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Your cat is a companion, a playmate, and a special member of the family. One look in her eyes and you know that there is more to her than fur and claws. Cats are smart (some smarter than others) active (some lazier than others) and affectionate (some more cuddly than others) and they have needs that vary from breed to breed.
What If I’m A Vegetarian?
One thing that doesn’t vary is their nutritional needs. If your cat has special dietary restrictions or suffers from allergies, they may need a special non-meat diet as recommended only by their vet. But for the majority of kitties, the diet is pretty much the same: lots of meat and meat protein! Though people who are vegan and vegetarian might feed their cats diet that is consistent with their own diets, a vegan or vegetarian diet for a cat is not recommended.
Cats are carnivores; meat eaters. Vegetarianism goes against their very nature. Without meat, there are certain problems that your cat may face, such as:
- Protein deficiency
- Imbalance of amino acids (taurine, arachidonic acid, and L-carnitine)
- Vitamin deficiency (those that are obtained through animal products)
Before too long, these deficiencies can lead to illness and irreversible medical conditions. In cats, a taurine deficiency is one of the most serious issues as it can lead to heart problems, growth issues, and eye trouble. Cats cannot make their own taurine, so they must get it through a commercial cat food additive or real meat.
If you feed your cat a vegetarian diet because commercial cat food brands are so processed, try a brand that is full of natural in ingredients, such as The Honest Kitchen or Orijen. The food from The Honest Kitchen is processed in a facility that makes other foods for human consumption and are sourced from human-grade food sources. Some of the ingredients you’ll find in The Honest Kitchen meals include:
- Real meat (like chicken and turkey)
- Pumpkin
- Potatoes (white and sweet)
- Cranberries
- Spinach
- Parsley
Orijen is a high-quality brand that uses only the best ingredients that are locally sourced. Orijen has an excellent reputation and some of the ingredients you’ll find in their foods include:
- Boneless beef and lamb
- Carrots
- Apples
- Pears
- Ginger root
- Whole Salmon
Forget the Fasting
If your kitty skips a meal here and there, it won’t hurt her. However, if kitty is refusing to eat, there might be an underlying issues, so be sure to get her to the vet ASAP to find out what’s wrong.
Never deprive your cat of food for any reason. If she’s overweight, starvation is not the answer. If you are busy and keep forgetting to feed her, you might consider setting an alarm on your watch or phone to remind you. When a cat stops eating, her body depletes its protein reserves and takes from the fat reserve, which can be taxing on her liver and cause liver failure that can lead to death.
If kitty is not eating because she is bored or just picky, try tempting her palate with something different. Think outside the “chicken box” and go with meats that are found in nature that might appeal to her instincts, such as dinners by Addiction. Addiction is additive-free, and typically hypoallergenic. They offer different meats and ingredients that might appeal to your picky cat such as:
- Rabbit
- Duck
- Venison
- Wild Brush tail
- Berries
- Seaweed
Rethinking The Raw Food Diet
The raw food dies has become popular for pets in recent years. With all of the recent pet food recalls and some contaminations that cost some pets their lives, making food at home is seen as a good option for many pet owners. But there is a difference between homemade food and a raw food diet, and there are important considerations to be aware of. In a raw food diet, food borne pathogens, like salmonella and E.coli can be present in raw meat and eggs, and since cats are not immune to them, they can become very ill. Though some will argue that the circumstances are rare, you might not want to take even a small chance.
Cooking the food can prevent these illnesses and it is also nutritious for your cat. Making cat food at home can be very rewarding for both of you, as long as you provide them with the important ingredients that they need to thrive and survive. All homemade cat food must include:
- Meat or fish protein
- Amino acids (taurine and arginine)
- Fatty acids
- Vitamins
- Minerals
- Water
Tough To Switch?
If you just can’t seem to find the time to make homemade cat food, but still worry about what is in your kitty’s meals, switch to brands that don’t use additives, dyes, chemical preservatives, or flavorings. Reading the label can tell you a lot; look at the first 5 ingredients as these make up the majority of what’s inside. Stay clear of corn products as they can cause allergies in some cats, and be difficult to digest in others.
Looking at the top 5 ingredients in By Nature 95% Salmon, Mackerel, and Sardines, you’ll find:
- Salmon
- Mackerel
- Sardines
- Fish broth
- Chicken liver
As well as flaxseed, alfalfa, and a host of minerals and vitamins.
Some foods contain meat or fish “meal” which provides very high quality meat proteins as almost all of the moisture was removed. Your cat will get much more protein than its whole meat or fish counterpart.
A healthy example would be the top 5 ingredients in Nature’s Variety Duck Meal and Turkey Meal:
- Duck meal
- Turkey meal
- Chicken meal
- Herring meal
- Chicken fat
As well as important minerals like zinc and iron, and vitamins like D3.
It’s important to feed your cat well for the health of a lifetime. As long as you do your best to provide everything she needs, and very little of what she doesn’t, you’ll be doing your best to keep her happy and close to your heart for many more years of love.
