If you are a new cat owner, you probably have a general idea of what it is that your new pet needs. This matter of thinking also includes nutrition, which is a point that entails certain foods. This goes without saying but taking care of a cat is worlds apart from the act of nurturing a human child. With that said, though, what are some of the most important points to consider as far as your cat’s nutrition is concerned?
One of the most important factors to consider about cats is that, as medical authorities like Demetrios Gabriel can tell you, they require higher amounts of protein than other animals. Regardless of whether you must feed your cat primary wet food or dry food, you never want to lose sight of this particular nutrient. The reason for this is because cats break down amino acids much faster than dogs, for example. What this means is that they are going to require more protein throughout the day.
“Other animals can control how often they break down protein, though.” I’m sure that this will be a common response and it is an understandable one as well. The issue is that cats are biologically incapable of managing the rate at which protein is broken down. This is one of the reasons why it is unwise to put your cat on a diet that’s closely related to a vegetarian regimen. There simply aren’t enough substantial foods for cats to take in through this regimen, which means that animal products are recommended.
However, is there more to consider with your cat’s diet than simply protein? As mentioned before, wet and dry cat food has to be looked to, though one type will potential be used more than other. For example, while there are some types of wet cat food that come from natural sources, others do not and this can result in them having higher cholesterol levels that your cat should not take in. Cats take to wet food more, though this might mean that they will become picky and not even touch dry food.
This is unfortunate because there are incentives to dry cat food as well. First of all, dry cat food typically lasts much longer than wet food, which means that households looking to save money will most likely turn to it. In addition, unlike wet food, you do not have to worry about dry food spoiling if it is left out in the open for too long. However, from what I have seen, typical dry food has less protein than what cats require, which means that pet owners might have to supplement this meal with something that has more substance.
While you may not want to think about the possibility, there are a couple of human foods that cats can actually eat in moderate amounts. For example, eggs are a great source of protein for humans and, conveniently enough, cats as well. Prior to feeding your cat an egg, though, make sure that you’re mindful of the company you buy a carton from. You don’t want to make your pet sick due to a bad egg, after all. However, if you are mindful, you’ll start to see that there are actually quite a few human foods that, in moderation, are beneficial for cats.
*Photo Credit: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6a/Catstalkprey.jpg