The most common question that I have ben asked over the past 40 years of
caring for our feline friends is WHAT SHOULD I FEED MY CAT? Cats are obligate
carnivores so their diet should consist of mainly animal protein, moderate to low fat, and extremely low carbohydrate. The protein source should be an animal source protein and not vegetable. It should also have a 70-80% moisture content. Thus, the answer is CANNED FOOD!! Any canned food is better than dry kibble.
The best source of good information about the dietary needs of cats, and comparisons of specific canned foods is the website: catinfo.org. This website will allow you to pick foods that have a high protein source with a moderate fat content and a low carbohydrate levels.
A good starting point for amounts, is at least 15 calories per pound of optimal weight per day split into 3-4 meals. Weigh your cat monthly and adjust as needed. I usually suggest 1-2 protein sources of similar texture. Not much variety, and we suggest no fish proteins except for the short lived fish such as herring or mackerel. I tend to suggest chicken and turkey fed longterm.
To cats, the texture, or mouth feel of the food is extremely important. So if your cats prefer chunky, flakey, or pate, you should stick with that texture. Smell and texture of the food is most important to cats. Cats learn that certain smells and textures are “safe” foods, and if they vary, then your cat has to decide if it is safe or not. If this happens frequently then you may develop the classical “finicky kitty”.
Remember that all changes in diet should be done slowly, over days to weeks.
I will suggest how to use small amounts of dry food in a future article
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