Which Food is Best?

Aren’t all cat foods the same?

No. All brands are different. You want to buy the best food you can for your kitty so they will live a healthy and long life. Many of the cheaper foods are high in magnesium which leads to crystal formation in the bladder. Also, the low-grade products in the food can also lead to urinary tract and kidney infections. They also will make the stools smell quite strong and cause other nutritional deficiencies.

Another thing bad food affects is the teeth. Surely, buying better food keeps your cat happy, healthy and saves you from trips to the vet.

What do I look for in a cat food?

·        Make sure the label has the “AAFCO guarantee”.

·        Stay away from meat and bone  meals, by-products, and by-product meals. (You would not want to eat the head or feet of an animal would you? So, why should your cat?)

·        Look for meat as the first ingredient, such as: chicken, turkey, lamb, etc..

·        Consider which grains are in the formula – rice is the most digestible of all grains used in pet foods.

·        If corn is listed more than once in the first five ingredients, try another brand.

·        Look for foods using natural preservatives such as mixed tocopherols or vitamins C and E, rather than chemical preservatives like Ethoxyquin, BHT and BHA. (These chemicals have been found to cause cancer)

·        Check the expiration date to ensure freshness.

·        When you open a bag of food, be sure to smell it – if it smells at all rancid, return it to the store you purchased it from for exchange or refund.

·        When changing foods, mix 1/3 of the new food to 2/3 of the old food and increase the new food a little every day to prevent gastric upset.

·        Take note of your companion animal’s stool when changing pet foods. Stools should be firm but not hard and have minimal odor.

·        Take note of your cat’s coat and weight to ensure the new food suits their individual needs and does not cause  major  weight loss or gain.

·        Stay away from “trendy” foods that make unverifiable claims related to companion animal health.

·        When storing pet food, keep it in a sealed container in a cool dry place.

·        Always be sure that in addition to proper nutrition you supply your dog or cat with fresh water at all times as well as adequate exercise and lots of love. Also, keep that litter box clean!

Example of good food brands.

·        Nutro Max Cat & Nutro Odor Control

·        Innova

·        Felidae

·        Authority (PETsMART brand)

·        Sensible Choice

If you have any further questions regarding food, contact us.  We are here to help.