Cat is an adorable creature. A cat owner needs to know the perfect diet for his/her pet. Cats also need various kinds of nutrition as other animals. Moreover, they are sensitive about their foods. So, an owner need to choose a perfect diet for the pet.
The essential food elements a cat need are:
1. Protein
2. Fat
3. Carbohydrates
Protein:
This is the most important ingredient in cat food. The cat food need to have at least 25% protein. Taurine is an amino acid that humans can readily produce. However, cats need a healthy source of taurine to maintain good health. Taurine deficiency can lead a cat to blindness and heart disease. Cat food manufacturers have been adding taurine to cat food for several decades now.
Fat:
Cats need at least 20% to 24% fat in their food. It’s important that both protein and fat are relatively high to ensure a quality diet. Cats will be attracted by food with high concentration in these areas. For example, the nutritional profile of a mouse is 55.8% protein and 23.6% fat that makes them the perfect meal for a cat.
Some owners mak mistake of buying low fat food, thinking it will prevent obesity. But cats need more fat content and they tend to overeat foods so that they can meet their nutritional requirement.
Carbohydrates:
Cats need to eat meat to survive and there is no biological need for carbohydrates like grains. Cats can have difficulties digesting some carbohydrates and many allergies are triggered by the carbohydrate content of foods. However most dry foods depend on carbohydrat as fillers and to hold the other ingredients together. Most of the cat owners make it practice to avoid buying cat food containing grains as cats simply don’t need them in their diet. To avoid problems, the owner need to look for carbohydrates such as potatoes or green peas. It’s better to feed them wet food with quality dry food as a treat.
Friskies’ Quality:
Friakies is owned by Purina, a trustworthy source of pet food. Purina is known widely for it’s rich pet foods.
Friskies cat dry food is loaded with a lot of healthy ingredients. Such as,
> Ground Yellow Corn: Corn is often added in cat food primarily as a source of fatty acids and it is specially processed to ensure the food is maximally digestible.
Corn is safe for cats if given in small amounts as an occasional snack with other foods. Too much corn can be harmful beacuse of carbohydrates and sugar. Cats don’t digest carbs well and they don’t need them as much as they need animal protein.
> Chicken by products: Chicken by products are not that bad for a cat. But they are often used as cheap filler in the foods. Cats need the taurine in red meat and a large amount of protein in cat food derived from chicken, poultry, beef, lamb, fish, or liver.
Cats are meat eaters. They need to have protein from meat for a strong heart, good vision, and a healthy reproductive system. Cooked beef, chicken, turkey meats are a great way to give them that energy.
> Ground Wheat: It can aid in the digestion by giving them more fiber in their diet. Wheat also add vitamin and mineral content in the food. If you see wheat in the ingredient list, just make sure it’s not the primary ingredient. The main ingredient in your cat’s food should preferentially be protein from an animal source.
> Glycerin: According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, glycerol is generally recognized as a safe sustenance. It is suggested that cats are able to metabolize glycerol and use it as an energy source without compromising health. But, excessive consumption may lead to digestive issues such as diarrhea or vomiting.
> Calcium Carbonate: Calcium carbonate reduces urinary pH and phosphorus concentration and improves bone mineralization and depresses kidney calcium level in cats.
Calcium is an essential component of the skeleton, and it has important functions in muscle contraction, blood clotting, enzyme activity, the nervous system, and hormone release.
> Potassium Chloride: Potassium chloride and Potassium Gluconate are used to increase the amount of potassium in your pet’s blood . Cats that have a deficiency of potassium usually have an underlying condition such as a chronic kidney condition or kidney failure.
> Dried Carrots : Carrots can be a great choice for cats. They are healthy, refreshing, and tasty. The plethora of vitamins and minerals present in carrots provide a number of benefits to a pet’s body. The Vitamin A which is present in them enhances the cat’s vision.
Though cats are obligate carnivores, they can still consume carrots which are just as nutritious for them as they are for human. However, it’s not recommended to feed raw carrots to a cat so it’s better to choose such products which have dried carrots.
> Minerals: Cats need potassium for nerve function, muscular contraction, and heart rhythm as this mineral is an electrolyte. Calcium is an important mineral for bone and growth of teeth. This mineral ensures muscle contraction, provides hydration, and powers nerve impulses. Cats require more than a dozen other nutrients, including vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, and amino acids.
> Vitamin E supplement : Vitamin E is given to cats to prevent symptoms of vitamin E deficiency, such as muscle weakness. It is also used to treat conditions caused by vitamin E deficiency like yellow fat disease. If it given in doses above the recommended amounts, it can be harmful.
> Niacin B3: Vitamin B3, or niacin metabolises glucose, proteins and fatty acids, treats skin inflammation and chronic kidney disease and drives your cat’s energy supply.
> Folic Acid: Folic acid or known as vitamin B9 is a water-soluble synthetic folate. Naturally folate is found in many foods. Folates have an important role in nucleoprotein synthesis, homocysteine metabolism, cellular division, erythropoeisis, neural development, and the synthesis of neurotransmitters.
FAQ:
Do cats develop allergies?
Cats can develop allergies from many food substances they eat. Most commonly, cats get allergies from beef, fiah, chicken and dairy products. Sometimes, cats can get allergies from wheat, corn, dairy, lamb, egg and other foods.
But, if given in an accurate amount, it’s beneficial for them. That’s why cat foods are recommended.
Purina Friskies Dry cat food can be a reliable source of health benefits. This product is mostly known to cat owners for it’s different taste and crunchiness. Vets also recommend this product as a powerful source of energy.