Monday, December 21, 2009

Cat food - How to choose the best cat food

The different types of cat food are endless, with variations in texture, nutritional value, flavor, and dietary needs. Choosing the right cat food for your cat depends mostly on its age, health and personal preferences.
what is a good cat food. What's the best cat food I can buy? These are very common questions. The answer usually is, depends on the needs of your pet. As pets age or require specialized diets for medical conditions, the answer may not always be the same brand of food.
Cat food is food manufactured for consumption by cats. Although cats are obligate carnivores, most commercial cat food contains both animal and plant material, supplemented with vitamins, minerals and other nutrients. Cat food is formulated to address the specific nutritional requirements of cats, in particular containing the amino acid taurine. Cats require certain amino acids, including taurine, which is essential to ensure the normal function of the heart, eyes and reproductive system. While most other mammals can synthesize taurine from other amino acids, felines can not, experts say. cats also need key vitamins and minerals in the diet. Many of these, such as vitamin A, are found in meat. Some others, such as vitamin E, are needed to support the immune system.



Today, most cat food is optimized for the life stage of your pet. These fall into three general categories: kitten, adult cat, and senior. When choosing the best cat food you need to make sure it is nutritionally designed to meet your pet's needs at each stage of life. In addition, there is cat food designed to help your pet lose weight, or to account for medical conditions like kidney failure, allergies, or digestive problems. Ask your veterinarian if you have any questions about your cat's health, and about which of these cat food choices is appropriate when choosing the best cat food for your feline friend.
when choosing the best cat food, look for an emphasis on natural ingredients, and few artificial colors, flavors. Food ingredients are listed according to the amount present in the food, so if the first ingredient on the label is a rich protein source like eggs or meat, you can be reasonably sure you're getting a quality cat food.

The different types of cat food

The best cat food contains the highest quality ingredients. Although cats are carnivores, most commercial cat food contains both animal and plant material, supplemented with various vitamins, minerals and other nutrients. Cat food comes in a variety of different flavors. Dry, wet and moist cat foods are all available in seafood, lamb, beef and poultry flavors. There are also combinations, such as chicken and lamb or lamb and beef. Some cats are really picky about the flavors of their food, so don't be surprised if a certain flavor is snubbed. There are many brands of cat food that cater to the special dietary needs of cats. The following is a description of the three types of cat food available in the marketplace:

Dry cat food:
Dry products consist of crunchy kibbles, which help reduce the build-up of plaque and tartar on a cat’s teeth. Dry foods also have the advantage of staying fresh longer than soft-moist and canned products once the package is opened.

Canned cat Food:
It has high moisture content of 75%; therefore it meets the need for water in your cat’s diet. It is the most digestible of the three food types. Canned food can be pricey but the wide range in prices is usually in accordance with the quality of the meat. Once a can is opened, unused food should be stored in the refrigerator.

Semi moist food:
Once opened, it can remain in your cat’s dish for free-choice feeding but over time, it will dehydrate. Once the food is dried out, nutritional value is lost and cats usually won’t eat it because the appealing aroma is gone. Price-wise, it falls in between canned and dry food.

When choosing the best cat food, the ideal cat food is one that is formulated for your cat's age, health, body-type and activity level. Whether canned or dry, it is nutritionally complete, and has few artificial ingredients or fillers.
After you've done all you can to make sure a food is healthy and beneficial, take a look at your cat after feeding the food for at least a month. Bright eyes, a shiny coat, and a healthy energy level will let you know you've chosen a good source for your cat's nutrition. If you need assistance selecting a food for your cat, seek veterinary/professional advice.

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