New Cat’s Food Basics
How do you know your cat is getting the nutrition they need? You’re bombarded with cat food commercials, each claiming that their product is superior than the others. Sam’s Cats & Dogs can help reduce the confusion. We carry a number of cat foods and can help you in choosing the one that is perfect for your precious pet.
Your cat is a hunter, descended from a long line of hunters. Wild cats naturally ate a wide selection of nutritious food, based upon what they could snag. But your domestic cat relies on you to feed them. Sam’s Cats & Dogs has all the foods that will keep them happy and healthy.
What Nutrients Does Your Cat Need?
For starters, your cat is a carnivore. They need meat in some form. This may be chicken, beef, lamb, fish, or eggs. They need fats to provide energy and help absorb vitamins like A, D, B1, B2, B3, and B6. Also, some cat foods include carbohydrates, which are digestible and provide energy.
Reading a Cat Food Label
Cat food companies are required to put particular information on their labels, such as ingredients in descending order of weight, and guaranteed analysis, which tells you the minimum and maximum amount of nutrients like fats, protein, and fiber.
Understand food descriptions. There’s a difference between “chicken cat food” and “cat food with chicken.” Chicken cat food must be 95 percent chicken, while cat food with chicken can have as little as 3 percent. Food described as “chicken dinner” (or chicken formula) can be anywhere between 25 and 95 percent chicken.
Labels contain feeding instructions, but they’re a guideline and not a “one size fits all.” Your vet’s recommendations takes priority. Search for the nutritional adequacy statement, which tells whether the food is meant for an adult cat or a kitten.
