Cat Food and Nutrition

Cats need proper nutrition to stay healthy. They need calories. They need proper vitamins. They need minerals. Oy, what trouble. Luckily, cat food  is made to contain the proper balance of nutrients and calories for a cat's health. It has to; the government says so. The main varieties of cat food are wet  and dry  and they are produced by numerous companies and in countless flavors. Both types have their benefits.

• Perishability: Keep in mind that wet food (usually canned, unless it's semi-wet, which comes in packets) can spoil if left out for more than an hour.
• Dry food lasts significantly longer -- it can hold out an entire day, sitting in its bowl waiting for "free choice" cats (felines who don't eat at set times) to nibble throughout the day.
• Brand Preference: Cats usually will prefer the taste of wet foods, but you can always sample different foods to see which they like best. Cats tend to be finicky eaters (big surprise) and will usually stick to a certain brand.
• Quality: Wet or dry equally, quality always depends on ingredients. For the highest quality cat food, look for the highest protein levels. Food with tons of carbohydrate-filled additives (corn meal, etc.) are, like light beer, great tasting and less filling...only cats don't need the feline equivalent of a beer belly!

Human Food

• Giving a cat "human food" may serve as a nice treat, but may disrupt a cat's natural nutrient balance and may even cause intestinal discomfort.
• Milk should be given to kittens and older cats in moderation since it can cause diarrhea.
• Never give your cat food that may contain bones because they can choke on them.  Bones can also splinter and cause organ damage.
• Raw fish and raw liver can be given once in awhile, but in very small portions.
• Raw meats should be avoided because they can contain parasites, and if you give your cat cooked meats be sure that it has been cooked without oils and spices that are not good for felines.

Feeding Habits by Age

• Kittens need double the energy of a mature cat, so they require food three to four times a day. They will often snack throughout the day; this is perfectly normal. Kitten food  is softer so that little teeth can chew and digest it easily.
• At 7 months to a year a cat can be weened onto a more solid diet consisting of dry adult food, which you can moisten with canned  or wet food. By this time, the cat should be fed twice a day and on an individual basis.
• Adult cats don't need as much food as younger felines; they should have a steady diet. One or two meals of wet or moistened food are sufficient. If your cat starts gaining significant amounts of weight, then you should remove the dry bowl during the day.
• Maturing cats need even less food. You may even want to give them special mature cat food  that offers the specific nutrients required by senior felines.

Other Things to Look Out For

• If your cat shows signs of obesity, lower food intake gradually. You can tell when a cat is gaining too much weight when you can no longer feel any of its ribs, when its waist is no longer defined, or when it seem to be growing disproportionately.
• If your cat doesn't get enough moisture in its diet it may develop intestinal, urinary, or excretory issues. If your cat is having problems urinating and you also notice atypical behavior, take it to the vet immediately. These could be signs of FLUTD.
• If your cat shows a lack of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, or any other strange behavior (hiding, etc.), consult your veterinarian.

External Links

• Cat Food Comparison -- Some general advice accompanied by the more directly useful nutritional breakdown of most cat food brands.
• Cat Food Reviews -- User reviews. The most frequently-reviewed items do not necessarily represent the best or most popular brands, and likewise a product that's reviewed once or not at all is not rare or poor, so the ratings are skewed. The testimonials, however, can save you lots of trouble.
• Cat Food -- Wikipedia article: ingredients, nutrition proflies, list of popular brands, links.
• Wet vs. Dry Food -- The battle is on.