The foods you give to your cat will have a huge impact on his health, his life, and his ability to learn and thrive.

Not all cat foods are created equal, so it is important to know what to look for to ensure that you are providing the best cat food your money can buy.

Here are four important things to look for in your cat’s foods.

Protein

Cats will eat some greenery on their own for fiber and vitamin/mineral content, but they don’t need to have veggies or carbohydrates daily.

The one nutrient that they need plenty of every day is protein. Choose cat foods that are packed with protein products.

Fish, chicken, turkey, egg, and beef are the best sources of protein, with muscle meat containing the most protein of all.

Taurine

The amino acid taurine is an essential part of your cat's diet. Your cat’s health and very life depend on getting taurine daily. One of the first symptoms of taurine deficiency is decreased vision, both at night and during the day.

If a cat is malnourished in taurine for an extended period, it can experience heart failure resulting in death.The best source of taurine is meat, with most cat food manufacturers adding more taurine to the ingredients of their packaged foods, including dry cat foods.

Dry foods such as Applaws Adult Cat Chicken or Red Mills Cat Supreme are a good choice. Make sure to read the labels on all cat food packages before you buy so you choose one with a high level of taurine. If you are in doubt feel free to ask any member of Petworld staff!

Water

Cats need to have a source of clean water at all times. While they may not lap it up by the bowl-full as dogs tend to do, they will become very ill very quickly if they are left without water.

Feeding your cat high-quality foods with good moisture content (around 78 percent) is a great way to satisfy your cat’s dietary water needs.

If you are feeding your cat wet food, they will already have high water content.

If you are feeding your cat a combination of wet and dry foods, or only dry foods, you can add a little water to the dry food to make it a moist food.

Don’t forget to always leave a fresh bowl of water available for your kitty, or even leave the kitchen tap on a slow drip.

Dry vs. Wet Cat Food

You may find some division in the cat community over which is the best cat food: dry or wet. Wet food is higher in meat proteins and low in carbohydrates – this is great for carnivores.

But wet food has a short life once the food has been served (that is, you cannot leave it out for the day or it will go bad). Also, a diet comprised of only wet foods means your cat won’t develop strong teeth and gums, as it is soft and high in water content.

The toughness of the dry food will support a healthy mouth for your cat. Many dry cat foods have a long shelf life after opening, making them a practical choice, but they are also high in carbohydrate fillers.

If dry food is all that your cat is getting, there may be an increased risk for urinary tract blockages and other illnesses. Petworld recommends feeding your cat a healthy mixture of both.

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