10 Best Natural Foods for Cat Health

If you have been educating yourself on what you should be feeding your kitty, you know by now that not all people foods are meant for these cute beings. When it comes to nutrition, you should never go for the cheapest options especially if your cat’s health is on the line. However, cheap doesn’t always mean unhealthy. What you need to do is develop the habit of reading food labels.

If you are planning to feed your cat raw food, you should at least know the basic ingredients that are necessary to promote cat nutrition. Here are some of the top picks when it comes to giving your feline food that would support its complete nutritional needs.

High-Quality Meat

If there is one thing that we know about cats, it’s the fact that they need protein in their diet. Felines spend most of their days being active and to support their energy levels, they need to eat the right kind of food. There is a wide array of meat products that you can choose from. However, there are a lot of cat owners who go for chicken and turkey meals. This ingredient is quite familiar if you have a thing for reading the labels of your cat food.

The meat in the cat food, if it is in kibble form, should have the same grade as the one we humans eat. If you decide to take a trip to the supermarket to feed your cat some real meat, make sure that you cook the meat by at least 10 percent to get rid of the idea” replace by “cook the meat by at least 10 percent to kill the bad bacteria.

Grain-Free Pet Food Formula

This is one thing that you need to be conscious about, especially when you have a cat that is prone to having allergic reactions. There are many cat breeds that may be sensitive to gluten which is present in grains. This means that favorite human food containing such as rice and barley are not good for your cat. This also indicates that you need to avoid these ingredients in your cat food since they may not be the best food for kitty. It’s better to stay away from grains whether you are feeding you are feeding your four-legged buddies with commercial cat food or you are putting them on an organic diet.

Spinach

Apparently, Popeye is not the only one who could benefit from eating Spinach, your cats can enjoy this human food and it is healthy for them. Aside from being low in calories, spinach contains glycoglycerolipids which could help maintain a healthier digestive system.

However, if your kitty has kidney problems, this is not a good choice since it also contains calcium oxalate which may result in the formation of crystals in the urinary tract.

Broth: Chicken or Beef?

If you have a cat you know how these animals can be about water. In fact, felines are very picky on how you offer them a drink which is why you need to be looking out for their water intake to know they are drinking enough.

One way to get around this is to feed them with beef or chicken broth. This is a low-calorie meal. While at it, make sure not to add too much sodium. In cases where your kitty has stones or crystals, adding water is a must.

Eggs

Eggs are great sources of protein and they are not just good for a healthy breakfast, they also serve as a major source of nutrition for cats. If you are watching kitty’s weight, however, try to feed it with egg whites only since the yolk is high in fat and cholesterol. You may give your kitty with hard boiled or scrambled eggs. There are two problems with giving your cat raw eggs. The first is the possibility of food poisoning from bacteria like salmonella or E. coli. The second is rare problem but that a protein in raw egg whites, called avidin, could interfere with the absorption of the B vitamin biotin. This can cause skin problems as well as problems with your cat’s coat.

Melons

Of all the fruits that you can load up on, melons happen to be one of the most nutritious and this fruit is not just good for your skin, they also have tons of benefits for your cats. Melons, irrespective of variety, are rich in Vitamins A and C which could help boost the immune system. This is true for humans and, apparently, for cats, too. Frozen melon slices may be a great option and treat for your kitties.

Fish

If we are to believe the things that we see on TV, we would say that cats love to eat fish. In fact, they do and you can share your fish meals with them.

Fish is high in Omega 3, which is good for the heart and your cats may also love cooked or canned fish. However, if you have an overweight cat in your hands, try to mellow down on fish and tuna. But, beware cats can be addicted to tuna, whether it’s packed for cats or for humans. And, too much tuna can cause mercury poisoning. Remember the saying, “Honest as a cat when the meat’s out of reach.” Your cat will see an open can of tuna next to the sink as a dinner invitation.

Bananas

While cats can eat fruits, you need to be careful about the kind of fruits to feed them. There are some fruits that contain ingredients that are toxic to cats, and you don’t want to commit the mistake of feeding Fluffy with that.

One safe choice is banana, which is rich in potassium and there is a whole lot of soluble fiber, too. Be sure not to feed your cats more than they should be eating.

Whole Grains in Cat Food

While there are some cats that are sensitive to gluten, it is not true for all your fluffy friends. Giving them high-quality whole grains may be a good way to improve their diet.

Grains are available in kibbles, too, and most cat owners rely on an automatic cat feeder for their cats if they use commercial cat food. However, preparing a meal with quinoa or brown rice may be a good idea if you want kitty to eat organic meals.

Blueberries

If you want to give cats a treat from time to time, blueberries can be a good choice. Frozen blueberries would be particularly great and many cats love it. These berries are rich in Vitamins C and A which are found in many cat foods. Needless to say, you should make sure that you are not feeding kitty with more than 25 pieces each time.

Conclusion

When it comes to cat nutrition the right balance of protein, fat, and carbs are necessary. If you are not a fan of the automatic cat feeder and would rather rely on all organic, be sure to check if what you are feeding your cats provide them with sufficient nutrition.

Source: motherearthnews.com