The diet of cats is one of the most important things that you have to keep in mind when you decide to adopt this pet. Their diet should be consistent and full f protein, which means that cats are carnivores so they need meat to nourish their body and to be healthy. Well, in case you did not know this before, it is essential to introduce some meat in the diet of your cat. 

You have to be careful about the nutrition of your cat because it should provide a good source of nutrients. Moreover, a precarious diet could lead to serious health issues, that could cost you a lot in veterinary bills or even kill your beloved pet. 

So, here are some things that you have to know about your cat’s diet, according to veterinarians. Read on to find out more!

Your cat needs a meat-based diet for providing animal protein

Just like humans, cats need a diet with a lot of proteins, but you have to reduce the number of carbohydrates because they can have a negative impact on the health of your pets. To be more specific, if your cat eats a lot of carbs, it is more likely to gain weight and to develop other cardiac issues. Additionally, it is important to know that cats can’t be vegetarians!

According to Jennifer Coates, DVM, a veterinarian writing for Chewy, “a study published in 2011 showed that when cats are given access to foods of different protein, fat, and carbohydrate concentrations they tend to self-select a diet that provides them with around 52 percent of their calories from protein, 36 percent from fat, and 12 percent from carbohydrates.”

Age is not just a number in this case

When it comes to choosing the diet for your cat, age is not just a number, because you have to consider its needs at every stage of its life. For instance, if you want to adopt a kitten then you have to choose a diet rich in essential nutrients because they have different needs than an adult cat. 

“Just as human babies don’t eat the same foods as adult humans, nor should kittens and adult cats eat the same foods since they require different nutrients as they change over the years. You may see cat food with the phrase ‘for all life stages’ in its description, but it’s best to seek life-stage nutrition,” says Brittany Carey, a cat specialist, and manager at Cat Safari in San Francisco.

You should change the diet of your cat periodically depending on its needs

Veterinarians recommend you to change the diet of your beloved pet regularly. Their nutritional needs can be different over time and you have to keep up with this challenge because it is important for improving the quality of its life. For instance, if your cat is about to become a mother, it will definitely need other nutrients. When they feed their babies, they will need a higher caloric diet than usual. Many cats can be allergic to some ingredients, so you need to take care of them properly.

You can opt for wet food as well

Animal specialists say that wet food is considered superior food due to its high quality, so it is better to choose wet food for your cat. Another important thing that you have to keep in mind when it comes to nutritional care is to clean the bowl of your cat every time after eating wet food. Otherwise, the health of your cat could be affected, because a humid environment can be a favorable place for the appearance of bacteria. 

 “Typically, wet foods meet a cat’s nutritional needs better than dry, but that may not be the case if the wet food in question is of very low quality,” said Jennifer Coates, DVM, a veterinarian writing for Chewy.

Pay attention to gimmicky labels

There are a lot of cat food brands that use different marketing strategies to sell their products, but you have to pay attention to these techniques of manipulation. Veterinarians recommend you to stay away from gimmicky words, such as “wild” and “primitive”. 

“These terms are pure marketing. Instead of looking for flashy words, pet parents must look closely at a food label to determine whether it could be a good option,” said Jennifer Coates, DVM, a veterinarian writing for Chewy.

You should avoid the high carbohydrate diet

Just like I said before, cats need a low carbohydrate diet and also, they can’t be vegetarians, because they are carnivores and need a meat-based nutrition. Carbohydrates can affect the health of your cat in a negative way. Eating carbohydrates can lead to obesity and various heart issues. Moreover, if you see something strange in the behavior of your cat, just call a vet!

“Grains, and more generally carbohydrates, should only play a small role as a source of energy in a cat’s diet. Fillers are ingredients that serve no nutritional purpose and should be avoided,” advises the veterinarian Jennifer Coates.

Take into consideration the AAFCO statement

The Association of American Feed Control Officials, also known as AAFCO, is a statement that indicates the fact that food is good and complete for animals. 

According to cat specialist Brittany Carey, “instead of sweating over the ingredient list, pay attention to the nutrients in your cat food. Look for a statement from the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) saying that the food is complete and balanced.”

Cats can eat some human foods as well

In case you did not know this before, your cat can actually eat human foods, but you should not exaggerate with this. “Small pieces of cooked meat or fish make wonderful treats for cats,” says Dr. Coates. You can also feed your cat with cooked eggs, cheese, potatoes, and other vegetables.

Do not feed your cat with dog food

If you have both cats and dogs, then you should separate them when they feed. In general, dogs have different nutritional needs and your cat’s health can be affected in a negative way if it ingests another type of food. 

According to the veterinarian Jennifer Coates, “If your cat occasionally ‘steals’ a mouthful from your dog’s bowl, you have nothing to worry about, but make sure that 90 percent or more of your cat’s diet is made up of cat food.”

It is important when and how you choose to feed your cat

According to cat specialist Brittany Carey, “Aside from the kind of food you’re feeding your feline friend, knowing how much you feed them and when are important factors, as well. While it’s popular to ‘free-feed’ cats and let them graze throughout the day, most veterinarians recommend feeding set quantities at the same time daily. Free-feeding can easily lead to obesity which in turn can lead to more severe health issues like joint disease and diabetes.”

Your vet can help you choose the perfect food

According to Carey, “we all know how fickle and opinionated cats can be, which can make finding the right food even more difficult. Your best bet is consulting with your veterinarian to find the right balance of nutrients for your pet’s unique needs.”