Your vet has a professional understanding and first-hand knowledge of your cat’s medical history and overall health, which gives them accurate insights into the nutrients they need. This makes them a useful resource in looking for the best cat food. Whether your feline friend is thriving or is suffering from a certain health condition, your trusted vet can surely help you choose the right food that works for him.
To live a long, healthy life, your feline friend needs proper nutrition. Below, you will learn some very important things to consider when choosing the best diet for your cat.
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Types of Commercial Foods for Cats
Commercial cat foods are specially formulated as canned, semi-moist and dry. These products are different in protein level, palatability, caloric density, digestibility and water content.
Dry Cat Food
Dry cat food contains between 6 and 10% water. Depending on the formulation, a mixture of a dry cat food ingredients are combined and dried into small bite-sized pieces. Dry cat food ingredients often include:
- Meat
- Meat byproducts
- Poultry
- Poultry byproducts
- Grain
- Grain byproducts
- Fish meal
- Milk products
- Fiber sources
- Vitamin and mineral supplements
The dry food pieces are usually coated with flavor enhancers like animal fat in order to make them more palatable and appetizing.
Semi-Moist Cat Food
Meat byproducts and meat are the primary content of semi-moist cat food, which contains approximately 35% moisture. To make the final food product, other materials like cereals, soybean meal, grain byproducts and preservatives are added. For some cats, semi-moist cat food may be more appealing compared to dry cat foods. However, after the package of semi-moist cat food is opened, it can dry out, which makes it less palatable.
Canned Cat Food
Canned food has a moisture level of at least 75%, which makes it a good source of water. Generally, it’s the most expensive cat food, but it’s also very palatable and the healthiest cat food for most felines. A lot of canned cat food varieties are available, which can be extremely helpful if your furry pal is a picky eater. When unopened, canned cat food has the longest shelf life among other cat foods. But make sure that any leftover opened canned food is refrigerated, in order to prevent spoilage and to maintain its quality.
Top 5 Vet Recommended Cat Foods
1. Hill’s Prescription a/d Urgent Care
- Full of specific organ meats instead of animal byproducts
- Rich in animal fat and protein
- Low carb content
2. Royal Canin Calorie Control Pate
- Low carb content
- Primarily made from animal protein
- No artificial flavors, colors or preservatives
3. Hill’s Science Liver & Chicken Kitten Food
- Contains fish oil as the main source of omega 3 fatty acids that help in eye and brain development
- Rich in animal protein
- Lower carb content than other Science Diet recipes
4. Purina’s Pro Plan True Natural with Natural Beef and Liver Entree in Gravy
- Most cats enjoy this food
- Rich in protein
- Free of artificial flavors, colors and preservatives
5. Iams Perfect Portions Chicken Recipe for Optimal Metabolism
- Low carb content
- Rich in animal-sourced protein
- Thickened without carrageenan
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Common Questions About What Cat Foods Are Recommended by Vets
How Do I Choose the Best Cat Food?
Learning what you should look out for can definitely help you in choosing the best diet for your cat. Here are the things you should take into consideration when choosing the best food for your cat:
- Check the animal protein
- Avoid byproducts
- Consider grains
- Try Dry or Canned
- Analyze nutrients
- Take life stage into account
- Research about the brand of your cat’s food
- Follow the guidelines with assistance from your vet
What Do Cats Love to Eat the Most?
Cats are meat eaters by nature, plain and simple. This means they need to have meat-sourced protein for good vision, a strong heart and overall healthy reproductive system. Cooked chicken, turkey and beef, as well as lean deli meats in small amounts are a good way to give them that. When giving this kind of meat to your cat, make sure it’s not spoiled or raw as it could make him sick.
What Foods Should Cats Avoid?
Here’s a quick look at some of the toxic foods for cats:
- Alcohol
- Raw dough
- Caffeinated drinks
- Chocolate drinks
- Raw eggs, raw meat and bones
- Onions and garlic
- Milk and dairy products
- Dog food
- Raisins and grapes
To prevent your cat from eating harmful foods, make sure to store them out of his reach. You can also consider installing cat-proof cabinet locks, especially if you have a constantly curious cat.
Conclusion
It’s a requirement for all pet foods to contain proper feeding guidelines. But different cats will have different food formulation, quality and amount requirements. This is why it’s best to ask your vet about what food is best for your cat, since he or she can determine the body condition of your cat – whether underweight, overweight or at his ideal weight. Make sure to adjust the feeding protocol of your cat accordingly.
