Aside from regular cuddles and affection, cats primarily need a balanced daily diet to stay healthy, energetic, and happy. Only with well-chosen ingredients can your feline friend thrive for years to come. Here’s what you should remember when planning your cat’s perfect menu.

Understanding Feline Nutritional Needs

A proper feline diet must include a high amount of protein, especially taurine. A deficiency in taurine can lead to heart issues, neurological disorders, and infertility in female cats.

Cats also need saturated and unsaturated fats, omega-3 and omega-6, carbohydrates, and key vitamins – particularly B6 and A. These are naturally found in meat, fish, eggs, and dairy, but some cats may require additional supplementation with high-quality wet or dry food, especially if they have health issues or deficiencies.

The amount of food your cat should receive depends on its sex, breed, condition, lifestyle, and health status.

Choosing the Right Food

Providing all of your cat’s nutrients through homemade meals can be challenging. To avoid nutritional deficiencies or excesses, it’s best to choose commercial dry and wet food. Dry food helps clean your cat’s teeth, while wet food boosts hydration – but don’t forget, your cat still needs access to fresh water at all times.

Veterinarians agree that a combination of both dry and wet food reduces the risk of diseases, especially those related to the urinary tract.

Common Feeding Mistakes

Avoid giving your cat:

• Milk – Most cats are lactose intolerant
• Too much fish – Can deplete essential vitamins like B1
• Onions (raw or cooked) – May cause anemia
• Dog food – Doesn’t meet a cat’s nutritional needs
• Chocolate, raw egg whites, and poultry bones – All can be toxic or dangerous

Treats for Cats – Yes, Please!

If you can’t resist your cat’s big eyes begging for a piece of your dinner, prepare homemade treats instead. These can be used as rewards, especially when training your cat to learn tricks or good habits.

Try unsalted cooked vegetables, poultry, fish, or combine with flour and dairy to create nutritious snacks. That way, your kitty gets something yummy and you can be sure it’s healthy.

Stay tuned – more articles coming soon with homemade cat food and treat recipes!