A Healthy Cat Knows What Tastes Good...

As all cat owners know, a feline can be a wonderful addition to any family. One of the most basic aspects of cat ownership is proper health care for the cat. Health care for a cat encompasses a wide array of vaccine shots, flea protection, vet visits, medications, and even proper exercise.

However, the most important aspect of cat health is also often overlooked. People spend hundereds of hours and thousands of dollars over the lifetime of a cat to keep it healthy, but most cat owners don't pay nearly enough attention to the proper cat food.

The right cat food is absolutely essential to a healthy, happy cat.

But what is the best cat food for your cat? While each cat will have slightly different nutritional needs, there are some general rules that must be considered when looking for cat food.

First of all, cats (like their human owners) need a high quality diet. This means the best types of protein, fats, carbs, and the less preservatives and chemical additives, the better. Most of the research available online does not compare specific brands of cat food, as much as specific ingredients to feed your cat, and which to stay away from!

Cats need a high protein diet. Wild cats are very carnivorous, and cats derive a great deal of their nutritional needs from protein. House cats, while not wild, still have many of the same nutritional needs as their wild feline ancestors. So, the most important ingredient in any cat food is protein.

Carbohydrates are also an important part of a cats diet, though not as important as protein. Cats really should derive the majority of their nutritional needs from protein, so cat foods that are high in carbohydrates may not necessarily be the best for them.

Interestingly enough, many of the premium brands of cat food, such as Eukanuba and Innova offer exactly what most cats need, and aren't necessarily more expensive in the long run. This is because high end cat foods need a smaller serving amount than the low end cat foods to give a cat all the nutrients they need to be satisfied and healthy.

When comparing a premium brand such as Eukanuba, to a lower cost brand such as Purina, the cost difference for the recommended serving size is only a nickel a day. Furthermore, because a cat will eat less of the high end cat food, their waste will be reduced. This can cut down on the frequency of litter replacement and litter box related chores.

Another aspect of cat food to be considered is the quality of the protein in the food. Because of the way many pet food companies describe the meat in the food, it can be difficult to figure out exactly what the difference between "chicken flavored", and "chicken dinner" is.

Food that contains "chicken meal" can only be made from the skin, flesh, and bones only. This is really the best type of protein for a cat. Food that has "meat byproducts" can contain nearly any animal parts, and are of lower quality than "chicken meal". Food that is "chicken flavored" only has to taste like chicken, but may not contain any animal meat at all. Also, chicken is generally better than beef for cats.

And it goes without saying, preservatives, as well as artificial colors, should be avoided whenever possible. Although specific research is lacking on this subject, we do know that preservatives and artificial colors can have a negative impact on human health. It is only logical that cats will also be negatively affected by artificial colors and preservatives in their cat food.

Greg Podsakoff is an avid cat owner, having recently adopted Hercules the cat, and is dedicated to finding the best ways to care for any cat. Find out more about proper cat care at: http://www.cat-care-cat-information.com

---

Orthopedic Dog Beds

Many people consider their dog to be part of their... Read More

Rabbit As Pet

Rabbits are one of the most popular pets, apart from... Read More

What Dog Owners Need To Know About Dog Crate Training

Why should you use the dog crate training method?Is the... Read More

New Puppies-The Cure For Insomnia-What You Can Do To Help You New Pupppy Adjust

Puppies have a natural instinct inside that causes them to... Read More

Christmas Gifts For Cat Lovers

The act of offering Christmas gifts is always enhanced if... Read More

Benny Comes Back!

This has been one of the most rewarding adventures I... Read More

Which Parrot is Right For Me?

Which parrot is right for me? This is a question... Read More

Tips that May Help Your Arthritic Dog

Arthritis refers to inflammation or swelling in a joint. The... Read More

Parvo in Dogs

What Is ParvoParvo is a serious viral disease that can... Read More

Why Should I Adopt A Pet

Over the past couple of years, animal rescues have been... Read More

How To Stop Your Dog From Barking ? Training Your Dog To Keep Quiet

Quieting a barking dog is a quick and easy process.... Read More

Keeping Gars - A Short Review

If you take a quick look at this species they... Read More

An Introduction to Dog Beds

Some people are so attached to their pets that they... Read More

My Dog Won?t Stop Digging - What Can I Do?

Lonely, bored, tired of eating that same old stick, then... Read More

Dog Anxiety - Fear of Thunderstorms, and Other Dog Fears

How to Deal With Anxiety in Your DogAnxiety in dogs... Read More

Dog House Training

Dog House Training can be simpleTo start your dog house... Read More

Is Your Dog In Pain Without You Realising?

A dog that is feeling pain can often be highly... Read More

Rimadyl the Wonder Drug - Or Is It?

If Your Dog Suffers From Arthritis, Consider The Natural Alternative:Rimadyl... Read More

Dog Flea Control Management: How To Prevent, Treat, And Kill Dog Fleas

Dog flea control and management requires an integrated approach. For... Read More

Clown Loaches

Scientific Name: Botia macracanthus Other Scientific Name(s): Cobitis macracanthus, Botia... Read More

Dog Crate Buyers Guide - How to Choose the Right Crate and Accessories

Why use a crate:When used properly and not abused, crates... Read More

Feral Cats - Societys Problem Children

There is a lot of talk going on about what... Read More

Is There Taurine In Your Dogs Food?

Taurine, a water-soluble amino acid, has recently become the topic... Read More

Putting A Dog To Sleep

I was talking to a friend of mine today and... Read More

You Dont Get a Second Chance!

I'm sure you're aware of the bad reputation Pitbulls have.... Read More

Understanding Psychology Of Dog Training: Pack Behavior & Establishing Control

Dogs are descendent of wolves. To study the psychology of... Read More

Tips for Finding the Perfect Family Dog

If your kids have been begging you to get a... Read More

The Dreaded Vet Visit: 5 Ways to Comfort Your Dog

Uh-oh, it's that time again. The dreaded vet visit, and... Read More

Problem Barking-What to Do When Your Dogs Barking is The Neighborhood Nuisance

Puppies and dogs, as mentioned, are social creatures. When they... Read More

Round Pen: The Great Equalizer

Although many horsemen and trainers extol the virtues of the... Read More

Train Your Dog With Respect

Proper training of your dog should begin when he is... Read More

Two Tails Are Better Than One

Training one dog can be hard enough, but two, now... Read More

Dogs And Their Allergies

A former coworker has a dog that had begun itching... Read More