Choosing the Right Food for Your Cat

You may think that your cat can take care of herself. At least, that is the way she sees it, right?

But, while your frightfully independent felines may be able to hunt and scavenge enough food for

themselves, that is not to say that those would be the right foods. Indeed, for most cat owners, the

foods that are close enough for their pets to get their paws on could be downright detrimental to cat

health. That is exactly why there are quality pet foods available for responsible owners to purchase.

And, that is certainly a bonus, because cooking for a cat every day is not on most people’s agenda.

The Different Ages and Stages of Your Cat’s Life

Just like human babies, kittens are born with a definite set of nutritional needs and a digestive system

that is not quite ready for all the foods it will eat one day. Kittens drink their mother’s milk – and for

the most part, cats make excellent, caring mothers – until a point. After that, a queen cat may treat

her young as if they were strangers or even enemies. But usually, the kittens that are available for

adoption have been weaned onto solid food, even if that kibble is moistened with a bit of water to

make it easier. Over the next six months to a year, kittens are able to eat the same form of food that

adult cats consume, but they still have nutritional requirements that are vastly different than more

mature cats may have. Always feed your kitten age appropriate food until your vet is happy to move

your pet to adult foods.

There is another stage that many cats make it to which also requires special foods. Those golden

years are a special time for most pet owners and because of a change in activity, not to mention

health care needs, cats do require a different balance of nutrition than they needed previously.

Although when you move your cat onto mature food varies based on the needs and breeds of your

pets, you may want to consider the change at any point after seven years of age. Typically, when

your adult cat begins slowing down and resting a lot more, you will want to consult your vet about this

switch.

Although not all cats go through this stage, pregnancy and nursing do require additional nutrients for

the queen cat. After all, she is usually not just eating for two – it is more like six or seven cats, albeit

tiny ones. If your cat is pregnant, speak to your vet about providing her with nutrient-rich kitten food.

For most pregnant cats, this will offer the right balance. However, this is a delicate point in your cat’s

life, and you should ensure that your pet receives adequate healthcare – even after her kittens are

born until the point that they stop nursing.

Traditional Cat Foods Versus Sensitive Cat Foods

Cats are carnivores. Not only do they like meat in their diet, they need plenty of it. That is not to say

that they cannot digest plant matter (although some plants can be very hazardous to their health); it is

just that they need quite a bit of meat. Quality pet foods, sensitive or otherwise should always contain

a fair amount of meat. However, that does not mean that all cats can eat any food that is made with

any meat.

Some cats develop sensitivities to the ingredients found in traditional pet foods. That is not to say that

these foods are inherently bad (often, quite the opposite) – or that there is anything wrong with your

pet. It is usually it is the result of repeated exposure to the same food over time. While a food may

be nutritionally complete, it can still lead to sensitivities.

Feline sensitivities often reveal themselves through vomiting, diarrhoea, extreme flatulence or loose

stools. Sensitivities can also present themselves as the inability to pass stools. If your pet uses

the litter box as his primary toilet, you are certain to spot these issues quickly. Cats that have the

freedom to move outdoors at their pleasure may take longer to diagnose.

There is something crucial to note when it comes to feeding your pets a sensitive cat food. You can

opt to do this because your cat enjoys the flavour, or because there are other benefits inherent in

a particular food. But you should never make the switch as a result of suspected food sensitivities.

If you are concerned about your cat’s health, or she presents any other the above symptoms,

you will need to wait for your vet to make a diagnosis. If you attempt to make a change based on

your observations, you could fail to prevent or treat another, more serious condition. Often, these

symptoms do point to food sensitivities, but not always.

The most important thing to note about sensitive foods though is that they are made with alternative

ingredients than those found in traditional cat foods. These ingredients are not known to lead to food

sensitivities, and any digestive issues your cat has been experiencing should clear given enough time

on the new food.


A Note about Water

Believe it or not, your cats do not need a great deal of water. Well, at least not as much as you might

think. That is because they do a much better job of retaining it than many other animals. In fact, if

you opt to feed your cat wet foods, she can typically pull all the water she needs from her meals. But,

that does not mean that you should not provide constant access to water. All animals do need some

water, and this is also a great indicator as to when your pets are not well. If you notice major changes

in consumption, you will need to take your kitty to the vet. There is one caveat with this though – your

cats are unlikely to enjoy tap water, so they may wait for the water in their bowl to stale a little and

then drink extra to replenish their stores. That’s normal and nothing to panic about. However, you

should take your cat’s nutritional needs very seriously. After all, what they eat often determines their

overall health. So, if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask.

For any more information, please visit our Burgess Pet Care Cat page:

http://www.burgesspetcare.com/your-pet/cats/

Feeding Hypoallergenic Cat Food

Ever wonder whether one of your cats has a food sensitivity?  If you’ve ever noticed that your cat has difficulties with his food, or does not seem to want to eat then you may want to continue watching your pet.  That’s because food allergies and sensitivities are not only uncomfortable for your cat; they can be painful for you too (especially if your cat uses the litter box). 

Symptoms of a Sensitive Stomach

Cats can experience the same symptoms of food sensitivities that humans do.  And because cats don’t have access to toilets as humans do, this can become a rather smelly issue.  After all, digestion leads to waste, and problems with digestion can lead to problems with excretion.  Usually, food allergies cause:

·         Excessive flatulence,

·         Vomiting,

·         Diarrhoea or loose stools and / or

·         Difficulties passing stools.

If your cat uses the litter box, you are likely to spot these symptoms rather soon after they appear.  Soft stools or no stools will be easily spotted as you clean the litter box.  However, if your cat has access to the outdoors, it may take you some time to notice that your cat has issues.  Usually, you’ll notice the smells or vomiting that is not tied to hairballs.

Finally, remember that these symptoms should appear regularly or frequently.  Intermittent symptoms may appear, but they will be regular if they’re not constant.  A once off occurrence likely means that your cat has gotten into something she shouldn’t.  If it passes, there is little to be concerned about.

How Do Feline Food Allergies Develop?

Cats usually develop food allergies over time.  There are, of course, a few kittens that are born with sensitive stomachs, but these instances are rare.  Cats are remarkably hardy creatures from the moment they are born as you may be able to tell from the large numbers of feral cats in the world today.  But, allergies can develop (especially in domestic cats) as a result of diet.  Repeated exposure to foods that are known to cause sensitivities may lead to allergies the more a cat eats those foods.

This occurs because the digestive enzymes in the body buildup a certain intolerance as a result of exposure.   Indeed, many humans experience the same troubles, suddenly finding themselves unable to stomach their favourite foods after being able to eat them every day for several years.  While this isn’t desirable, it’s not exactly unnatural (even if it sometimes feels – or smells – like it).

What Sorts of Foods Are Cats Allergic to? 

Keep in mind that cats tend to develop food sensitivities over time.  To find the foods that are most likely to cause food allergies, all you need to do is look at the ingredients list on a standard bag of cat food.  Because most feline food is often sold as a complete meal, animals eat these foods for every meal, every day (though they will find the crumbs and bones you thought you’d buried well enough in the garbage too).  It stands to reason that these would be the foods that some cats have trouble digesting over time. 

Largely, the foods known to cause sensitive stomachs to react are:

·         Beef products,

·         Dairy items,

·         Soya and its derivatives,

·         Maize and corn products, and

·         Wheat gluten.

And, if it’s not become apparent already, you should now see the similarities between feline food sensitivities and human stomach issues.  Both groups are prone to being affected by the same foods. 

How Are Feline Food Allergies Diagnosed? 

Although you may be able to smell your pet from a mile away, no matter how well he cleans himself, it’s not wise to diagnose digestive issues on your own.  Although the symptoms listed above are likely to lead to food sensitivities, it’s not always the case.  Sometimes, these symptoms point to something far more serious and life-threatening.  The best way to ensure that you rule out anything besides allergies that lead to troubled digestive systems is to take your cat to the vet.  (And we know just how much they love it when the carrier appears; we feel for you!)

Usually, your vet will recommend that you ensure your cat only has access to their regular food for a period of time.  That means no scraps, and likely mean keeping your cat indoors during that time.  The vet may also draw some blood if he believes something more sinister could be at work in your pet’s digestive system. 

What Should You Be Feeding a Cat with Food Sensitivities? 

Just because a lot of pet foods are standard, not all of them are.  Sensitive cat foods are available from quality brands like Burgess.  Once allergies are diagnosed by the vet, she will likely recommend that you make the switch to one of these foods. 

Unlike standard foods, sensitive foods are created with other meats, such as turkey and duck.  They also use healthier alternatives to bind food pellets together including rice and fish oil.  These ingredients help to keep everything working, and are foods that would form part of a cat’s diet naturally.

The real trick is to get your cat to eat the new food.  Although some cats will eat just about anything you put in front of them, most are sceptical of change.  If you can, make the switch in one meal.  This involves removing all traces of the old food and substituting the new food.  If your cat eats it, perfect.  If not, you will want to remove the bowl and lay it down at the next meal.  If your cat still refuses to eat it, then offer him his ordinary food.  From then on, you will need to add increasing amounts of the new food to his standard meal.

Keep in mind that no matter how quickly your cat takes to the new food, it will take some time for the symptoms of food allergies to go away.  There are major systems involved, and they will require a full readjustment.  But soon enough, you’ll be able to cuddle your once smelly cat again.

For more information about feeding hypoallergenic cat food please visit - http://www.burgesssensitive.co.uk/