Tips For Maintaining A Healthy Cat Diet

You know, both of my cats are pretty smart. They know how to manipulate me at times but one thing I don’t quite think they are smart enough to do yet is read labels. Yes, Roger and Doogle are a pair of really wise boys but they are still cats and they can’t help me too much when it comes to working on keeping their diet healthy.

That’s where my reading skills take over and it’s left up to me to put together the correct meal plan for both of my cats. I could feed them just about anything I wanted. That would be cheaper and easier in the long run but it wouldn’t be all that healthy. So, here are 5 Tips For Maintaining A Healthy Cat Diet I’ve picked up from my research that may be of assistance to you.

5 Healthy Cat Diet Tips

1. Feed Your Cat According To Their Life Stage And Lifestyle

Feed Your Cat According To Their Life Stage And Lifestyle

If you are an adult, chances are pretty good that you no longer eat baby food. I say this to make a simple point. Baby food is specially formulated with extra nutrients and other great contents to help a baby grow big and strong. Adults don’t need that kind of food as they have passed that stage in their lives. Cats are the same. Kitten food is meant to be fed to kittens.

Then there’s adult cat food. If your cat is active or overweight, there’s a formulated cat food for them. Even when your cat gets into his or her senior years there are cat foods designed just for the special dietary needs of an older cat. If you feed your cats in this manner, they will be sure to a healthy cat diet to remain fit and strong.

2. Mix It Up Between Wet And Dry Foods

Mix It Up Between Wet And Dry Foods

There is some logic to feeding you cat a regular diet that consists of both wet and dry food. Neither is better than the other, although wet cat food assists in helping your pet stay properly hydrated. However, if one of your cats is on the finicky side, like Roger gets from time to time, you can let them eat either dry or wet depending on their preference. Just always have fresh water available at all times.

3. Don’t Forget To Read Those Labels

Don’t Forget To Read Those Labels

I did mention earlier that I wish my cats could read. But since they can’t, it’s up to me to ensure they receive the proper nutrition they need in their diet. What sometimes makes this as tricky as a CSI investigation is that you have to bone up on what pet food labels say (a great cat food guide here from Consumers Advocate) and what they are actually telling you as a result. The best thing about pet food labels is that they list ingredients in order of amount of each in the food just like human food labels indicate. Try to steer clear of foods that list a lot of filler items first like corn.

4. Feed Your Pets According To The Printed Feeding Instructions

Feed Your Pets According To The Printed Feeding Instructions

As much as I’d like to dispute the fact that the food I feed Roger recommends that he eat 2 cups daily and that it should be less than that, I’m not an expert. The feeding instructions printed on the labels of the food you purchase for your pets were not put together as a guess of what might be enough. These instructions are formulated with the assistance of vets and pet nutritionists. I’m going to go with what they suggest is the regular feeding amount.

5. Don’t Be Afraid To Make A Switch Every So Often

Don’t Be Afraid To Make A Switch Every So Often

Doogle drives me nuts when it comes to pet food. For years he would chow down on anything that had just a hint of beef in it. Then one day he decided he didn’t like beef anymore. He wasn’t all that interested in chicken, either. But fish did get his attention and had it for quite some time. This happens. One way to prevent this from forcing you to switch it up is to just switch it up at random just because. This way you keep your pets happy with different flavours all the time.

A Healthy Cat Diet For Indoor Cats Will Be Different

If your cat lives indoors full time, you may want to take a look at a special diet. Some pet food manufacturers are making foods that are meant just for indoor cats. They have the proper nutrition and are light on calories to keep these cats from becoming overweight. You may want to add supplements to their diet but should consult with your vet or a trusted pet food store owner for advice.

There are many things you can add to their food bowl that will ensure your fur baby maintains a healthy cat diet. My advice is to seek assitance first from a professional or at your next Regular Vet Checkup.

Hello! I'm Jeanie and as the name implies I’m absolutely crazy about cats. I have two boys of my own, Roger and Doogle who are both extremely affectionate, love their tummy scratches and have too much energy most days in my opinion. I love all things cat related and really enjoy investigating and trying out all the different types of cat toys, trees and gadgets on my two mischief makers.

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