Cats are carnivores, meat eatters, and they require meat protein to maintain good health. People have sometimes attempted to feed cats a vegetarian diet. The animals first suffer from diarrhea and blindness, then later die.
Growth / Kitten Foods
Kitten foods are intended to be fed to growing kittens. Higher levels of protein, fats, vitamins and minerals characterize growth diets. This is necessary to meet the growing kitten's higher energy and nutrient requirements. Pound-for-pound, kittens need as much as 3-4 times the nutrients needed by an adult cat. Because growth diets contain extra nutrients they are also ideal for feeding pregnant and nursing cats.
Adult Foods
Adult foods are intended to be fed to moderately active adult cats. They contain moderate amounts of protein, fats, vitamins and minerals. Many adult diets are now formulated to help reduce the risk of urinary tract and hairball problems. To be effective it is recommended that these diets are fed "free choice," allowing the cat to nibble through out the day. More sedentary adult cats can be fed "light" formulas. Older adult cats should be fed senior formulas.
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Food For Thought |
Make a food switch slowly.
Entice an unwilling pet to accept a new food by feeding 75 percent of the current food with 25 percent of the new food for two days. Continue by feeding 50 percent of each food for two more days. Then feed 25 percent of the current food mixed with 75 percent of the new food for two additional days. Once your pet has gone through these six days of transition, it is okay to feed only the new food. |
Lite/Less Active Foods
Two types of foods fall into this category, "light" foods and "less active" or "reduced calorie" foods. The term "light," when used for pet foods, is regulated by law so these foods are very low in fat and calories and much higher in fiber than regular adult foods. They are especially appropriate for weight loss and can be used for more sedentary cats who require fewer calories.
"Less active" or "reduced calorie" foods have less calories and fat than regular adult foods but more calories than "light" foods. They also have much less fiber than "light" foods. Because they are higher in calorie than "light" foods they are better suited for weight maintenance of more sedentary cats than for weight loss in cats already overweight.
Cats are particularly finicky eaters and such weight loss programs should be instituted under the guidance of a veterinarian. Cats, especially those who are already overweight, who do not eat for two consecutive days are at a risk to develop fatty liver disease and should be checked immediately by your veterinarian.
Senior Foods
As your cat ages he may benefit from a senior diet. While not much is known about the nutrition of cats, we know:
- Older cats are more sedentary and require fewer calories.
- Older cats may benefit from a diet lower in phosphorus.
- A moderate level of fiber in the diet helps prevent constipation and maintain gastro-intestinal health.
- The food should be very palatable to encourage adequate food intake. A cat should be fed a senior diet starting around 7-8 years of age.
Wednesday, September 08, 2010
