conditions, including issues with weight management, food allergies or intolerance and kidney health.

Some pet parents prefer to feed one form of food in the morning and another at night. For example, before you go to work, you may want to fill your cat's bowl with dry food. Then when you go to bed at night, you can offer her a small plate of wet food. This type of feeding schedule helps keep your cat's weight in check while providing plenty of nutrients for her general well-being.

Common Feeding Concerns

How can you tell if the cat food you've chosen is just right? It's a learning process, and there are several things new cat parents should remember when it comes to cat nutrition:

Avoid Overfeeding

Cats love food just like you. The difference is they don't know to wait the twenty minutes to realize they're full after the bowl's empty. Your cat may, therefore, ask for more after she finishes her morning dry food or evening plate of wet. As much as you'd love a second or third helping, your jeans won't fit if you don't listen to your body.

By the same token, giving in to every meow will cause her to gain weight in no time. So keep an eye on her waistline–a healthy cat should be lean and trim. You don't want to see ribs or bones protruding, but when you run your hands over her sides you should be able to feel plenty of definition. An overweight cat has rolls of fat on the abdomen, sides, and face, and tends to act lethargic aside from her usual naps.

One Type of Food or Two?

A common cat feeding question that exists is, "Can I serve only one type of cat food, wet or dry?" Cats can exist on a meal plan with just dry food, receiving a complete source of balanced nutrition as well as fiber for healthy digestion. Read the labels when purchasing a high-quality, veterinarian-recommended food to ensure she's getting all she needs. If you're concerned that your cat is not drinking enough water, you can investigate supplementing dry cat food with wet cat food.

Provide Enough Water

Due to their size and activity level, there's a common misconception that cats don't need a lot of water. On the contrary, they should have plenty of fresh water available at all times. Some cats are very finicky about their water source, so keep your cat's water bowl scrupulously clean and refill it daily. Remember, an automatically refilled tower is a big help for multi-cat households, as it provides a constant, fresh supply so you don't have to tend to it as often.

No People Food

Table scraps are a fast track to obesity for many cats, adding calories without adequate nutrition. And never feed your cat chocolate, caffeinated drinks like cola or coffee, raisins, grapes, or onions–all of which are poisonous to cats. Foods that include these ingredients can be deadly.

Avoid Milk

Believe it or not, most cats are lactose intolerant. Feeding your cat a bowl of milk may actually give her gas, indigestion, and a very upset stomach. If you want to give your cat a treat, a few kibbles of her cat food, some catnip or homemade cat treats are a better option.

The right cat food can keep your pet healthy and active for many years to come. By choosing a high-quality cat food, keeping her hydrated, and avoiding some of the common myths mentioned above, you'll provide the best nutrition for your pet.