How to Choose the Right Food for Your Cat: Good Nutrition is Key to a Long and Healthy Life

Have you been feeling down lately and in need of some company? Well, maybe it’s time you get yourself a furry friend. It’s no secret that getting a pet will add a lot of happiness and joyous moments to your life. Especially now, during the Covid19 pandemic, more and more people have been getting pets, because they make the perfect companions who help ease anxiety, stress, loneliness and even encourage physical activity.

One of the most popular pets that are considered home-friendly is the domestic cat. Cats have been around for a very long time, and even our ancestors used to keep them as pets. They are very calming and fluffy, making them impossible not to adore. Now, whether you already have one or if you are thinking of getting a new kitten, it’s very important to have your cat essentials. Besides the yarn balls and the scratching posts, the most crucial thing is having the proper cat food.

With the right nutrition, your cat will be able to grow properly and live a much healthier lifestyle. It will give your cat stronger bones, faster digestion and a huge boost to their immunity. The main kinds of food you can pick from are dry and wet cat foods, so let’s look into what both of these types have to offer:

Dry vs. Wet Cat Food

In general, there are three types of food for cats and they are canned, dry or combination food. The main ones are the dry and wet options, and they all bring different growth and health benefits for your little pet. So, when you decide to go get it, make sure you take your time and pick out good cats food to ensure your pet a longer and healthier life. But, how can you know what cat food is healthiest? Let’s dive into the main differences between the two.

Dry Cat Food

The dry type of food comes along with many benefits as well as cons for your little furball. It is mainly manufactured by cooking a combination of meats, vitamins, minerals and other nutrients that are essential for the cat’s body. The name gives away that it is mainly of dry consistency, so it definitely shouldn’t be given to younger kittens. To begin, let’s go through the benefits of this kind.

The number one benefit of dry food is convenience. It is very easy to handle and store because it isn’t very messy and it doesn’t require to be kept at a certain temperature. It can also be left in a bowl for a long period of time, making it available for your cat at any time. Another good thing is that this kind of food will be great for your cat’s dental health. It promotes teeth growth and prevents all sorts of dental diseases. It also provides all of the essential nutrients that will keep your cat happy and healthy, surely allowing it to live a longer life. And, not to mention, the dry cat food is also more budget-friendly as opposed to wet cat food.

The cons here would be that it definitely won’t keep your cat hydrated. It is after all, dry, so you need to make sure your cat drinks plenty of water. It may also be harder to chew on for some older or younger cats that don’t have strong teeth. But, overall, it makes a great choice if you give it properly.

Wet Cat Food

The wet variety of cat foods is also another option to choose from, and it definitely doesn’t disappoint. It is mainly packed up with meats and other protein sources that are blended in with additional water, fats and vitamins. Here are some of the pros and cons of wet cat food.

The advantages of giving your cat wet food are many. It is a food of great value that will ensure good digestive and immune health. The main benefit of this kind is that it will both keep your cat full and well hydrated. It has around 78% moisture content, so your pet can say goodbye to dehydration and urinary tract issues. Another good thing about canned food is that it can be given to cats of any age because its’ consistency makes it much easier to chew and digest. Lastly, it will surely help with your cat’s diet. The moisture and the smaller amount of carbs in this food will allow your cat to maintain a healthy weight.

The cons, on the other hand, would be the fact that this type of food is much more expensive. It also requires to be kept in cooler temperatures and can get spoiled if not used over some period of time, so free feeding is definitely not an option. But in general, it makes a perfect pick.

How to Properly Feed Your Cat

Besides getting the right kind of food, another very important thing is knowing how to feed your cat the proper way. Giving too much or too little food at the wrong time can have a bad effect on your cat, but before diving into the tips, you need to make sure you know your cats. They are mainly nocturnal animals who are natural hunters. This means that they are mostly awake during the night and like to hunt down their food. Now, when a cat is taken in as a pet, the nocturnal instinct stays, but the ability to hunt their meals is prohibited. The owner is now in charge of when and how much food the cat will be getting, which can be both a good and a bad thing.

The first step of feeding your cat right would be setting up the perfect eating station. Get your cat a ceramic or glass bowl which won’t give the food an after-taste and smell. Also, make sure the bowl is shallow so it doesn’t interfere with your furry one’s whiskers. A good thing to invest in as well would be a puzzle feeder, as it can challenge your cat to work for their food. As for the water, the bowl should be deeper and preferably placed in another location where there is less noise, so your cat can comfortably drink.

The second most important thing is timing. While water should be available at all times, it’s debatable whether the food should be given in the same way. It’s entirely up to you and to understand this better, here are the main cat feeding methods you can choose from.

Free Choice Feeding

This method is done by making the cats food available at all times. This is good as it can allow your cat to eat whenever it feels like, multiple times a day. But, it is also bad, because it can lead to obesity and overeating, as well as denying you the ability to monitor the amount of food your cat has ingested throughout the day.

Meal Feeding

This is when you give your cat food at certain times of the day in measured amounts. It’s a good way to be aware of your cat’s diet, but it completely prevents the cat from controlling when it will be eating, which can lead to it begging for food during the whole day.

Combination Feeding Technique

Here, you can leave out dry food to be available at all times, while giving wet food just a couple of times in the day. This method can also cause obesity and overeating, but it is good because your cat can still eat whenever it feels like and you can still monitor at least the half amount of food he will be ingesting.

Summing It Up

So, one of the key elements of keeping your cat healthy and satisfied is definitely choosing the right kind of food. Having toys and a cute bed will surely add to the experience, but the food you give to your cat will be responsible for its’ overall health and well-being. Just go ahead and buy what you think is best for your furry friend, and make sure you give it the right way. After all, a well-fed cat is a happy cat.