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/
