| 4) Which is the best cat food to choose? | | | | If it says complete, you shouldn't mix it with anything |
| There are so many different brands of cat food on | | | | or you will overfeed. Offering inappropriate food that |
| the market, the 'best' one is basically a matter of | | | | is high in fat, or cream/full fat milk to drink. Several |
| opinion. Certainly palatability is a factor, there's no | | | | members of the household feeding the cat at |
| point in purchasing a particular food if your cat can't | | | | different times, whenever the cat is meows for |
| stand it - although this is occasionally a necessity in | | | | food. Giving the cat regular treats in addition to its |
| cats requiring prescription diets. Rather than | | | | main meal. The cat is getting fed by neighbors, who |
| recommending you a specific brand, we suggest that | | | | think they are being kind by feeding it and enjoy the |
| you choose one which adheres to the criteria below. | | | | attention it gives them. The cat is scavenging food |
| Cat foods labeled as 'complete' and 'balanced' must | | | | from outside sources, such as other peoples bins. |
| meet standards established by the Association of | | | | The cat is part of a multi-cat household and is |
| American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), either by | | | | stealing food from the other cat(s), or even the dog. |
| meeting a 'nutrient profile' or by passing a feeding | | | | Keep an open mind. If there is a possibility that any |
| trial. There are now two separate nutrient profiles for | | | | of the above scenarios might be the case with your |
| cats - one for growth (kittens) and one for | | | | cat, investigate it. If you are still at a loss, consider |
| maintenance (adults). Maximum levels of intake of | | | | starting a prescription diet (see below). 6) I've heard |
| some nutrients have been established for the first | | | | you can get special 'light' diets, or 'prescription' diets |
| time because of the concern that overnutrition, | | | | for fat cats. Do they really work? Yes they do, if |
| rather than undernutrition, is a bigger problem with | | | | used properly. These types of cat food are available |
| many pet foods today. The standards include | | | | in complete wet (tinned or pouches) form or dry |
| recommendations on protein, fat, fat soluble vitamins, | | | | (biscuit) form, and are growing in popularity amongst |
| water soluble vitamins, and mineral content of foods. | | | | conscientious pet owners. They are low in calories |
| If you are prepared to get technical, you should | | | | and high in fibre, and often contain high levels of |
| choose a food that comes closest to AAFCO | | | | L-carnitine. L-carnitine has been used to help with fat |
| recommendations. In summary, consider the following | | | | metabolism in other species and recent scientific |
| points: Choose a food that suits your cat's age. Most | | | | work indicates that it helps reduce weight in |
| big pet food companies will have different foods for | | | | overweight dogs and cats. The real benefit of these |
| kittens vs adults. Cats with medical conditions may be | | | | low calorie diets though is that because of its low |
| recommended special prescription diets. Choose a | | | | calories, cats can still eat reasonable sized portions |
| food that come closest to AAFCO recommendations. | | | | and therefore feel full. This means they are more |
| The ingredients contains the truth about a particular | | | | content and less likely to beg and look for extra |
| food. Everything else is there only for marketing | | | | food. These diets are perfectly healthy for normal |
| purposes. There are no legal and scientific definitions | | | | sized cats to eat too, so if you have a multi-cat |
| for the terms "premium," "super premium," "quality," | | | | household and it is unfeasible to separate the cats |
| or "natural." Use dry matter numbers to evaluate and | | | | during feeding time, you can safely feed all of the |
| compare foods. The source of ingredients (e.g. animal | | | | cats the prescription diet together. |
| vs vegetable) does not matter, except in the case | | | | 7) Where can I buy this low calorie food from? |
| of food allergies. Avoid supplementation. All | | | | Many of the big pet food companies are waking up |
| commercial cat foods have more than enough | | | | to the problem of pet obesity, and adding 'light' |
| protein, fat, vitamins, and minerals. Feeding your cat a | | | | versions to their range. However, they are unlikely to |
| good food incorrectly can lead to significant problems. | | | | be as effective as the traditional 'prescription' diets |
| 5) My cat is overweight, but no matter how hard I | | | | that are on the market. They are known as |
| try I can't get him/her to lose weight. What can I | | | | 'prescription diets', because they are a specialist food |
| do? Your cat is almost certainly being fed too much. | | | | normally prescribed by a veterinarian. However, you |
| Below some common mistakes are listed. Have a | | | | don't need a prescription to buy the food as it is a |
| good look at these and make sure none of them | | | | 'general sales list' product. These foods are rarely |
| could apply to your cat. Not following the guidelines | | | | available in supermarkets as many supermarkets are |
| on the packet when measuring a portion. Most cat | | | | keen to sell their own brand, or have deals with the |
| foods will have a table on the packaging suggesting | | | | big pet food manufacturers. Many owners but their |
| daily portions for cats of different weights. The | | | | prescription diet from their veterinary clinic for |
| weight of food suggested is per 24 hrs, not per | | | | convenience, whilst others prefer to shop around to |
| portion! Use your kitchen weighing scales to measure | | | | get the best price. Many online pharmacies and pet |
| out the portion until you are sure of the correct | | | | stores are now offering these prescription foods, but |
| amount. Using a complete dry diet as a replacement | | | | whilst they may appear cheaper online, watch out for |
| for regular biscuits, and mixing it with wet cat food. | | | | delivery charges added on top. |