Feeding Your Cats

Types of Cat Foods

Commercial cat foods are formulated as dry, semimoist, and canned. The products differ in water content, protein level, caloric density, palatability and digestibility. The differences are primarily attributed to the processing methods used by pet-food manufacturers. A quality cat food provides the necessary nutrients in a properly balanced proportion.

DRY FOODS

Dry foods contain 6 percent to 10 percent moisture. Cereals, grain by-products, bone meal, fish meal, milk products, and vitamin and mineral supplements are combined, extruded and dried into bite-sized pieces. The pieces are then covered with flavor enhancers, such as digest or animal fat, giving the product increased palatability. It takes less dry food on an as-is basis than other types of food to satisfy a cat, because dry food has more dry matter and a higher energy content per gram fed. The primary advantages of dry cat food are lower cost and convenience in allowing "free choice" feeding. Generally, dry foods may be less palatable to a cat and have a lower digestibility than the moister types. However, premium dry cat foods are comparable in digestibility to grocery store brands of canned cat foods, and can exceed lower quality canned cat foods.

SEMI-MOIST FOODS

Semi-moist cat food may be more appealing to some cats than dry cat food. Moisture content is approximately 35 percent. However, after the package is opened, palatability decreases and spoilage increases because of dehydration. These foods can also be fed free choice. The cost is mid-range, between that of dry and canned food. Semi-moist food resembles ground- or whole-meat tidbits. Meat and meat byproducts are the primary ingredients. They are combined with soybean meal, cereals, grain byproducts, and preservatives. Manufacturers add organic acids (phosphoric, hydrochloric and malic acids) and sorbitol and dextrose to prevent spoilage and retain moisture in semi-moist cat foods.

CANNED FOODS

Canned cat food is quite popular with owners, despite its higher cost. Canned varieties are highly palatable to cats, which can be helpful if your cat is a finicky eater. Canned cat food has a water content of a least 75 percent, so it is a good dietary source of water. When unopened it has the longest shelf life. Canned food is available in ration sizes (12 to 22 ounce cans) or gourmet sizes (3 to 6 ounce cans). Gourmet canned cat foods generally feature organ meats (e.g., kidney, liver) as their primary food ingredient. Because some brands may be nutritionally incomplete, it is particularly important to read the nutrition labels carefully on such specialty cat-food items. Gourmet canned foods may induce food consumption in anorexic cats or meet increased protein requirements that occur during wound healing or with protein-losing diseases.

Basic Guidelines on Feeding Cats

Environmental conditions can affect a cat's eating habits. For example, heavily trafficked areas, noise, the presence of other animals, dirty food containers, or nearby litter boxes can deter a cat from eating. Therefore, try to be sensitive to your cat's eating behavior and make necessary adjustments for optimum feeding conditions.

The amount fed is based on caloric content, quality of nutrients, and the cat's special dietary needs. Meat scraps from the table and specialty cat treats can be fed from time to time but should not be a steady diet for your cat. Those treats often lack the proper proportion of basic nutrients a cat requires to maintain its health. A rule of thumb is not to let treats exceed 10 to 15 percent of the cat's daily diet. Although raw meat is an excellent source of many nutrients, it is not recommended as food for cats, because it is a potential vehicle for toxoplasmosis. Also, salmonellosis can occur from contaminated meat and spoiled meat harbors various bacteria that can upset the digestive system.

VARIETY

Feeding your cat two or three different cat foods provides flavor variety. It also prevents the cat from developing a preference for a food that may not be 100 percent nutritionally balanced. However, if your cat is already a finicky eater that craves an unbalanced diet, you can break the habit. A good method is to convert it to a new taste slowly by mixing the new food with the old. Increase the amount of new to old food by one-quarter increments (i.e., 1:4, 2:4, 3:4) until your cat accepts the new food. However, if your cat is content with a single nutritionally complete and balanced cat food, there really is no reason to change its preference.

VITAMIN AND MINERAL SUPPLEMENTS

A cat food that meets or exceeds the FNE subcommittee's nutrition standards assures an adequate supply of vitamins and minerals in the diet. Therefore, the use of vitamin and mineral supplements, including brewer's yeast, is unnecessary. The addition of a supplement without a veterinarian's approval may actually harm your cat.

FOOD STORAGE

Refrigerate any unused portion of canned cat food, to maintain quality and prevent spoilage until the next feeding. To prevent possible digestion problems related to temperature differences, refrigerated food should be brought to room temperature before it is offered to your cat. Canned rations can be divided into two servings per day. Store unused portions of dry cat food in a cool, dry location, and use all the food within six months of purchase. Lengthy storage decreases the activity and potency of many vitamins. Storing dry cat food in an airtight container will prevent further nutrient deterioration and help maintain palatability.