The Importance of your Cat Eating Right

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You and your family want your furry feline to be a member of the family as long as possible. Indoor cats can usually live anywhere from 13 to 17 years on average and some can even make it to 20. Part of keeping your pointed-ear friend healthy is eating right.

A well-balanced diet

Cat's staring at tomato

First how do you know if your cat is eating a well-balanced diet? That is actually easy, look at their fur coat. If it is shiny and full they are healthy. If the hair is matting or flaking there is a problem. That could be poor dental health, arthritic or a lack of nutrition in their diet. Protein is the key. Dry food should contain at least 30% protein and wet food should contain at least 8%. Another thing to look at is their gums. If they are moist and cover the roots of the teeth, your cat is healthy. By also eating a balanced diet and getting exercise your cat will also keep a healthy weight. You should be able to feel their ribs but you should not be able to see them. Also your cat should have a bit of an hourglass shape to them. There is another way to tell if your cat is healthy. Examine their poop. You have to clean their litter box out anyway so have a look. If their poop is in the form of logs they are healthy.
Your veterinarian is the person to start with when determining what you should feed your cat. They can tell you if your cat is where they should be when it comes to weight and oral health and can recommend what they should be eating. Not all cat foods are the same. While they can contain the same ingredients the balance of those ingredients is what can make or break any cat food. Dry food is more economical and can be left out for the cat to eat at anytime but has more carbs and can be higher in calories. Wet food is higher in moisture and can have more fat and protein. Some cat owners only give their cat one or the other but for most cats they can live long, healthy lives eating both but like with humans, portion control is key.

What about treats?

Then there is the thing that all cats seem to love. The thing that seems to be the only thing that can lead to a behavior modification in some cats. It is the treat. Treats are not bad. Your cat looks forward to them and is usually on their best behavior when they know that treats are coming. Experts recommend that the caloric intake of their treats not exceed 10% of their daily intake, otherwise they may not eat their other food, which is more rich in nutrients. How many calories is that? Your cat needs around 25-35 calories per pound to stay at a normal weight, so do the math.
Eating healthy is the first step to your cat developing strong bones, a healthy heart and a strong immune system. With these your furry little feline friend will be able to greet you when you come home and do their purring for years to come. At Doggie Do-Little we stock a wide variety of cat food, both wet and dry, that can help keep your cat purring on your lap for years and can help you with all of your cat’s grooming needs as well.