Healthy Diet

[WitchyWoman]

Cats are obligate carnivores. They cannot get enough nutritional support from plant-based proteins such as grains and vegetables because they lack the specific enzyme that metabolically processes plant-based proteins. They need little or no carbohydrates in their diet. Feeding foods high in carbohydrates is linked to a number of diseases including diabetes, kidney disease, and inflammatory bowel disease.

Many pet owners feed dry food because it can be left out during the day without spoiling while the cat is left at home alone. Dry food is the leading cause behind most urinary tract problems in cats. While cats that eat only dry food will generally drink more water, they still don’t get enough moisture to support all their bodily functions and essentially live in a constant state of low-level dehydration which can lead to bladder and kidney problems. Research has shown that the digestive tract of cats is shorter to support quick digestion of meat-based food. Their digestive tracts have not evolved to adequately process kibble.

Due to the high carbohydrate content, dry food dumps unnaturally high levels of sugar into the cat’s bloodstream which can lead to an imbalance of its natural metabolic process. In extreme cases diabetes is the result.

Dry food does not clean a cat’s teeth. Most cats don’t chew their kibble long enough for any of the scraping action that is the theory behind this myth. What little they do chew shatters into small pieces. Some pet food manufacturers offer a “dental diet” that is made up of larger than normal sized kibble to encourage chewing but many cats swallow even those larger size pieces whole. Additionally, dry food leaves a carbohydrate residue in the cat’s mouth that actually encourages growth of tartar and plaque.

The one best thing you can do for your cat is eliminate all dry food from the diet and feed a meat-based, grain-free canned or raw diet which is consistent with the needs of a carnivore.

 

[Michaela]

Cats are obligate carnivores. They cannot get enough nutritional support from plant-based proteins such as grains and vegetables because they lack the specific enzyme that metabolically processes plant-based proteins. They need little or no carbohydrates in their diet. Feeding foods high in carbohydrates is linked to a number of diseases including diabetes, kidney disease, and inflammatory bowel disease.

Many pet owners feed dry food because it can be left out during the day without spoiling while the cat is left at home alone. Dry food is the leading cause behind most urinary tract problems in cats. While cats that eat only dry food will generally drink more water, they still don’t get enough moisture to support all their bodily functions and essentially live in a constant state of low-level dehydration which can lead to bladder and kidney problems. Research has shown that the digestive tract of cats is shorter to support quick digestion of meat-based food. Their digestive tracts have not evolved to adequately process kibble.

Due to the high carbohydrate content, dry food dumps unnaturally high levels of sugar into the cat’s bloodstream which can lead to an imbalance of its natural metabolic process. In extreme cases diabetes is the result.

Dry food does not clean a cat’s teeth. Most cats don’t chew their kibble long enough for any of the scraping action that is the theory behind this myth. What little they do chew shatters into small pieces. Some pet food manufacturers offer a “dental diet” that is made up of larger than normal sized kibble to encourage chewing but many cats swallow even those larger size pieces whole. Additionally, dry food leaves a carbohydrate residue in the cat’s mouth that actually encourages growth of tartar and plaque.

The one best thing you can do for your cat is eliminate all dry food from the diet and feed a meat-based, grain-free canned or raw diet which is consistent with the needs of a carnivore.

Thank you .
Very nicely put.
Balanced diet for feline is not balanced diet for dog or humans.
Not everyone feeds raw for the good reason
Breeders need to sell kittens that can eat all 3 wet, dry and taw variety , then people decide what is convenient
My breeder said to keep feed raw as long as possible but did not advice about canned if you can not keep doing that.
Why are commercial raw food containing so much junk and veggies ?
The raw specific to cats are very different then
other raw food like -- Rad cat and Feline 's Pride.
Some Freeze dry raw have a lot of non feline additives.

Learning a lot from this forum
Thank you

 

[WitchyWoman]

Michaela, i wish there was as much effort put into researching feline commercial diets as there is for dogs but it just isn't happening. The additives are what keeps prices down -- even on the more expensive foods. I agree that breeders need to condition their kittens to different foods because buyers ultimately need to feed their cats what they believe is best and what fits their budget. I am a firm advocate of educating oneself before making a choice. Most people don't do the homework Jarnco did and assume because a food has been approved by AAFCO that it's healthy and that just isn't true.

 

[Jarnco5]

Cats are obligate carnivores. They cannot get enough nutritional support from plant-based proteins such as grains and vegetables because they lack the specific enzyme that metabolically processes plant-based proteins. They need little or no carbohydrates in their diet. Feeding foods high in carbohydrates is linked to a number of diseases including diabetes, kidney disease, and inflammatory bowel disease.

Many pet owners feed dry food because it can be left out during the day without spoiling while the cat is left at home alone. Dry food is the leading cause behind most urinary tract problems in cats. While cats that eat only dry food will generally drink more water, they still don’t get enough moisture to support all their bodily functions and essentially live in a constant state of low-level dehydration which can lead to bladder and kidney problems. Research has shown that the digestive tract of cats is shorter to support quick digestion of meat-based food. Their digestive tracts have not evolved to adequately process kibble.

Due to the high carbohydrate content, dry food dumps unnaturally high levels of sugar into the cat’s bloodstream which can lead to an imbalance of its natural metabolic process. In extreme cases diabetes is the result.

Dry food does not clean a cat’s teeth. Most cats don’t chew their kibble long enough for any of the scraping action that is the theory behind this myth. What little they do chew shatters into small pieces. Some pet food manufacturers offer a “dental diet” that is made up of larger than normal sized kibble to encourage chewing but many cats swallow even those larger size pieces whole. Additionally, dry food leaves a carbohydrate residue in the cat’s mouth that actually encourages growth of tartar and plaque.

The one best thing you can do for your cat is eliminate all dry food from the diet and feed a meat-based, grain-free canned or raw diet which is consistent with the needs of a carnivore.

Deborah,
Your points are well taken.

However all dry foods can't fairly be lumped into the same category because some are "grain free" and have good quality protein. I see many have strong opinions on this issue.

Innova EVO turkey and chicken dry (cat & kitten) is one very good "dry food" that seems palatable... to my cats at least. Your point about water, it's a great point. For those who use only dry try mixing in some water when you serve it or make a healthy gravy\meat juice. I mix wet and dry and add water sometimes. My cat always has fresh water on had. Since the only time I free feed my cats dry is when I am out I have a fairly good idea as to what my cats intake of water is on a normal basis. I add dried kitten milk in a couple times a week for extra pro biotics and nutrients and that's reconstituted with water... there are many ways to get water into the diet without going raw food. A good canned food has as much if not more than many raw food plans and mixing it with dry therefore adds moisture.

My cats have had ZERO problems on a wet dry mix and I researched both the dry and wet... both are top notch and I would say as good as many a raw diet. I know my cats get all the nutrients they need on my feeding plan and as posted here in this thread they get some extra's added in sometimes.

We both like different things for our cats and we both can be correct... as long as it's healthy (no grains in the dry and no excessive veggies) <--- as you pointed out. You made some great points some have pointed out already in this thread many brands and diets work. I agree with that

It would be more objective to say "poor quality dry foods" the ones with grains and high carbs have been linked to a number of diseases including diabetes, kidney disease, and inflammatory bowel disease.

The point about water is a concern hence I have covered it... probably not as strongly as you just have.

Thank you!

 

[Michaela]

Found some Extra info
More then you need
http://www.catinfo.org/?link=cannedfoods

 

[Michaela]

Some Analysis cat food chart
All the work done
And Still not easy to read

http://www.catinfo.org/docs/FoodChartPublic9-22-12.pdf

 

[Dantes]

 

[Dantes]

http://dash.harvard.edu/bitstream/handle/1/10018997/Patrick06.html?sequence=2

Abstract: Americans own more than 130 million cats and dogs and spend over $12 billion per year on commercial pet foods. The commercial pet food industry faces minimal substantive regulation, despite navigating several layers of regulation from various groups including the FDA, the American Association of Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), and state regulators. The FDA entrusts AAFCO to issue regulations governing ingredients, feeding trials, labels and nutritional claims. But AAFCO's rules fall short of ensuring that America's pets receive adequate nutrition, or even foods that cause chronic digestive, skin, eye, and coat problems. The influence by the pet food industry over AAFCO manifests itself through AAFCO's irrational regulations, including ingredient definitions which effectively prohibit organic chickens and vegetables, while blindly permitting thousands of euthanized cats and dogs to make their way into pet foods through the unsupervised rendering industry. Trusting, but uneducated, consumers purchase these commercial pet foods under the assumption that the FDA or some other regulatory body has ensured that the foods contain balanced meals, and complete nutrition. These consumers naively believe veterinarians that endorse and sell pet foods from their offices while neglecting to mention that these pet doctors are often on the take and can earn up to 20% of their total income from such sales. This paper will examine the ways in which inadequate regulation results in confused consumers and sick, malnourished pets. Ultimately this paper seeks to reveal that multiple parties, including consumers themselves, share the blame for the current muddled state of regulation.

 

[Dantes]

My favorite part of this movie occurs at 21:10, when the veterinarian (nutritional specialist) says she chooses her kibble maker based on "Trust and Communication" and then goes on to tell how all kibble is sold via marketing ploy, and talks about how untruthful all the marketing communications are (21:40), an example being Purina's study that their food can help a dog live 2 years longer, but fail to state that the longevity study ONLY tested Purina's food against their own food, with one group of dogs feeding the recommended amount, and a 2nd group of dogs being fed 25% less of the same food. The dogs that were fed less food lived 2 years longer--duh!

 

[KKLRx7]

Deborah,
Your points are well taken.

However all dry foods can't fairly be lumped into the same category because some are "grain free" and have good quality protein. I see many have strong opinions on this issue.

Innova EVO turkey and chicken dry (cat & kitten) is one very good "dry food" that seems palatable... to my cats at least. Your point about water, it's a great point. For those who use only dry try mixing in some water when you serve it or make a healthy gravy\meat juice. I mix wet and dry and add water sometimes. My cat always has fresh water on had. Since the only time I free feed my cats dry is when I am out I have a fairly good idea as to what my cats intake of water is on a normal basis. I add dried kitten milk in a couple times a week for extra pro biotics and nutrients and that's reconstituted with water... there are many ways to get water into the diet without going raw food. A good canned food has as much if not more than many raw food plans and mixing it with dry therefore adds moisture.

My cats have had ZERO problems on a wet dry mix and I researched both the dry and wet... both are top notch and I would say as good as many a raw diet. I know my cats get all the nutrients they need on my feeding plan and as posted here in this thread they get some extra's added in sometimes.

We both like different things for our cats and we both can be correct... as long as it's healthy (no grains in the dry and no excessive veggies) <--- as you pointed out. You made some great points some have pointed out already in this thread many brands and diets work. I agree with that

It would be more objective to say "poor quality dry foods" the ones with grains and high carbs have been linked to a number of diseases including diabetes, kidney disease, and inflammatory bowel disease.

The point about water is a concern hence I have covered it... probably not as strongly as you just have.

Thank you!

Can I ask what you are feeding now as this post was several years ago? I was going to feed raw (getting a new kitten next month), as many on this site seem to be doing that. My daughter, who is a new veterinarian, is adamantly against it though. She gave me numerous vet-written articles citing the bacterial issues and said there is very little to support the benefits over these dangers. I am looking into the highest quality canned and dry. I have found several reputable looking sources (which I can cite if interested). I may also supplement with what you have suggested and add cooked chicken and other organ meats. I currently give Fresh is Best Turkey Hearts as treats. Food is a touchy subject and everyone has an opinion. I am asking for yours. Thank you!